Ahead of next week’s Shady Records-backed Total Slaughter event in New York, Hot 97's Ebro Darden spoke with WatchLOUD and addressed the headlining battle.
Speaking about Joe Budden’s transition into the ring, Ebro said “this Battle Rap thing is gonna be interesting for him.”
“You know what? Actually, I be trolling ya’ll,” he said. “I don’t hate Battle Rap. I just wish ya’ll made better songs. But the real thing is some of these cats is really good. Hollow Da Don is one of them...He’s entertaining man. He’s funny. I think Joe Budden got his hands full. It’s gonna be interesting to see how somebody like a Joe Budden takes his song-making ability and turns it into something that’s really gonna appeal to cats in here for Total Slaughter. I think he’s got the voice. He’s got the styles. We know he’s got the bars. But we’ve only seen most of that in his song-making ability.
“But I love when Hollow be getting hype and he’s pounding his fist,” he added. “He be squealing on cats. That’s funny to me. But it’s gonna be good.”
Addressing the possibility that Joe Budden’s appearance against Hollow Da Don will pave a way for other industry rappers to follow suit, Ebro suggested it might “if the check is right.”
“Look, I think for mainstream emcees the only interest for them in Battle Rap and going to battle with somebody—you know, a lot of cats ain’t with all that personal space shit ya’ll be doing,” he said. “I’m not with that. Cats all in my zone. I’m not doing all that. I think cats that’s already making money from making songs and performing at shows, for them to go Battle Rap and do that, they’re coming to validate somebody. No matter how people twist it, what Joe Budden’s doing for Hollow Da Don is he’s validating that kid. He’s putting that kid on the map because obviously he already respects what he does. I’m not gonna go as far as to say, ‘It’s gonna open the door’ ‘cause we’ve already seen some mainstream cats that wanna battle. We’ve seen a lot of cats like Meek Mill who come from that. I wouldn’t get our hopes up that we gonna see more and more of this. Now, if the check is right, which I’m sure Joe Budden’s check is right, he gon’ be out here. Plus, ain’t his boss running this? Eminem. And he signed to Eminem? Joe, you better get your ass out on Total Slaughter. Shit’s named after your group.”
Joe Budden is scheduled to face off against Hollow Da Don on July 12 in New York. Loaded Lux and Murda Mook will battle at the same, inaugural Total Slaughter event after a series of battles amongst Road To Total Slaughter contestants.
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