Freestyle Professors Biography

The resulting 8 cuts on the Vintage EP showcase both the production skills of Branesparker, along with the rough, guttural rhymes of B-Spark and the smooth, polished flow of Giff. They enlisted the help of Showbiz, a continued supporter of the crew, who produced two tracks. With its mix of hardcore street cuts like Hear What I Hear, mellower radio cuts like Lil’ Boy Blue and throwback Old School like Take It Back, The Vintage EP was an underground success. It was released simultaneously with a limited one-time 500 press EP from Geo & Ricochet entitled The Lil’ Sum ‘Em Sum ‘Em EP. This EP, named after an underground burner produced by Branesparker for the duo back in 1994 on previously only available on vinyl, brought out 5 unreleased cuts all produced by B-Spark as well as a brand new Freestyle Professors cut titled Corporate America. This EP was only available through the crew’s website, but a CD-only compilation entitled the Best of the Freestyle Professors included the original vinyl-only “Your Pocket’s Been P:cked EP” from 1994 as well as nearly all the unreleased cuts from Geo & Ricochet.
The response was enormous. The two simultaneous releases confirmed to the fans what they had long suspected -- Branesparker was a producer on par with the greats from the SBX. Favorable reviews appeared for all three projects. A mention by Chairman Mao in XXL (Chairman’s Choice) was followed by an article appeared in the British-based magazine Hip Hop Connection with photography by the legendary Joe Conzo (see attached). Galvanized, the crew set about working on a brand new full length LP entitled Gryme Tyme that would they hoped would be the hardest, funkiest release of 2008. Word had spread and established names in the South Bronx production world were eager to help the newly-returned crew. Along with the requisite cuts from beatsmith Branesparker, the crew received complementary beats from Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz (continuing to show love), Buckwild and Minnesota.