BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher: Who Was The Best?
Eminem, Black Thought, & Mos Def in BET’s Hip Hop Awards cypher
What happens when you put some of the world’s greatest wordsmiths in a circle and have the DJ throw on a beat? The answer is pure hip hop at its essence.
If you tuned into Tuesday night’s BET Hip Hop Awards 2009, you probably witnessed a couple of obscure awards, a few lackluster performances, and a lot of Gucci Mane. In the midst of all the chaos however was one of the most beautiful, yet rarely seen elements of hip hop – the cypher.
Verses from rap greats Mos Def, Black Thought, and Eminem still have everyone engaged in heated debates over who was the nicest, while Joe Budden’s verse has many stuck wondering why he’s still not signed to a major label.
The three-part cypher also featured solid verses from DrJays.com’s “Summer Sensation 2009” stars Nicki Minaj and Nipsey Hussle. Buckshot, Wale, Gsan, KRS-One, and the Nike Hot 16 contest winner Crown Royyal contributed verses as well.
In case you missed it, catch the video after the jump:
As an old-school music fan living in an era infatuated with pop-rap dances, skinny jeans, and “swag”, seeing hip hop brought back to its roots was refreshing to say the least. The rest of the show was pretty unimpressive to me, but the cypher definitely made it worth the two-hour watch.
Out of all 11 MCs, who do you think had the best verse in the cypher? Was there anyone who should’ve just stayed home?
The cypher with Mos Def, Black Though, and Em was just crazy
My vote goes to Joe Budden – he killed it. Followed by KRS ’cause you know his lived up to the meaning of “freestyle” more than any of the others.
Last year’s cyphers had more standouts though, including Jadakiss and Juelz Santana.
~Boss Lady
I Agree With FM Mos Def, Black Thought, and Eminem Kill it and Nicki Minaj,Joe Budden was just crazy
Joe Budden hurt dat.((((Never needed a A-N-R mine needed me))))And dat Serena line was ova da head..(((Cock bak 2 get even ya not havin a wet dream u getting shot at why ya sleeping)))Now das da essence of hip hopjust wat we needed
Man i feel bad for thinkin Em, may have slipped off for takin such a long time off. and his album, and this freestyle solidified his spot as one of the top MC’s! real talk!!!!
I agree with Boss Lady. Joe Budden is #1 (his mixtapes are absolutely the illest and he’s been killing it since “Focus”) but you have to give it up to Eminem as well.
thye were all sickk.lo but em was the best alongside mos def…
real talk the whiteboy put it down hard
Where’s Lil Wayne?
Budden and Eminem straight killed this, this cypher definitely made the awards worth watching.
Nicki Minaj killt it…She go hard
I gotta give it to Em, Mos Def, and Nikki! They killed it!
Eminem and Mos Def really went hard at dis! Props to Nicki Minajtoo. They all great..(: