After a drawn out nonpayment issue marred one of 2014's biggest events in "Ether" last month, another string of battlers have come out with similar complaints following their participation in "Battle of the Bay 7." While Lush One was involved with promoting both events, anger over the BOTB7 nonpayment has been directed specifically at second-time event coordinator Teddy Grizzle.
The event itself had issues with two battles getting cancelled after the venue shut down to accommodate the night's next festivities, a birthday party for BOTB7 headliner Mistah F.A.B. KOTD successfully rescheduled Bender vs. The Saurus for the next day, but Pass vs. B Magic has yet to happen.
Battlers including The Saurus, Rum Nitty and Bender have come out on social media saying that Grizzle hasn't paid them and has gone AWOL.
Notably, less than a week ago, BattleRap.com released an exclusive interview with Lush One in which he said Grizzle "put his money where his mouth is to make shit crack" with regard to the latest Battle of the Bay event.
"Teddy Grizzle is an entrepreneur," Lush One said when asked about the "Duel In The Desert" coordinator. "He started out as a fan of battle rap culture and realized that he had the means and the intuition to find an angle for him to push things forward. And working with us is a clear indication of that. We're excited to have Teddy on board for this event. He put his money where his mouth is to make shit crack ... Hopefully he keeps doing this. Hopefully there's some longevity to it 'cause he definitely seems to have his head in the right place."
Obviously a few rappers seem to disagree. Check out what The Saurus, Rum Nitty, and KG The Poet had to say about the current predicament.
Think it's safe to say grizzle done with battle rap.
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
yo @RumNitty & @kgthepoet tell your boy Teddy Grizzle to remain in witness protection
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) January 30, 2015
@kgthepoet @RumNitty he sent me a FB message this morning saying he cant pay me then deleted his FB. and no phone. lol pure j cat
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) January 30, 2015
@TheSaurus831 @kgthepoet did the same shit to me cuz I'm hot
— SuccaFreeDaloc (@RumNitty) January 30, 2015
I guess this is what happens when i do business w/ someone who's stupid enough to pay $40k to see Arsonal & Fab battle smfh
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) January 30, 2015
@PIGSTYnorthvan he paid my deposit months ago & never even hinted that there would be a delay in payment
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) January 30, 2015
@PIGSTYnorthvan exactly. He can somehow give $20K TO Ars but god forbid I get the thousand he owes me smfh
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) January 30, 2015
@TheSaurus831 @kgthepoet He in my city tho ima run across him
— SuccaFreeDaloc (@RumNitty) January 30, 2015
@ANGRYFAN007 @TheSaurus831 @caveyourskull @RumNitty he told me the day after the event he gave fab 50 free tickets that fab flipped. Smh
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
Is somebody gonna take responsibility for this situation?
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
@ANGRYFAN007 @TheSaurus831 @caveyourskull @RumNitty I got paid way before the event. Not sure , but I think me ars and fab the only ones
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
Facts.Not only did grizzle give fab 50 FREE tickets that fab flipped, but he probly let in a good 50-75 niggas in free. $50/tic do the math
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
We talking an extra 5 stacks thrown away. Could've paid everyone he owed just from that.
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
Duel of the desert. I warned him to start small and build. He wanted to flash like he had it. 2 events later he broke.
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
Money does not equal being a good businessman
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
Now he in hiding. Who is gonna take responsibility for artist not getting paid. looked at Alki last time, now who should niggas look at??
— KG (@kgthepoet) January 30, 2015
KG was also a guest on Angryfans Radio on Friday night and cast a spotlight on the situation in a lengthy interview:
Separately, Ness Lee addressed the debacle more sympathetically with some comments on the RMBVA forums.
"i got the same message The Saurus got," he wrote. "And after being promised that I'd get second half just yesterday. The Airline screwed me twice by giving my flights away so i had to pay my way to get out there. He knew the situation and promised me I'd get my doe."
"Honestly i still co-sign the dude," Ness continued. "He's a good cat, he's just young and extremely inexperienced and young minded. He definitely meant well in the whole ordeal but he wasnt ready. Of course I'm pissed about my doe, but not as angry as i am about, say, an MC WAR. He had good intentions from the beginning. I'd have a drink with dude if saw him in person and put him on game. I'd punch one of these MC WAR niggas."
BattleRap.com reached out to Grizzle for comment but received no response.
Does this tarnish the "Battle of the Bay" legacy? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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