Freestyle (2000)
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Critic Reviews for Freestyle
All Critics (18) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (2) | DVD (6)
The film's conventions have become hip-hop doc clichés.
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.
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.
A thoughtful overview of a major musical movement, from its churchy roots to its urban present, from its aggressive front to its spiritual underpinnings.
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.'
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.
Audience Reviews for Freestyle
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
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