Top 10 Greatest Beats for Freestyling.

Since it's Freestyle Friday, it got me thinking. Everyone always argues the greatest freestylers of all time (Canibus, Eminem, Supernatural, etc), but what about the other aspect of freestyling - the beat? A sick beat is one half of a dope ass freestyle. So lets take a look at the Top 10 illest beats to catch wreck to. This list was compiled by a team of highly training and certified experts - Me and the Hip Hop Official team. If you don't like it, get yo own blog.

Now, the list isn't just randomly selected and completely subjective. There's actually a specific calculated algorhythm used to determine the list. Five different - highly scientific - categories were used to compile the list:

(1) Impact. The beat instantly makes you want to start rhyming. Any emcee knows what I'm talking about. Some beats just make you want to start spitting. They call your name. You can't deny it it's power. It's like an attractive woman - you are powerless. Let's call it the "Flow Factor"

(2) Simplicity vs. Complexity. The beat has to be dope enough to nod your head, but at the same time it has to be simple enough to not over power the emcee. The bestest freestyle beats are slighly repetive in nature, not enough to drive you crazy, but enough to let the emcee shine.

(3) Recognition. A true freestyle beat has to be one that everyone knows and recognizes. As soon as it drops, people go crazy. When people are familiar with the beat, have your job is done. They will be more inclined to listen and connect to the music. You can have the illest beat in the world, but if nobody knows it, it takes away from the performance.

(4) Not too specific. The flip side is to #3, is that the beat cannot be too unique to the original artist. Some beats instantly instill visions of another emcee, and no matter how sick the track is, you can't help but here that emcee on the beat. It just wont work for other cats to try to rock it. For instance, Da Rockwilder beat is so bananas, but every time it starts i can only hear Meth saying, "Microphone Checka, swinging sword lecture..."

nahmean?

(5) Last but mos definitely not least, The Ugh Factor. Like Master P said, "Make 'em say 'Ughhhh'". This is how many times the beat makes you say "Ugn" when it's playing. You know what I'm talking about. When a nasty beat drops, I make the stink face and starting saying "Ugh" like Biggie Smalls when he's about to start rhyming. How many times do you make the "damn, something smells like shit fact" while listening to the song. And by the way, that's a good thing. The stinkier the face, the better the beat.

Using the 5 categories, list was compiled. Yes, there's some subjectivity, but I also know what I'm talking about. One thing to remember, this is not a BEST beat of all time list. Some of your favorite beats might appear on this list, but this is specific to freestyling. Like I said before, some beats are too unique to their owners, and therefore wont make the list. A dope freestyle beat has to be usable by everyone, and not catered to a specific artist.

With out further ado, let's get it on. And yes, it was nearly impossible narrowing this down to only 10 beats. It's like asking someone to name their top 10 songs, movies, or blowjobs.


10. "Triumph" - Wu-Tang Clan

RZA production at it's finest: killer strings, banging drums, and nice change ups. This is one of the few Wu-Tang beats that almost anyone can rock. All the other ones are strictly catered to the Wu.

9. "Breathe" - Fabulous

Just Blaze produced this banger. The break-neck pace and urgency created by the sample chopping just begs you to start spitting. One of the best produced beats in the past few years.

8. "Like Woah" - Black Rob

Yes, Bad Boy made the countdown (Take that, take that, take that). The street anthem "Like Woah" was pretty much the first and last time we heard from Black Rob. But this banging beat has a contagious element to it. Even though a first listen, it sounds repetitive as hell, there are actually lots of subtle changes and nuisances in the track. And it's hard as hell. [pause]

7. "Tried By 12" - East Flatbush Project

This is a track we've all heard, but don't all know. Everytime it comes on, the crowd goes nuts. The asian-sounding sample is so unique. It's a relatively mellow track, but gets everyone hyped. It might have been higher on the list, but it loses points in the recognition department.

6. "It's All About the Benjamins" - Puff Daddy

Bad Boy finds their way back onto the list, with Diddy's posse cut about - of all things - money. He had everyone on this song: Biggie, Lil Kim, Styles P, Jada, and Sheik. This beat is so repetitive but is honestly built for freestyles. And who said Puffy never contributed anything good to hip-hop?

5. "Quiet Storm" - Mobb Deep

Jailbird P (better known as Prodigy) and Havoc aka Mobb Deep concoct one of the coldest beats of all time. The sinister bassline and eerie piano make this an undeniable classic. It's the reeeeeeal.

4. "A Milli" - Lil Wayne

The newest member of the group, and quite possible the most used played out freestyle beat of all time. Everybody and their grandmother jumped on this track, from Chris Brown to Jay-z to Will Smith. By itself, it's one of the most annoying beats of all time. With someone freestyling over it, it's the number 4 beat of all time. Funny how that works.

3. "Grindin" - Clipse

Quite possibly one of the simplest beats of all time turned into one of the most infectious. The Neptunes were ahead of their time when they created this song using only 5 sounds. Keep it simple, stupid. This song rates high in all 5 categories, but leaves a little to be desired because it lacks a true melody.

2. "Shook Ones Pt. II" - Mobb Deep

What more can you really say about this beat? It's one of the best hip-hop tracks of all time. Emimen ripped it in 8 Mile. Everyone knows it. It never gets old. The melody is so hypnotic, it puts you in a euphoric headnod trance. A true hip-hop gem.

1. "Who Shot Ya?" - The Notorious BIG

And the number one freestyle beat of all time...The Notorious B.I.G. 's “Who Shot Ya” - separate the weak from the ob-sa-lete, hard to creep them brooklyn streets.

That songs just make you want to catch wreck. The cascading piano sample from David Porter, the thumping drums, the eerie vocal sample. This beat was built to spit to. Yes, B.I.G. killed it, and it's hard to top his performance. But anybody would song good over this beat. That's the essence right there.


So there you have it. I have a few honorable mentions who couldn't make the final list:

Dr Dre - "Still D.R.E."
Biggie - "Kick In The Door"
Snoop Dogg - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
Lil Wayne - "Go DJ"
Gangstarr - "Mass Appeal"
M.O.P. - "Ante Up"
Jay-Z - "Dead Presidents"
KRS-ONE - "Step Into A World"
Above the Law - "Black Superman"
The Luniz - "I Got 5 On It"