I'm not sure why it took 'til now for this freestyle to be released—but, whatever. Eight years ago, Kanye West flew (on maybe his first first-class flight?) to London and visited with the esteemed and hyperactive radio DJ Tim Westwood. College Dropout-era 'Ye was much different than the 'Ye of recent years. Both share a similar interest in conscious rap, but the 2005 edition freestyled about the dangers of other rappers focusing on cars and clothes and jewels—while, say, 2011 Watch The Throne Kanye showed no issue at all with releasing an album that's wildly materialistic. This particular Kanye is much more regional, too. Notice how he brings many of his lines back to his hometown of Chicago; something you'd never see from the Paris and London jetsetting Kanye of today. 

Overall, it's a cool 10-minute look that shows the wide evolution the rapper has taken over a not-terribly long period of time. As the Smoking Section says, though, one thing hasn't changed over those eight years: His confidence. Even at the start of his career, he showed no qualm undertaking a 10-minute freestyle.

[H/T: Hot New Hip-Hop]