It has been nearly 20 years since 1997. There was a lot going on as the calendar ticked towards the new millennium. In 1997 Mike Tyson famously bit off Evander Holyfield's ear, Princess Diana was killed and the price of a movie ticket was about $4.50. It was also right when Eminem's career was first taking off, in between his debut album Infinite and the critically acclaimed follow-up The Slim Shady LP. 1997 was also the year he went on Baruch College's Solo Vibes Radio Show and delivered an on-air freestyle session with A.L. (All Lyrics).
The cipher goes back and forth between Eminem and A.L., a noted battle rapper at the time (via Pigeons and Planes). With this freestyle we see the mental dexterity that Eminem became so highly touted for. It is a chance to see Eminem in his period of growth before The Slim Shady LP where everything took off for the Detroit rapper.
In an interview with Hip Hop DX, DJ Sincere, one of the hosts of the show, looked back on that moment when Eminem came on the show: "Needless to say Em killed it with a battle style that was so sharp, besides his flow and delivery, how he spit, what he spit, and how everyone in the room was so impressed. You could hear laughter, oooooo's and ahhhhhs after some of his punch lines. All the emcees up there that night killed it and you could feel the energy and how raw it was just on some hip-hop s--t."
Eminem's Shady Records just released their 15th year anniversary compilation Shady XV, featuring Yelawolf, Eminem, 50 Cent, Slaughterhouse and others. The release of this freestyle adds to the long list of cyphers on the web from Eminem and puts added attention on his music. Listen to the freestyle below split in two parts.
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