Aspect One Discusses The West Coast’s Contribution To Battle Rap

Sitting down for an exclusive interview with BattleRap.com at HipHopDX’s Hollywood offices, former King Of The Dot West Coast President Aspect One broke down the West Coast’s contribution to battle rap and gives his thoughts on how KOTD became a successful platform there.

Addressing King Of The Dot’s start on the West Coast, Aspect One says it was formed following the breakup of Grind Time.

“2011 there was still a [Battle of Los Angeles event] here,” Aspect explains. “There was the BOLA that Lush [One] threw with Grind Time where Dizaster battled QP, that was that event. That was still here and then there was the breakup of Grind Time. Slowly after that, Lush and Organik they just started speaking and building on the King Of The Dot move and that’s what initially got it out here.”

Aspect One subsequently attributes King Of The Dot’s rise on the West Coast to the fact that the league incorporated the street element into battle rap.

“I might sound bias a little bit but I think it’s the street element,” Aspect says. “At the end of the day, if you look at the biggest stars in music, it’s Eminem and then a bunch of black rappers. The streets identify with what they’re used to. If I go to Compton [or] Watts, all you see is minorities and tension and aggression. The easiest way to make that shit work was to bring that element to battle rap on the West Coast. We’ve always been known for being real wordy and nerdy and backpacker-ish but the counter-culture of that is the street element.”