Lin-Manuel Miranda Freestyles with Chicago's Chris Jones

While in the windy city to preside over the rehearsals and previews for the first out-of-town production of his cultural juggernaut, Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda took to the stage at the Lyric Opera to freestyle and chat with the Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones.

After agreeing to Jones' request that he freestyle for the audience, Miranda revealed his rule that if a reporter asks him to freestyle, he requires said reporter to beatbox. "You're going down with me," the composer joked before launching into a rap based on cue cards provided by Jones, which covered some of Chicago's most popular cultural touchstones, from the Cubs to Oprah.

Miranda and Jones also talked about Miranda's experiences growing up in New York and remaining true to his community, and how he felt out of place as a child, calling the juxtaposition an "Excellent recipe for making a writer."

Check out the videos of the freestyle session and the following interview by clicking on the links below!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-lin-manuel-miranda-freestyles-live-video-20160923-premiumvideo.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-lin-manuel-miranda-puerto-rico-humboldt-park-chicago-video-20160923-premiumvideo.html