The year was 2004. JAY Z Jay-Z had, temporarily, retired from rap music (yet was appearing on everyone else’s albums like he hadn’t). The South was flush with talent. And, across the pond, various members of Roc-A-Fella Records had visited Tim Westwood‘s radio show for a freestyle.
While it’s nowhere near as epic as the nigh-genre defining “HE’S ONLY SIXTEEN!” moment on Hot 97 Memphis Bleek, a particularly hyped N.O.R.E. and the Young Gunz hold their own throughout the session. A gold star for anybody that can name the Timbaland-produced instrumental they rapped over.
