J. Cole

Before he was the first son of Roc Nation, Jermaine Cole was just a kid in an oversized t-shirt frestyling in a basement. He had skills even back then, though

50 Cent

Before creating his G-Unit empire and releasing one of the biggest debut albums in rap history, 50 Cent was just a hungry New York emcee freestyling with Consequence, N.O.R.E. and Punchline.

Eminem

Eminem cut his teeth in the battle rap scene.

Nicki Minaj

Before taking the rap world by storm with her army of Harajuku Barbies, Nicki was spitting hard on "the come up."

VADO

Being joining forces with Killa Cam and the UN, Vado was spitting serious bars back in the Harlem underground.

Notorious B.I.G.

At 17 years old, freestyling on the corner in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, Biggie was a force even back then. Those watching him had to know they were in the presence of greatness.

Kanye West

Yeezy's trademark style and sense of humor could be seen as early as this 2002 freestyle.

Jay-Z

Before becoming the biggest rapper in the world, Jay-Z was rhyming fast in this video for Original Favor's 1993 single "Can I Get Open?"