Big T Says Battle Rap Is "Getting Saturated"

In an exclusive interview with Battle Rap, Big T touched on the nearly universal feeling amongst battle rapper of losing a match, his thoughts on the viability of battle rappers transitioning into the industry at large and why he thinks the industry should be monopolized by a catch-all league.

Remembering a battle between Conceited and Yung Ill, Big T recalled DNA speaking directly to Yung Ill after the bill about his obvious loss.

“Conceited battled Yung Ill, I think,” Big T said. “DNA walked on the stage right after the battle like, ‘You lost. You just lost. You just lost.’ And I’m thinking like, ‘I know he doesn’t wanna hear this.’ At the end of the day, it hurts. If you lose, it hurts bro. You lose a battle, you could almost always relate to where Eminem came from, where he was like, he lost a battle and he would be messed up. I remember when I was younger, 16. I entered a Freestyle Friday joint in Chicago and I lost a battle and I was sick for like a week like somebody died. It really messed me up. But I came back and I started killing. Don’t nobody want that feeling of losing.”

During the interview, Big T also explained his view that within a year or two a large league may have the ability to consolidate the industry.

“Battle Rap falling off? Nah,” he said. “It’s getting saturated. If that’s considered falling off, yeah. I just think Battle Rap should be monopolized right now. Basically, it’s so big to the point where it should be an NBA. It’s just this...It’s too many people battling on different leagues. That’s how I feel. I think we’re maybe a year or two away from that. Somebody needs to get the big idea. These millions of views, I’m a person. I battle. I would have more fame and notoriety than a person that just put out a record. It’s getting very close. Very close.”

Speaking more generally about the much-talked about transition for battle rappers from that arena to the mainstream, Big T alluded to a stigma holding many performers back.

“Who’s to say these battle rappers can’t make music?” he said. “These Jay Z’s, [Eminem’s], these people were battle rappers. But you know what, they had culture. All it is is somebody to show people the structure. I think it’s a stigma because they scared ‘cause we could come for their spot. We could come up. Like 50 Cent told me, ‘Ya’ll could come up with the lyrics all day. Once ya’ll find that right, it’s gon’ be over.’ They gon’ put the stigma up. They gon’ put this force-field that they blinding people with that’s not true at all. It’s good. It’s undeniable. That’s all I gotta say.”