Denzel Washington surprised A$AP Rocky throughout a freestyle battle in Highest 2 Lowest and revealed he’s secretly been rapping for over 40 years.

Denzel Washington surprised A$AP Rocky and audiences alike with a freestyle rap battle in Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee’s newest movie, the place the Oscar winner performs a strong music government named David King.

The scene pits Washington’s character in opposition to Rocky’s Yung Felon inside a recording studio, however what caught everybody off guard was how a lot of Washington’s efficiency wasn’t scripted.

Instead of sticking to the web page, Washington dropped verses from legends like Nas, Tupac, DMX and Outkast, leaving Rocky visibly impressed. His supply wasn’t simply convincing—it was private.

“I’ve been a closet rapper for 40 years. Finally, I get the chance,” Washington informed the Associated Press.

A$AP Rocky, no stranger to lyrical competitors, admitted Washington outperformed him within the scene.

“He’s a Hip-Hop encyclopedia,” A$AP Rocky mentioned, praising Washington’s deep information of rap historical past and present artists.

The actor’s admiration for Hip-Hop turned much more obvious off-camera. During interviews, Washington rapped alongside to Nas’s “N.Y. State of Mind” and quoted lyrics from DMX and Outkast with out lacking a beat.

“I have been practicing for a long time, and nobody knew! I never had the platform,” Washington mentioned, explaining how his ardour for Hip-Hop remained non-public till now.

Despite borrowing strains from iconic artists, Washington’s supply and power made it really feel just like the rhymes have been his personal. Rocky, who’s constructed a rap profession, acknowledged the veteran actor’s sudden expertise.

The movie, which blends drama and music, allowed Denzel Washington to faucet right into a aspect of himself he’d stored hidden for many years. While his character is fictional, the efficiency revealed an actual a part of Washington’s id.

Highest 2 Lowest marks a uncommon second the place Washington’s love for Hip-Hop wasn’t simply referenced—it was carried out.

The movie lands in choose theaters on August 15 and is anticipated to increase nationwide later this month.

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