According to Urban Dictionary, a "Cypher" is, "Anything cyclical. If you're freestyling, you rap in a cypher ( one after the other). Interrupting another man will break that cypher (unless he's next in line and the dude behind him is falling off)." In other words, to freestyle but not in battle terms.
Hip-Hop Awards '11: Shady 2.0 Cypher
A cypher is a process that taps into your subconscious, or can be described as, "a state of mind where thoughts and actions flow from your mind..." At the BET awards every year, there is always a Hip-Hop cypher with well known rappers in the industry. This past awards show they presented the "Shady 2.0 Cypher". Five artists stood in a circle and freestyled in order one after the other. The artists in "Slaughter House" were presented in this years Cypher at the awards show. Through this idea of a "Cypher", Nice and iLL decided to create a "Long Island Cypher". It will build moral for Long Island hip-hop and upcoming artists. "The Long Island Cypher" brings awareness to Long Island, and makes people aware of the talent coming out of it.
"It gives rappers from all over Long Island the opportunity to come together, get their name out there and to be heard", said Cee Mizz. What better way for all Long Island rappers to unite and represent their hometown at the same time? Nice and iLL's Cypher was hosted in Baldwin this past weekend, at a clothing store called "Central Station".
With its great turnout of rappers who came to perform and those who came to support and listen, the "Long Island Cypher" was an overall success. Cee Mizz, J-Yard, and Joey Jack are already planning for the next one. The word spread like rapid fire through Facebook, promoting, and overall talk , and now artists in the area have been contacting Nice and iLL to sign up. This Cypher is recorded on a professional camera, then edited and posted on internet sites such as Facebook and YouTube for everyone to see. Instead of competing against one another, why not come together to share a common interest and passion.