Justin "Superman" Freeman
Justin’s mastery of multisyllabic rhyme schemes and punchlines off the top is awe inspiring.. unbelievable…sometimes even seemingly superhuman.
But this skill didn’t come by accident.
Born in Clayton County and raised in Dekalb County, Justin’s childhood was filled with Pokémon, Beyblades, backyard flips, and the rhythms of everyday life. He enjoyed all types of music but Hip Hop became personal when he started freestyling with his brothers—tapping beats on desks, battling in basements, and making songs completely off the top. Drawn to the mastery of Eminem and Lil Wayne and inspired by the message of Lecrae, and the 116 Clique, he began recording with his first group 3G from church.
Justin was immersed in Hip Hop but it was largely just for fun, But everything changed in 2011when he watched the legendary Shady 2.0 Cypher. Captivated particularly by Eminem, Royce da 5’9” and Crooked I, Justin thought to himself “if I can’t rap like that, it’s not worth rapping.” He stopped listening as a fan and started studying as an emcee. He obsessed over mechanics—multisyllabic patterns, slant rhymes, word bending, and precise pronunciation—filling a notebook called “The Lab,” picking a word on each page and rhyming it as many ways as he could. Around that time, he and his brothers formed a group called Superhumans. “We just wanted to show everyone how good we were.”
But what began as a name to showcase skill became a philosophy: refusing to live an ordinary life, pushing past limits, and embracing the parts of yourself that don’t fit the mold. Growing up he had always felt like an outlier in school, culture, and religion. He didn’t want to have to feel like he had to translate himself to those that didn’t feel the same way. He didn’t want an ordinary life. He wanted to be the best to ever do it.
Justin’s dedication led him to compete in One Shot, the rap competition created by one of his hero’s Crooked I. After advancing through multiple cities and rounds, Crooked pulled Justin aside: “I made this show to show people the kind of rap that you just did.” Later, he received what was the greatest compliment of his life when Crooked told him if they collaborated he’d have to really try or Justin might “kill him on the track.”
Even as his reputation grew, Justin often carried the sense of being alone in his craft. —until he discovered Soul Food Cypher.
He describes it best in his own words:
“I was looking for places to rap more, and that’s why I love Soul Food Cypher—I don’t feel alone anymore. From my first sessions at Space 2 and Little Five Points, the vibe was dope, everyone was nice, and the talent was real. It’s rare to find a circle where people are that good at freestyling—a lost art form—and I kept coming back again and again. The more I stayed, the more I realized it was about family and passing on a legacy beyond just trying to be the best rapper. Being around people who see a blank wall and imagine a thousand possibilities, who already “get it,” has meant so much to me where I don't have to translate. Walking in, you feel the support, the excitement, and the shared love for this art form. It humbled me too. At first, I wanted to be the best rapper—and I still do—but I’ve learned there’s so much more. It’s not just about multisyllabic rhymes and punchlines. I got to experience the unique flows, wit, passion and knowledge from other incredible MC’s. Everyone brings their own style and perspective that only they can, and together it becomes something bigger than yourself. The differences create harmony, the different colors create a masterpiece. It’s less about proving you’re better than anyone else and more about offering your best and learning from others. That’s the game changer. Even outside the cypher, the conversations, the support, and the humanity make it special. Not a lot of creative spaces feel like that, and I gravitate toward places where I can be fully me. Soul Food Cypher is exactly that—where an outlier like me found a tribe.”
Justin truly is remarkable, but he believes everyone has the capacity to be superhuman, Justin says. “Superhuman” isn’t about being above anyone else—it’s about embracing the difference inside you, pushing your limits, and offering your best.
“And If you feel that same difference” he says..
“You might be superhuman too.”