All of battle rap seems to be going back to basics right now. URL has been putting out high-quality battles in small rooms, Spit Dat Heat is throwing one-offs in the streets and KOTD is basing its next Los Angeles event around the theme. With the snafus that big events had in 2014, it's probably not a bad idea.
The latest GZ Battles event in Toronto had a similar throwback vibe, thanks mostly to the rappers involved. Many of the names on the card wouldn't have looked out of place on flyers from the early days of KOTD, and the main event between Tricky P and HFK was actually a rematch from the league's first event in August 2008.
BattleRap.com was in the building and caught up with event organizer Gully TK at the end of the night. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more interviews from this event when they drop.
Tricky P vs. HFK
Good news for people who love offensive humor, as well as for people who love complaining about offensive humor: this is the battle for you. At least it was equal-opportunity offensiveness, with pretty much everyone in the room getting targeted at one point or another, including Jews, Arabs, gingers and the "big-titted bartender" that HFK declared he wanted to have sex with to close his second round.
This was a rematch from the first KOTD event ever, and though the league has changed a ton since the original battle almost seven years ago, the updated version proved the timelessness of two guys just making fun of each other surrounded by a small crowd.
As HFK put it: "Fuck bars over jokes and jokes over bars, it's entertainment over everything."
http://instagram.com/p/0gkiUrMTua/?taken-by=battlerapdotcom
Oh, and Tricky P is still attempting to transition over to being called Trick Stephens, but leagues don't seem to be letting him.
N Pose vs. Aftershock
This was the first of two GZ Grand Prix battles on the card. Read more details about the $2,000 tournament here and check out Urban Ruckus' recap of the Vancouver event here.
After a tough loss in his Fresh Coast debut in January, N Pose was back on his game in this one, but only for the first two rounds. A choke in the third cost him the win, though he still managed to sway one judge's vote. He stayed serious in the battle, forgoing the light and loose vibe of his earlier GZ appearances.
Aftershock looked comfortable in the ring (save for a small stumble in the second) and had strong writing and potent angles, including one about how people think Pose is Canadian because of all the trips he makes to Toronto from Detroit: "He'll travel four hours every four weeks to average 4,000 views."
http://instagram.com/p/0gZmRMMToo/?taken-by=battlerapdotcom
KP vs. PoRICH
As a former KOTD champion as well as a previous #1 contender for the GZ chain, Rich was the odds-on favorite in not just this battle, but the whole tournament. He took the comedic route for the most part, with jabs at KP's name and dealings with Yung Casper. The crowd was riding with him as he vented about the current state of battle rap: "I wanna know who condoned this garbage, because after Blackout 5 all I know is Charron's retarded and nursery rhymes go the hardest."
But then KP rapped. His delivery was more technical and he outshone Rich in every aspect except projection (but really, who can?). KP's had standout performances at GZ events in the past, but they usually go unnoticed online because of his opponents. This win, followed by an impressive run through the tourney could definitely get his name up.
Jimz vs. Lexx Luthor
Like the last GZ event in Toronto, this one drew a few names from outside of Toronto, including a match-up that pitted Staten Island against Queens, N.Y.
Lexx brought his typical punch-heavy style (and Gatorade slogan) and took shots at Osa for his chokes in February: "Make sure you don't get outta line (get out a line) like Osa at Blackout."
Jimz' performance and writing have improved since facing Rich Dolarz on RBE last year, but the battle suffered from a dead crowd that needed warming up again after a long break between this and the day's first battle.
It was unjudged, but both emcees could make a case for getting the W.
http://instagram.com/p/0gVQAkMTvy/?taken-by=battlerapdotcom
Q Shinobi vs. Perspectivez
This was a battle for redemption between two names that most KOTD viewers wouldn't have expected to see on a card again. Q Shinobi is most known for being on the receiving end of one of the biggest bodybags of all time against Caustic, and Perspectivez's whole career was distilled down to being the "Put-Him-In-A-Junk-Box" guy.
Q took it on a 3-2 decision, but the battle was a good enough back-and-forth to update both their legacies.
http://instagram.com/p/0gMY0qsTqz/?taken-by=battlerapdotcom
Also Of Note
There were two cancelled battles: Zo Green wasn't there to face Blaze, and Kaliente no-showed against Z Hunna.
In the building: Organik and Bishop Brigante (who co-hosted some battles), 100 Bulletz, Tycoon Tax, Genghis Khan, Realiztic, Kriss Cain and Luke Nukem, Joey V and Casper TDG from BeastMODE. Oh, and Zilla.
Were you there? What did we miss?
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