B Magic vs. Pass: What to Expect

KOTD Fresh Coast/Teddy Grizzle’s "Battle of the Bay 7" is coming up later this month, and thus far Arsonal vs. Mistah F.A.B. has been the main topic of conversation. But as tends to happen at practically every event, a battle from the undercard could end up outshining the headliner, and by now everyone knows that industry crossovers don’t always meet expectations. That said, Pass vs. B Magic has the potential to steal the show.

The pairing is far from logical in terms of matching styles but somehow still feels perfect. In B Magic, we have one of the most relentless, bar-heavy punchers going up against Pass, one of the meanest polysyllabic shit-talkers in the game. It’s one of those clashes where the battlers may not feel each other’s styles but will both still bring the house down.

There’s no animosity between Pass and Magic on the surface, but perhaps it lies within the clash of their respective styles. Pass is a vocal critic of punchline rappers, so it’s possible that his harsh approach will stir something in the typically more laid-back Magic.

Pass vs. DNA. Photo by Lemme Kno for King Of The Dot.

Pass is a tricky opponent for a number of reasons. His ability to cut to the core of his opponent’s persona is difficult to defend, and that will certainly help him here. He is also not the easiest battler to observe, as he’s remained consistent over the years but kept himself relatively isolated from the battling world. It feels like he thinks he's too cool for the culture. But it also feels like he might be right.

Pass’s seclusion from the scene makes it tough to take angles against him, and it’s all too easy for his opponents to fall into uninspired name-flipping (see his battle with DNA). But maybe Magic’s all-bars approach is the perfect foil for Pass. If there’s not much to say about a guy, why not just try to bar his life away? As long as he avoids the now-overused "pass/past/passed" route (for the love of God), Magic might just be the man for the job.

Although Magic’s rep suffered slightly around the middle of the year amidst “choke artist” whispers, he’s been a lot more consistent than many might realize. After his Big T battle, he gave solid performances within a three-week span at "Duel in the Desert" and "Summer Madness 4," and though he reportedly lost to Young B at "Gladiator School," the footage still hasn't come out to prove it. His schedule has been clear for a minute now, and he should be good and polished for BOTB7.

B Magic vs. Conceited. Photo by Joe Green for BattleRap.com.

There’s no denying that these contenders come from two completely different scenes, but they’re most likely well aware of how dangerous the other can be. If all goes as it should, this will be an incredibly high-quality clash pitting referenced-packed punches against mind-bending syllable patterns. Here’s to hoping that the crowd doesn’t sleep on their bars and that they don’t sleep on each other.

Make sure to watch KOTD's awesome trailer for this battle:

Cover photos by Chris Mitchell and Lemme Kno.

Who do you have winning? Let us know in the comments below.