Freestyle Mondays Celebrates 13 Years, New Location at NYC’s Meridian 23, Monday Jan. 5, 2015

Freestyle Mondays returns to Manhattan in a new location, as it celebrates 13 years of live band-infused battles and open mics dedicated to impromptu displays of lyrical prowess.

A weekly event for many years, Freestyle Mondays has since settled down into a first Mondays-of-the-Month format, spending 2014 in the heart of Williamsburg at the recently shuttered Spike Hill. With that, Freestyle Mondays once again returns to Manhattan, where it once held court at venues like Sin Sin and Bar 13, this time taking up residency at Chelsea hotspot Meridian 23.

Freestyle Mondays regularly draws a packed multi-cultural, artistic and participatory house. The tried-and-true format of the night includes a “game show battle,” with eight rappers facing off in head-to-head verbal combat, rapping unscripted lines aimed at their randomly drawn opponent, revolving around subject categories chosen on the spot. It is competitive, often hilarious, sometimes brutal, but never mean spirited.

Backed by the Freestyle Mondays band, a rotating cast of some of New York City’s most talented musicians, the battle, and subsequent open mic jam session, pulls in rappers and rap fans from all walks of life. Whether you fancy street oriented gritty, grimy New York boom bap, witty nerdcore, or smoked out space-hop, participants and fans find extreme enjoyment at the punchline pugilism on display at a Freestyle Mondays events.

Even those who aren’t bonafide rap fans will almost certainly find enjoyment from the talent consistently on display at any given Freestyle Mondays event.

The Freestyle Mondays family debuts at Meridian 23 on Monday, January 5th, 2015 with an All-Star Battle of Champions to celebrate their 13 year anniversary. Hosted by world touring artist iLLspokinn and multi-genre songstress Mariella, Freestyle Mondays has the perfect one-two combo to keep every episode moving with flair. Add to this magical, musical mix, tunes spun by DJ MilkMoney to make the cipher complete.

For those who enjoy live performances, skillful hip hop and great music, there are few better examples then Freestyle Mondays. Always free, always fun, Freestyle Mondays continues to be a brilliant gem in the crown of hip hop’s hometown kingdom.

Freestyle Mondays at Merdian 23 (161 W. 23rd St., NYC) – Monday, January 5, 2014 at 8:30pm (and every 1st Monday thereafter)