Freestyle

Once he was "ushered" out of the phenomenal underground crew the Arsonists, many wondered if Freestyle would be able to carry an album by himself. Three years in the making, his debut album, Etched in Stone, puts all speculation to rest.

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And not much has changed since fans last heard the rapper on the Arsonists' debut, As the World Burns. He's known mostly for his rapid-fire flow and delivery, and his energy and liveliness are showcased throughout the entire record, especially on cuts like "Carry On" and "Rock Da Planet." Lyrically, he tackles relationships ("Understand If I"), the music business ("Consequence") and the responsibilities of life ("It's a Beautiful Thing"). He even weighs in on the long-played-out concept of being a female in the hip-hop game ("Can't Let You Go") -- and somehow makes it work.

While Stone features the production talents of up-and-comers such as MG1, Context and the Steiber Twins, it also stays true to hip-hop's roots with contributions from DJ Noize, DJ Hype and DJ Static.

Even though Freestyle's lyrical ability and beats sometimes fly over the heads of today's fair-weather hip-hop fans -- not to mention commercial-radio programmers -- purists will be satisfied with the music, which is stone cold.