Hip hop icons Redman, Method Man, and Raekwon have shared their thoughts on the evolution of cyphers, unforgettable freestyles, and their respect for Eminem’s purpose-driven approach.

When hip hop legends Redman, Method Man, and Raekwon link up, the conversation is bound to deliver gems. During a sit-down with Billboard for their Red Bull 1520 freestyle, the trio reflected on the art of the cypher, their own creative processes, and standout moments from some of rap’s greatest. Eminem, frequently mentioned in cypher discussions, earned high praise for his impactful verses.

Redman pointed out how the content is the essence of Marshall’s verses:

Em always bodyin’ shit. What he was talking about [during a BET Hip-Hop Awards freestyle], the purpose he was talking about when he was freestyling is what I liked. He could have blacked out and just went HAM, but he talked about purpose and things that was going on, so [I] highly respect it.

Method Man echoed the sentiment, citing Eminem’s performance with Slaughterhouse as a favourite:

I really liked the Slaughterhouse/Eminem cypher. That shit was dope.

The respect between Redman and Eminem runs deep, as the Newark rapper reflected on their collaboration for “Off the Wall.” According to Redman, the creative process was seamless, though he admitted to second-guessing himself after hearing Eminem’s verse, which does not happen often:

I have never heard anyone in the world that has ever made me want to change my verse. I know that I’m coming with something different and I’m coming to body shit.
Like me and Eminem, when we wrote the record for “Off the Wall,” we wrote the song right there in the studio. I flew to Detroit. We wrote this song right there in the studio, and we laid it, and we didn’t go back. I didn’t hear his vocals — and I was like, “Damn, I should have tightened this. I should have said this. I need to go back.” No, we was very happy with what we wrote. I never in my life have changed my verse because of another man.

For hip hop fans, the trio’s reflections offer a glimpse into the mutual admiration and meticulous craft that fuels the genre’s legends. And the result of such attention and dedication you can hear in the final result, their first ever three-sided collaboration:

Method Man, Redman, Raekwon | Red Bull Spiral Freestyle