About

Original Definition

In hip hop culture, a cypher is a group of rappers in public rapping, usually freestyling. The above video is an example of an average cypher (Some inappropriate language). The usual cypher consists of several rappers improvising rap lyrics with or without a rap beat in various public locations, such as parks, subways, or parking lots. More examples below:

Youtube Cyphers

In 2008, cyphers gained a new definition when Youtube user Audible484 a.k.a. Audible began The Youtube Cypher.

This cypher helped create the rules of many cyphers to come. The main rules for Youtube Cyphers are: 1. One needs to have a certain number of lines (usually 16), 2. At the end of one's rap, one must "call out" another Youtube rapper to continue the cypher, and 3. One must be called out before entering the cypher. Nowadays, cyphers are usually started by beat producers rather than other rappers.

Examples

Here We Go Cypher

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Klassic Cypher: Suicide Bomber

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The 2009 Official MC Showcase

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Lyricist Cypher

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Choose Your Own Adventure Cypher

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Ramzo Cypher

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Ramzo Cypher 2

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