Music

HOW YOU WHAT? SOPHOMORE CYPHER

The city of Indianapolis became a hot topic during last month’s All-Star weekend. Not just for basketball, the Hip-Hop world took notice to the first take of the All-Star Naptown Cypher presented by Asia & Co Productions. The consensus was that it was not a representation of the culture in the Circle City. Surely there would be a follow-up, right?

That effort dropped today as the How You What? Sophomore Cypher was released after a teaser was dropped this week via Instagram. Hosted by Naptown’s own Dead Silence, the cypher consisted of 5 MC’s, all of which are from or reside on the far east side. DJ Strick spun the instrumental for Nas’ “Oochie Wally” and the rest is history!!!

How You What? Sophomore Cypher

Jet Santiago would kick off the first leg with bars that set the tone for the cypher. Going absolutely silly over the track he solves the question about that infamous chicken. “Call me your excellency/evidently I’m a better MC/that chicken crossed the road and ran into me.” Femcee TVT The Rapper took the mic and rode the track while clearly showing that she wasn’t pressed being the only woman in the cypher. She spits “Put me in a box so blind niggas I’ma make ’em see/always the one doing the breakups/call me the referee.”

Leg 3 of the cypher went to PBT Ace. His gritty, lyrical ride included both ties to both love and loyalty over these bitches. The next MC up was Skypp. Stating the obvious he spits “Yeah, took y’all long enough/Y’all know they couldn’t “rap rap” but they songs tough/I’m so NAP like the shit that makes a comb get stuck/what mufuckas ain’t puttin on like us.”

T.G.I. Free would take the anchor of the cypher. I had the opportunity to see Free perform during All-Star Weekend for the first time alongside Jet & Skypp. He closed it out like Michael Jordan in Game 6 with powerful punchlines like “Steven Jackson in the stands/bitch I’m smacking shit/and cut me off they know I got it like I’m Kaepernick.”

As a native of Indianapolis and correspondent of Hip-Hop, THIS is how you do a cypher! But please, don’t take my word for it. Check out the official video for How You What? Sophomore Cypher down below. Let us know in the comments what you think.

Special shouts out and appreciation goes out to everyone involved with this outstanding cypher. Coco Michelle (@coco_michelle_ on IG), DarkkUstupiD | Music Production (@darkkustupid_), Craig Allen (@craigallenfilms), June (@june1oth), Kennedy MaKay Weaver (@kaymakaydesigns), Asia Ellis of Asia&Co Productions (@asiacoproductions) and all the artists involved #HowYouWhat?

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