Prior to Snoop Dogg and Murda Mook’s “Gladiator School” event this past Friday (Sept. 19), BattleRap.com caught up with Tsu Surf who discussed his upcoming battle with Hitman Holla at “Summer Madness 4” this Sunday (Sept. 28).
“Definitely the biggest battle in the world right now. Tsu Surf vs. Hitman Holla [at] ‘Summer Madness [4]’ next week. It’s gonna be a crazy one,” Tsu Surf explains. “I think it’s gon’ shake the world. It’s one of them ones that changed — you know how some battles actually matter and they change the dynamics? It’s almost like basketball [with] LeBron [James] getting traded from the [Miami] Heat to the [Cleveland] Cavaliers, [it] changes the dynamics of the NBA. Hitman losing to Surf or Surf losing to Hitman changes a lot of dynamics in battle rap, you know what I mean? It’s gon’ be a big one.”
Despite being featured on the card for “Gladiator School,” Tsu Surf’s battle with Daylyt had already taken place prior to the event. The match-up happened in Los Angeles on Aug. 26 and a “rough draft” of the battle, that was shot using a green screen, premiered during the night in front of those in attendance. Tsu Surf detailed the match-up saying it’s something “the battle world is gonna appreciate.”
“I have Daylyt, of course, but it was a little experiment. We handled the battle in LA last month on the 26th … It’s graphical, man,” he says. “The whole room was a green screen. It was just like a full experiment. I didn’t think it was gon’ be like that. It shocked me, I saw it and it just wasn’t what I thought it was gon’ be. It’s definitely something the battle world is gonna appreciate … He’s bringing the whole battle to real life, it’s in your face, man. Daylyt got dog punchlines and the dog run-up and shit, it’s retarded [laughs].”
Although the actual battle has yet to be released, a snippet of the match-up shown at “Gladiator School” has been uploaded to YouTube. Check it out below:
Check out our full recap of “Gladiator School” to read more on Tsu Surf and Daylyt’s battle.
Offering his thoughts on the current industry crossover that’s happening in battle rap, Tsu Surf says it’s “dope” as long as the “main life of the culture” isn’t removed.
“I love the competition and stuff like that. As far as them actually battling, it’s dope to see the actual crossover and them trying to do what we do,” says Surf. “And then of course the people in the suits putting money behind it with [Gladiator School] and Total Slaughter, it’s always love. If our checks are getting doubled but the culture is also getting a bigger look, it’s always great. As long as they’re not bleeding the culture and taking out the main life of the culture. But other than that we straight, I love it.”
Tsu Surf also offered his opinions on the upcoming “Super Star Battles” between Bone Crusher and Mikes Jones as well as Fredro Starr’s match-up with Keith Murray at MC WAR’s “New World Order II” taking place this Sunday (Sept. 28) in Atlanta.
“Never,” Surf said when asked if he would be down to face the winner of the Bone Crusher/Mike Jones battle. “There’s some battles that should not be happening and that’s one of them. Keith Murray and shit like that should not be going on. It’s culture vultures, man. Nobody wanted to battle a year and half [to] two years ago … Now you got people that haven’t sold a record in years, they pop up and saying, ‘We about to battle.’ It’s blatant disrespect almost to the work that we put in on a constant basis. For somebody who think they got a bigger name than us to come and say, ‘I wanna battle now,’ and expect to bring out 30,000 people it’s ridiculous.”
Finally when asked how he sees battle rap evolving over the next five years, Tsu Surf says he believes “Best Male and Female Battle Rapper” categories will be added to the BET Hip-Hop Awards within two or three years.
“Honestly I tell you it ain’t even gonna be five, I give it two or three,” Tsu Surf says. “We gon’ be at the same weekend next year [and] at the BET Awards they gon’ be talking about male battle rapper of the year [or] female battle rapper of the year. Easy. I see it and no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Guaranteed.”
What do you think? Is a battle rap category at the BET Awards a likely addition? Let us know in the comments section.
Check out Tsu Surf’s full interview above.
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