Imagine the rhythm of poetry added to the intensity of music in a spontaneous mix that's more powerful than any live show.

That's the heart of a freestyle performance.

"They tell me what kind of stuff they like to rhyme over," Jay Buim (sophomore-film and video) said. "Then they just make it up right there in front of everyone."

Buim organized the group Hip-Hop Anonymous for rap and freestyle fans to enjoy their music and to perform at the Tall Shiva Hookah Lounge, 224 W. College Ave.

The last event packed the Hooka Lounge with over 70 people.

"I was really glad that many people came down, especially on a Wednesday night," Buim said.

Before the freestylers took the mic, Buim -- who normally DJs parties -- warmed up the crowd withthe music that he normally doesn't get to spin.

"Mos Def, Jurassic 5, and there's the really underground people like Atmosphere," Buim said. "And some older artists that don't get to be heard anymore -- Gang Starr and a Tribe Called Quest."

Though there's an audience for freestyling and less popular hip-hop, there are few places in State College to hear it other than parties.

Andrew Koch (junior-labor and industrial relations), the first freestyler of the night, said he normally performs for friends and at parties.

"It's something I practice a lot though," Koch said.

His performance wasn't completely spontaneous.

"Some of it's written, some freestyle," he said.

He left the mic after several songs with a slightly raspy voice to be met by high fives from the crowd.

Most of the songs had serious and personal lyrics.

"Penn State, it's all about lows and highs," one performer said to preface his song about a girl.

Many lyrics also had a humorous bent. "I act like Tiger Woods how I play the course," one performer said. Later in the same song, he sang, "Think I act like Pokemon, the way I peek at you."

Buim himself doesn't freestyle but sees himself more as an organizer for those who love the music he does.

"[Hip-Hop Anonymous] is open for anyone who wants to DJ, freestyle, even breakers [break dancers]," Buim said. "I'm just starting to do my own production. Hopefully, I'll be able to make my own music for people to rhyme over."

Although almost all the freestylers at the last performance at the Hooka Lounge were male, Buim said that he is trying to create an environment that is open to all freestylers.

"It doesn't have any classification -- what race you have to be, what gender, what age," he said.

Though Hip-hop Anonymous has gotten off to a late start this semester, Buim was pleased by its popularity so far.

"I was really glad that there was an audience ... Freestyling is something that is really hard to do," he said. Anyone interested in performing can contact Buim at 814-862-7739.