Taylor Jay vs. Itz Da Sultan

Who: Taylor Jay (Baton Rouge, La.) vs. Itz Da Sultan (Cedar Grove, La.)
Where: Matrix Rap Battle League's "Unfinished Business" in Houston, Texas
When: Jan. 16, 2016

The problem with one-round battles is that they're difficult to judge. Fans are always left wondering what would've happened if both lyricists had the chance to go back and forth to decide the winner over three rounds. This battle — the headliner from Matrix Rap Battle League’s “Unfinished Business” — is no different.

The battle is essentially a "Rookies vs. Vets" match-up. Da Sultan has been on a tear since his entry into the #SouthernBattleRap scene last year, having battled for Juice Battle League in Shreveport and GotBarzTv in New Orleans. He quickly became a member of the Flatline crew along with B'Eric, Boogie and Queen Of The Ring veteran O’fficial and since then he’s shown a thirst to prove his talent and elevate himself above other newcomers.

Taylor Jay has established herself over the last few years with numerous appearances on QOTR, notably against Melato Black and Ah Di Boom (#FreeBoom), and was largely favored to win this battle because of her status as a vet and her experience battling men. She was the clear crowd favorite here, leaving Sultan as the underdog.

His angle didn't help things in the building either. Taking an approach that many fans believe cost him the battle, he used his “preacher” persona to speak on the lesbian relationship between Taylor and Buretta Blaze of Houston’s AmmoGang. In a Texas crowd full of AmmoGang affiliates, it didn't win him many points. By the time he moved on, he'd lost most of the crowd.

Taylor Jay opened up immediately with a bar-heavy round that resonated with the live audience, giving them punch after punch. She delivered a flurry of personal haymakers referencing her opponent's profession as a preacher, which perfectly rebutted Sultan’s angle.

The crowd is generous for her in places (even cheering during a choke at one point) but nonetheless she presented a phenomenal round with some fresh wordplay and some killer references to Southern rappers Boosie and Hurricane Chris.

It's a definite style clash, but I gave Taylor Jay the clear win in what is a must-watch battle.  Check it out and let me know who you think won.

Pretty much every battle we post on the site is either notable or excellent, but occasionally we want to pay extra attention to footage that deserves more love than it's getting on YouTube. See all our "Don't Sleep!" battles here.