Ness Lee vs. Swave Sevah: What to Expect

When it comes to “low key classics” in battle rap, two names that come to mind are Ness Lee and Swave Sevah. While some may still be sleeping on this match-up, it's set to go down at KOTD Fresh Coast/Teddy Grizzle’s “Battle of the Bay 7” on Jan. 23. Neither battler can claim to be at the peak of his popularity at the moment, but this battle could definitely work toward getting both the shine they deserve.

To be fair, Harlem's Swave had an up-and-down 2014, and it didn't help that his wins were low profile while his losses were high profile. He had strong performances in a handful of battles, like his 3-0 victory over Makk Mizzle and his recent near-classic with Showoff. On the other hand, he also took some Ls (most notably to Aye Verb) and found himself in places like Chris Unbias’s 2014 “Stock Drop” list, which very few fans would have predicted a couple of years ago.

Regardless of his inconsistencies, Swave has already established a reputation as a brutally honest bully and a gatekeeper for the top tier. He has crushed many a spirit — particularly in newcomers — and his demoralizing arsenal has yielded some of the sharpest blends of humor and wordplay in battle rap history. That second part is mostly what makes him a well-suited opponent for Ness.

Ness Lee in Atlanta. Photo by Desmond Jackson for BattleRap.com.

One could argue that Ness is the king of slept-on classics. His battle with The Saurus is a prime example, and part of the reason for his absence from the battle rap forefront could simply be his unique style. In 2014, his performance quality never waned and he put up some slept-on hits against Tumi, Heartless and Gin-I Grimes. Like Swave, he opts for a slicker approach and reliably takes clowning to the next level with sharp insight. Over the years, his flow has remained expertly off-kilter and technical, bouncing all over just as unpredictably as the angles he takes.

For this battle to live up to its potential, both Swave and Ness need to be on their A-games and muster up the same qualities that have set them apart for so long. Something resembling Ness’ performance versus The Saurus and Swave’s performance versus Syd Vicious would be ideal. Who could forget Swave’s legendary prison/candy bar scheme? Material like that is perfect for someone like Ness who appreciates delivery and originality.

If all goes well, this battle could reinvigorate the old “Grind Time” feel that both Swave and Ness have innovatively updated over the years. There’s probably no real drama between them (although they were scheduled to battle each other in Arizona in 2013), and there probably doesn’t need to be. It’s hard to say exactly what kind of material they have in mind for each other, but if history serves it will be something different. Amid concerns of uniformity and oversaturation, this type of clash could be just the refresher the culture needs.

Cover photos by Desmond Jackson for BattleRap.com and Dan Gibs for King Of The Dot.

Thoughts on the battle? Leave them in the comments below.