An improvisation learnt by heart

Abstract

In this article I will discuss the improvisational element of freestyle, described by its performers as rap created “off the top of the head”. I will utilize some examples collected in a three year research project about a freestyle battle that takes place by the Santa Cruz metro station, in São Paulo. This selection of verses will demonstrate the importance assigned by the freestylers to the improvisation of lyrics, whilst as the same time showing how clichés are used so abundantly that they call into question the very notion of improvisation. I’ll propose that the challenge of the performers of freestyle is to make their verses seem improvised and will try to demonstrate how freestylers make memorized verses appear to be fresh verses created “off the top of the head”, simply by making references to the present context of the battle.