Songs

Vintage: Mos Def’s Tim Westwood Freestyle

blame it on Meka December 17, 2015
mos-def-tim-westwood-freestyle

As of late, veteran disc jockey Tim Westwood has been treating hip hop heads to aural gifts in the form of timeless freestyles from his expansive vault, which spans the over 20 years he has been in the music business. Going as far back as 1987 with Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith, Tim has divulged freestyles from Raekwon, JAY Z Jay-Z, and Talib Kweli (with Pharoahe Monch and Last Emperor).

He once again makes Thursday a throwback, this time pulling out a session with Yasiin Bey Mos Def from 1999. Using Swizz Beatz’ instrumental for The LOX’ “Breathe Easy,” the then-Dante Smith goes off the dome for nearly five minutes. It’s a reminder of when the Black On Both Sides rapper was one of the most exciting newcomers to come from the underground rap scene, and Rawkus Records was leading the charge.