Shazam!
High Life
Widows
The Walking Dead
Log in with Facebook
OR
By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango.
Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password.
We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified.
Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service.
No consensus yet.
All Critics (18) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (2) | DVD (6)
The film's conventions have become hip-hop doc clichés. Sep 24, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
The film's conventions have become hip-hop doc clichés.
Roger Moore
The skills on display in Freestyle are too varied and idiosyncratic for one movie to contain, but this one at least offers a heady, rousing education in an art form that is too often misunderstood. Jul 26, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
The skills on display in Freestyle are too varied and idiosyncratic for one movie to contain, but this one at least offers a heady, rousing education in an art form that is too often misunderstood.
A.O. Scott
Even if you have no previous interest in or extensive knowledge of hip-hop, Freestyle will draw you in, accomplishing that rare feat of making the creative process interesting while also telling a story. Jul 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Even if you have no previous interest in or extensive knowledge of hip-hop, Freestyle will draw you in, accomplishing that rare feat of making the creative process interesting while also telling a story.
Kevin Crust
A thoughtful overview of a major musical movement, from its churchy roots to its urban present, from its aggressive front to its spiritual underpinnings. Jul 21, 2004 | Full Review…
A thoughtful overview of a major musical movement, from its churchy roots to its urban present, from its aggressive front to its spiritual underpinnings.
Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
An engaged and knowing look at the underground world of improvised rap, concentrating on artists less interested in commercial success and cutting records than in the 'spontaneous right now' of 'nonconceptual rhyme.' Jul 20, 2004 | Full Review…
An engaged and knowing look at the underground world of improvised rap, concentrating on artists less interested in commercial success and cutting records than in the 'spontaneous right now' of 'nonconceptual rhyme.'
Fred Camper
Dispels myths about the 'gangsta' aura that clings to rap and shows this poetry of the streets in all its different forms: social protest, entertainment and aggression. Jul 16, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Dispels myths about the 'gangsta' aura that clings to rap and shows this poetry of the streets in all its different forms: social protest, entertainment and aggression.
Jami Bernard
there's too little evidence that freestyling in itself deserves even the short 75 minutes allotted for this film May 6, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
there's too little evidence that freestyling in itself deserves even the short 75 minutes allotted for this film
Mark Athitakis
Watching some of the best freestylers riff like Charlie Parkers with thesauruses is often breathtaking. Sep 23, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Watching some of the best freestylers riff like Charlie Parkers with thesauruses is often breathtaking.
Todd Deery
The only downside of watching the movie? The rhythm gets you, and you're likely not going to want to sit still in your seat. Jul 27, 2004 | Full Review…
The only downside of watching the movie? The rhythm gets you, and you're likely not going to want to sit still in your seat.
Luke Y. Thompson
Very innovative chronicle of a notable culture. Jul 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Very innovative chronicle of a notable culture.
Tim Cogshell
Not since the groundbreaking Wild Style has there been a hip-hop film this exciting to watch. Jul 23, 2004 | Rating: A | Full Review…
Not since the groundbreaking Wild Style has there been a hip-hop film this exciting to watch.
E! Staff
Impromtu energy. Jul 19, 2004 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Impromtu energy.
Harvey S. Karten
The first full movie that I've seen on YouTube! It's a very good and thoughtful overview of what makes freestyle rhyming a true artform. Has some good footage of battles, flow sessions, and cyphers, and gives an interesting history as to how it all started. It doesn't really offer any new insight into technique, it's more of a history and overview targeted mostly at people who don't really know what freestyle rhyming is. I selfishly would have liked to see more footage of well-known artists back in their freestyle days, just because it would have held my attention better. But it does show some great sessions from MC Juice, Mos Def, and others. Check it out, the whole documentary is on YouTube.
Super Reviewer
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.
View All