Since 2007, the BET Hip-Hop Awards have been honoring the MC's, music, and artistry that keeps the Hip-Hop culture we love moving forward and evolving. The ceremony’s rap freestyle series, “The Cypher,” highlights the lyrical ability, charisma, and stage presence of Hip-Hop icons and emerging MC's in a traditional rap cypher setting.

Rappers have given some memorable performances throughout the years, with some artists making their mainstream debut in their cyphers and other classic acts getting together — creating fan-favorite reunions. The BET Hip-Hop Award Cyphers have always created exciting moments for Hip-Hop fans. In celebration of the 2021 BET Hip-Hop Awards and the first Rock the Bells Cultural Impact Award, we look back to some of the show’s most memorable cyphers.

10. Nicki Minaj, Joe Budden, Buckshot, and Crown Royyal (2009)

Then, unknown to the mainstream, a young, hungry, and emerging Nicki Minaj spit an unforgettable verse, flaunting her over-the-top energy and vocal inflections, witty punchlines, and flow, ahead of her debut studio album, 2010’s Pink Friday.

9. Eminem Donald Trump Diss (2017)

Eminem returns for the third time on The Cypher to deliver an acapella freestyle aimed directly at former President Donald Trump. Shady, the rap music legend, delivered a passionately aggressive monologue, venting his frustrations about the notorious politician’s controversial term in office.

8. Man With The Iron Fist Cypher Childish Gambino, Joey Bada$$, A$AP Rocky, Angel Haze, and Dicky Graham (2012)

The RZA recruited his favorite emerging emcees showing promise circa 2012 in this battle of the mic. Hip-Hop weirdos, A$AP Rocky, Childish Gambino, and Joey Bada$$ all talked their shit over classic RZA production, flaunting their larger-than-life personalities and bars. 

7. Ice Cube and Rev. Run Family Cypher (2010) 

Rev. Run and Ice Cube took over Hip-Hop in the ‘80s as the frontmen in two of Hip-Hop’s most prominent groups of all time. Since their glory days, both have become entrepreneurs and family men in their own right. Rev and Ice Cube were joined by their rapper’s sons delivering a heartwarming family cypher, creating a coming-of-age moment for the iconic MC;s.

6. G.O.O.D. Music Cypher (2010) 

Kanye West shows up ready for business in a three-piece suit along with his protege’s and G.O.O.D. Music labelmates Big Sean, Pusha T, Cyhi The Prynce, and Common. The freestyle cypher was aired only a month before Kanye would release his magnum opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; some rhymes from the Chicago MC's verse were used throughout the album, giving fans a sneak peek of what was to come. 

5. Yasin Bey, Black Thought, and Eminem (2009)

Mos Def, Eminem, and Black Thought set off the standard for one of the first viral moments from the BET Hip-Hop Award’s Cypher series. The trio offered their iconic flows, Yasin Bey delivering a verse from his record “Brooklyn We Go Hard,” Black Thought with some introspective bars, and Eminem adding his firey energy to the tail-end made this cypher a favorite for many fans. 

4. Xzibit, DJ Quik, E-40, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Kurupt, and YG (2012) 

Three generations of West Coast Hip-Hop brought it back to the lunch table on this rendition of The Cypher. DJ Quik, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, E-40, and Xzibit team up with then-emerging Los Angeles MC's Kendrick Lamar and YG for this “passing the torch” moment in Hip-Hop history.

3. Fabolous, Jadakiss, Juelz Santana, and Ace Hood Cypher (2008)

Fab, Jadakiss, Juelz Santana, and Ace Hood each deliver classic gritty East coast bars, spitting bars about hustling, parasailing, and champagne. Each MC one-upped the other, ending with a memorable verse from Top 5 Dead or Alive, Jadakiss. 

2. B.I.G. K.R.I.T., Machine Gun Kelly, Kendrick Lamar, and B.O.B (2011)

After releasing his debut studio album, Section .80, in 2011, a young Kendrick Lamar would make his television debut on the BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher with Big K.R.I.T., Machine Gun Kelly, Tech N9ne, and B.O.B. Each MC emerging into the mainstream after blog success, delivering their hungriest verses, especially Lamar, who would set the precedent that he was here to rap.

1. Slaughterhouse Shady 2.0 Cypher (2011)

This now-iconic cypher stars Eminem and his rap supergroup, Slaughterhouse. The esteemed wordsmiths linked up as if they were the Rap Avengers, each MC flaunting their individual powers in wordplay, wit, charisma, and punchlines — all over the chilling instrumental of The East Tlatbush Project’s “Tried by 12.” The cypher re-popularized the beat, as everyone and their mama hopped on the beat spitting freestyles of their own, making this cypher the dopest BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher of all time.