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A First Friday freestyle, caught on camera.

Answers What made you smile today? · see how other cities answered →

A freestyle cipher on the corner of Santa Fe on a First Friday in Denver, filmed for nineteen minutes, during which the weekly question gets asked and one of the rappers answers it in a bar.

The question that week was what made you smile today. Most of this is people passing a microphone in the dark, and it is the loosest thing in the archive on purpose. One verse in, a line arrives that could stand as the motto of the whole night: “If you look at my life, it might be tragic, but I had fun every single day.”

Halfway through, Maceo takes the mic himself and does the announcement as a verse, explaining the bounty in rhyme: anyone around the globe can claim it, go outside, ask some questions, do it on video. He then admits, still rapping, that he probably would have forgotten to do this if he had not put it in his calendar, and that he is getting more organised.

Then the question gets put properly, off-mic, to one of the rappers: what is something that made you smile today? He does not answer in prose. He is asked to put it in the next freestyle and does, and it is the best line of the night: “Make art with my friends.” The man asking sums up the whole method in reply: that is even better.

The jewellery on the table belongs to him; he makes it, and shouts the brand.

A visitor named Sean turns up who has never been to Denver before and does not know any of the people rapping, and gives the simplest answer of all to the question: “Denver made me smile.”

The final verse is violent in its content. It is in the transcript because it was said. Language throughout is unfiltered, and the transcript is bleeped where the captions were.

What is in it

Jump straight to a moment.

Transcript

Auto-generated by YouTube, names corrected. Where YouTube masked a word it shows as [bleeped]; that is YouTube's, not ours. Published in full so it can be read, searched and quoted. Search every transcript →

0:00Flipping a bit of the best of my time. I’m trying to do this. Please believe good Jesus. They never believe us. Never leave us. But it’s late night. And it’s all right. And it’s hard walk. And I got But I kill it. Nah, it’s not like that. I’m just a nice cat who likes to paint black and white. As a matter of fact, as the vantes, you know that’s I rather be fast with the inner state concrete where people love the hate. But no one sees them. Please believe them. I will deepen the friendship for all human beings. This is the scene that I’m seeing. And

0:40every human being believes respect. Let’s believe that they threat. What if they silently right now? That’s assassination crowds. like that. We back. We better go that dance. I’m trying to do this. So there easy one silver wax so sleazy back to the method right here like I’m sipping a voodoo beer. I don’t even really like this [bleeped] but my one of my best friends brought that is so I’m drinking all night. That’s what I like. And in fact I like the Rubik’s cubes but could never solve it. That’s good. Why did they make a game I couldn’t play? It’s okay. your own hip hop parade. I’m not that, but I

2:12might be classic. If you look at my life, it might be tragic, but I had a fun every single day. And I keep living that [bleeped] way. So when I pass away, I hope y’all realize I love that [bleeped] Hip hop till I die.

2:32Very sick. Very sick. in the space. Usually he I used to love to skate, but then I bought a one. How that feel? Yo, let me get the mic when you’re ready.

3:02You got a we go back and forth, man. I don’t know why endorphins plus a little bit of cerebral headies. When I’m ready to rap, I’m ready. I keep it steady like a concrete flow. And then I try to grow even though the soil is steady like a concrete. I can’t do it. You already know. I lost my goddamn Oh [bleeped] back and forth. It’s okay to grab a mic. It’s a sweet freestyle like it’s right. I got a mind you and everybody got a point of view in opinion. Even in the stinks, he cares. What the [bleeped] do you think?

4:12It’s much easier for Oh, all day. You don’t have to push yourself too far. Hey, okay. We got big cows in the [bleeped] I want [bleeped] Big bully [bleeped] [bleeped] in the back of the fishing faded again. How you feeling? These days I’ been out here. It all depends. It all swings like the moose. Came through like where I’m supposed to go. I came through with a goddamn truth. I feel so clear now. Spin around like a straight down. You feel me? I don’t have to tell your mother. Filling up like a Daly Lama. Yeah, I do this [bleeped] so properly. Coloss it down my knees. Okay. Touch, touch,

5:03tag, freeze. Okay. fit it once again. You can depend. I’m out here young with my boy Caligan. Yeah, I forgot this dog’s name, but she’s here chilling. She’s about to make a million. She’s right here. She a man. She out here. She killing. Yeah. Out here spinning about to pass it to my man one time. Come through. Rip it like a sister. I don’t really give a [bleeped] what you talking about. Give me tools. I be [bleeped] walking out.

5:46Season highways. So sees highways. So I’m seeing sideways. So one sees with no delay. Gradually everybody dying gradually. Death is all I see. Ever bothers me. Why don’t we? brought a be in a tree. Know that’s for free RPGs. Used to play them a lot, but now I just sit back and smoke pot. Now I just make art in my home. It’s okay. Never had a home. Never had a gun to never remember. Yo, I don’t philosophy political fact is good enough for me. This how I live cuz I’m broke. I smoke hot. I do what I want. I like Bernie Sanders, but he’s too much. It’s okay.

6:35Sit back and rush. You love me too much about the politics. Could you follow this to follow through? I know that I’m not that dude and I’m not too on the go. So with your lady on your titties, look, that’s a fact. very sing I’mma jump in. I’m going to jump in.

7:47Yeah, please. Yo, you want me to hold that [bleeped] Yeah. Yeah, I got you. [bleeped] yeah. I appreciate you. Oh, I appreciate you catching that. Damn. He’s not my mic or even the vape. If I drop any of this now here on the corner of Santa Fe and I ain’t dropping bars with the sky details and what’s your name?

8:10Yo, High You got to hold that up. Take two table. It’s like a character cable or something. I can’t remember what it was, but it’s something. I’m on a corner and they’re having a function now. I want a camera in this thing, but I’m a different type of cat. I don’t really sleep. Wake up, smoke weed. Go back to Damn. Oh, I could have said anything. I could have said anything. Uh, I’m out of here. I’m rapping. There’s a bounty up to be rapping a freestyle about this platform called Big S. It didn’t happen. I guess this is it. So, I’ve been throwing up these, bounties. Anyone

8:52around the globe, you can come and claim it. Go outside, ask some questions, do it on video. Do it with blessings. You know, you just need some swag and finesse it. Ask them the right things. Let them believe they’re talking about how they plate interviews on. What’s the question this week? What made you smile? Okay. Okay. Once in a while, I drive bars. This is really spontaneous. I honestly probably would have forgot I said I do this cuz I know who to follow through the way I should. The way I say I will is true. But I guess I’m getting realer and realer. I planned out some time on my

9:29calendar next week. I said I’m going to do it this time. That way at least I’ll know I did it when the time passes. I guess I’m getting more organized, more robust. Yeah. Yeah. I must be st guy on the corner. She’s talking about whatever I want. Yeah. I said I reached out. So I did it for Kenny and I didn’t

10:02stop. He’s the funniest [bleeped] Let’s go. Let’s go. No, it’s all good. I wear my heart on my sleeve cuz you never really know which day could be last so you got to go. Yeah, we out here living spreading love Brooklyn. I’m on the corner like I always singing cupcakes till I caught a buzz. I got the cupcakes. That’s how I bought my first car and I knew I go far. It don’t hurt. Come here. It don’t hurt. You can get a little closer. You always bring the most.

10:45I’m the most. I think I’m awesome. How about you? Yeah, we got dogs in the crew. We always go hard like you always knew. We getting down every time we bump in town. That’s why you always ground.

11:03The ride of your life only comes through town only once or twice. [bleeped] that. comes around every day. You can say make it happen. Make it this way. The whole team coming up. That’s what’s up. We all go to the top and you know we get down when we’re down. Sometimes I’m sad. I turn it around. What makes you smile today? Doing this right here in a pretty way.

11:28I love you, too. How about everybody? Can we bring more love? She I like that. I like that. Okay. Okay. Freestyle on the corner with DJ Kell. DJ Vels.

11:50You jumping in. You jumping in. You have to hold the wire in. I was told. where skateboard skateboard drop it like it’s hard drop it like it’s hard drop it like it’s hard push kick push kick push kick push p and house and house kick push kick push Kick push kick push some [bleeped] I hate my feet in the earth. Got it. I’m about to spit it out. You know I surp You know that I be I ain’t going down for you [bleeped] fool. Listen up. You know that I just got some [bleeped] I’m about to spin the rules. Huh? coming. I don’t really give a [bleeped] Do

12:59you see the picture that you shut the [bleeped] up with us? I’m a sit on the beat and you got a heat glass jack on his feet. Can I I want to ask you a question. Give me.

13:30So, we’re doing a weekly question. We go out and ask people, do a man on the street. And the question is, what’s something that made you smile today?

13:37And I’d love next time you freestyle, if you throw it in there. Make an arm with my friends. Just make an art with my friends while we’re out here.

13:44Hell yeah. It’s all about the art. Hell yeah. I like it. That’s even better. I make all the jewelry over there in those pieces. Okay. Yeah, that’s it. Friday. I do this my way my way on highway. Too high for my own baby. Too high for me. I said that before. I got the magic door. You can predict my moves. I’m so smooth when I come through the street. I like freestyles and love. I love sad that I could go over that. Let’s repeat myself and go back to the beginning when enemy need descending. But I don’t know the snake and yo every you make but I do like to play like

14:32that. Look, I can say that don’t hit me. Don’t dismiss me. I like cuz I got too fresh. What do you like? Let’s mash a little bit on the street. I don’t know. I’m about to spit another type of [bleeped] flow. Listen up. Got the mic in my hand. Be care. I just believe one beat.

15:17Yo, this is my last one. Thank you guys for hanging out on the corner. Shouts out High League for the dope bar. First Fridays in Denver. We out here.

15:35Making my way through the hood, sipping this y. [bleeped] about to get blown with the flick. I like Yeah. Riding around the block with a Glock. Your ass get shot. That’s the grenade launcher. I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you. And now you bleed. G in your neck the noise. You know I will shoot you in your eyes just so I can hear the Making my way through the hood sipping this yank. [bleeped] about to get blown with the Mac. Round the block with a Glock. Your ass f to get shot.

16:48That’s the That’s the grenade. I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you. And now you bleeding. You want to shout out your socials or something? Want to see people can see your your jewelry? You want to shout out your socials?

17:07Yes. Lot boy jewelry. I’m on lot. Catch me out here all day, all night. Opening a lot of [bleeped] Hell yeah. Nice to meet you. This has been a good night.

17:16Yeah. Yeah. You guys are fun. On their radar for Paul. Thanks, guys. That’s a wrap. We’ll be back next. We’ll be back. WE CALL IT BACK and it’s going to be louder.

17:34I like it. This is definitely sick. You guys are definitely a crowd. Yeah, you’re crashing into No, you guys are sick. I was like, okay. I said now they’re freestyling over there. I said I’m supposed to freestyle.

17:47Oh, that’s pretty sick. There’s a guy. He has like a 50 bucks up for the best person to come on and freestyle about their platform.

17:53So, yeah, if I if I win, I’m excited. Hell yeah. I got I got a cipher on video. Okay. What’s your name? Sean. Sean, it’s nice to meet you. Mo,

18:03cheers, man. So, can I ask you my question for the week for this platform? We’re going out and doing like video journalism. We give away 100 bucks a week to whoever submits the our favorite video. Okay.

18:12And the question this week is, what’s something that made you smile this week? It’s my first time in Denver. Denver made me smile. What brought you out here?

18:23Checking out Denver. Okay. Hell yeah. And so, you don’t know these guys at all? I know. I know. Okay. I’m like, oh, you just happen to be here?

18:31No, no, no. No, he’s a Vermont boy. I’m a Vermont boy. Oh, I’m going to I’m going to Bradleber, Vermont next weekend. No [bleeped] You know where that is?

18:38Sure do. Oh, hell yeah. I’m like, let me throw a pen on a map. Yeah. What are you going there for? I just have some friends who are meeting up there from from a program I do.

18:46Yeah. Cool. That makes me smile. Yeah. There you go. I’m excited. We We’re all online for our class, so it’ll be our first time hanging out in person. Maybe in a couple months.

18:56Um I’m I’m curious. Do you have any questions you would want to ask people around the world? or some place you’ve never been that you want to go.

19:06Okay, I like that. I like that. What? Any other ones? There’s nothing wrong with that one. That’s it. All right. Hell yeah. Appreciate it, man. They serve.

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