It’s OK Nocan, We’ve Moved On

Pittsburgh battler Real Deal responds to Nocando's LA Weekly article about being done with the battle scene.

Retired battle rapper Nocando recently wrote an article titled “Battle Rap: I'm Just Not That Into You” for LA Weekly, detailing how he became disillusioned with the scene. His main complaint was that he felt he'd outgrown battling, which he characterized as violent, immature and homophobic. The article drew praise from many people, including some other notable retired battlers.

But not everyone agreed with the points Nocan made.

BattleRap.com reached out to Real Deal, who is a father, a teacher and a battler, for his take on Nocan's piece.

Here’s his response:

I can remember walking around in the Cincinnati summer heat of 2007 like it was yesterday.

I’d never been a fan of shorts and was still in the baggy clothes transition, I guess. Who knew the red-and-black Ecko polo I was wearing was on its way out. I remember the feeling of accomplishment not only from making it to Scribble Jam but that I--the Plain Jane white kid from Pittsburgh--did well.

I made it to the second round and lost to The Saurus. At the time losing to The Saurus was acceptable. It was like you sparred with Muhammad Ali. Who gave a shit if you lost? I remember walking by merch booths and actually seeing the people who’d captivated me on the Internet.

When I walked up to one particular table I heard: "Hey, you were buddy with the red shirt right? You were dope." I was in disbelief. Nocando, the guy who had just won Scribble Jam, recognized me and then gave me a compliment. I bought his album on the spot and decided that if I could gain respect from the elites then this is where I belonged. This would push me to where I wanted to be in hip hop.

Fast-forward seven years to today.

I open Facebook and see that I’m tagged in an article written by retired battle rapper Nocando. I gave it a read. I have to admit I was taken aback. Here was someone who had reached the mountaintop in an era of battling only to spit down on the community from the bird’s eye view. I saw someone who had gained so much through the battle community, and who did so much for it now seeming to associate it with childish things.

I admit that Nocan had some valid points in his article. He is one of the few who have marketed themselves well and who don't need to depend on battle rap. He has found his niche, tapped into it and seems to be doing well. I have always had respect for his talents and even more for him as a person. But the article also struck me a bit like he’d forgotten where he’d come from. Would he have achieved such success without battle rap? Would he have reached so many people just by being another L.A. rapper (albeit a good one)?

The irony of the article is that Nocan is against many of the things in battling that seemed to be his bread and butter. Calling people "faggot" or “gay” or talking about fucking their bitch were his staples. Am I saying that’s all he did? Absolutely not. Nocando is and was one of the most creative minds in battling. But when Nocando said "faggot" or talked about "fucking your bitch" he was descriptive and delivered it in a way that seemed to cut right through you.

Understand this: in no way do I condone homophobia. I am not, nor do I care for people who are devoted to openly gay bashing others. But I feel battling has evolved. Gay jokes are no longer prevalent. Sure, they are still around and sure, they're still used as a way to demean someone, but they're no longer the cheap tactic they once were. When I’m writing for an opponent, the last thing I’d think to do is call them gay. It has lost its potency.

As far as the whole "I fucked/will fuck your bitch" angle, who cares? To be honest, the majority of battle rappers I know are man enough that if they did fuck your bitch they wouldn't bring it up in battles. Nocan, the way you describe yourself as though you’ve matured but would still take personal offense to such vague insults in a battle almost has a reverse effect.

And these "bullies" you stood up to, are you now wrong because in a spat of words you put them in their place? How did you become a bully? Did you walk around finding unsuspecting Nickelback-listening kids, pull out their chain wallet and battle them against their will? These "thugs" you battled, did you walk up on them in broad daylight while they were attempting to not succumb to the pressure of the streets, and against their will question their street status? No! These people willingly engaged in a competition with you, the same way you'd play chess, football, or paper/rock/scissors.

Is there a line in battle rap? Can someone go too far? I honestly don't know. At the end of the day it is words. To me going too far is putting your hands on me.

We have all been through the ringer in one way or another. We have lost loved ones, experienced racism, been held at gunpoint, jumped, robbed, you name it.

I lost my mom more than a year ago but I'm also not chomping at the bit to fire off and swing at a shock-value battle rapper who brings it up. I realize these are parts of the game. Almost all battle rappers, however, honor an invisible code. The code is: "If it doesn't feel right saying it and the sole reason is for shock value, leave it alone." I made the mistake once in a battle and that is the only part of battling I am "ashamed of."

I don't think any of us read your article thinking "STFU Pussy." I think that is further proof you have missed the evolution. I think we’re more just confused and taken aback that a figure so prominent in the scene at one time has now taken such a strong stance opposing it.

What if you had told me seven years ago to "politely fuck off"? Where would I be? Would I have gotten on national TV and been all over the world? Would I even still be rapping? Who knows?

I do, however, agree that battle rappers need to protect themselves. Battlers shouldn’t operate under the delusion that a career in battling is equal to a successful career in music. Too many battlers have no brand or are poor at marketing themselves to get the most from their talents. It may look easy to gain acclaim from battling; it is not.

But battle rap has given power back to the independent artist. Back to the worker who is willing to put the work in. Back to the emcee who doesn't need a label to force feed them down someone’s throat. I am my own brand.

Nocan, you do well with your music and we battle alum are more than happy for you. We smile when we hear of your tours and successes the same way we smile seeing 360 on the cover of “Rolling Stone” or Murda Mook collaborating with Busta Rhymes.

You seem to be a man of principles and I can respect that. But take it from a man who has to answer to a principal, battle rap has moved on, just as you have. I guess we just grew apart.

For more from Real Deal, follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also buy his album on iTunes.

Photo credit: Derek Tull

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