Sweet Baby Jesus Black Thought Killed This “NY State of Mind” Freestyle (Listen & Download) Posted by Nathan S. on 01/15/13 | Filed under Downloads, Freestyles, Black Thought

RefinedHype Nation knows this site, or more specifically, I, have a complicated relationship with "freestyles"; otherwise known as new raps over other people's beats. I don't like 'em. For the most part, "freestyles" are a way for rappers to feel good about themselves for putting out new music, when really all they're doing is recycling someone else's old shit.

But I am willing to make exceptions. Like, say, when you're one of the greatest rappers of all-time, and you're going in over one of the greatest beats of all-time. BlackThought on something like "Rage Is Back" is the type of shit I don't even need to hear to know it's dope. Sure enough, the Roots frontman First 48ed this shit:

"You def, dumb and blind / I'm emphasized like I'm underlined / my definition is I'm undefined."

Sweet baby jesus that man can rap. But let me be clear. I know there a lot of rappers reading this and thinking, "I'm going to send Nathan S. the 'NY State of Mind' freestyle I did." Think again, that shit isn't happening.

Anyway, this is off J. Period's upcoming mixtape of the same name, which also serves as the unofficial soundtrack to Adam Mansbach’s new novel "Rage is Back" for those who like to look at letters and words and shit. Enjoy...

See Also: “Art Imitates Life” for Kweli, Black Thought & Rah Digga - Art & Life Are Dope (Listen & Download)

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