URL’s much anticipated "Rookies vs. Vets" event went down without a hitch this weekend, and it was a big success for pretty much everyone involved. The vets secured their spots for the most part, but the rookies didn't come to play, and a few debatably won their battles.
New York crowds have been known to get restless, but the battles at RvV progressed swiftly and the vibe was positive throughout. There were very few — one, really — bad performances and plenty of standout moments. You’ll notice there’s no “Low Points” section in this article, and that’s because there really weren’t any.
If you haven't already, catch up with our live updates from the event here and here.
Battles Of The Night
There were so many great battles at RvV that it wouldn’t be right to pick just one as the best of the night.
Mr. Wavy vs. K-Shine
Mr. Wavy vs. K-Shine was an electric back-and-forth. Wavy came off as more of a vet than a rookie in his first two rounds and had a solid third despite losing a bit of steam toward the end. Shine was consistent the entire battle, and he brought back the style that made him a fan favorite years ago with full intensity. This battle was highly debatable, and the crowd called it 2-1 either way with perhaps a slight edge to Shine.
Th3 Saga vs. Shotgun Suge
Th3 Saga vs. Shotgun Suge went how a lot of people thought it would, but with a couple twists. Saga started a bit unsure of himself in the first, and Suge clearly took that round with his signature aggression and, of course, pocket checking. Saga fired back hard in the second though, and he seemed to summon a commanding presence out of nowhere to win that round fairly convincingly. Both third rounds were extremely entertaining: Suge was animated and very much in Saga’s face, and Saga’s presence only got stronger. This battle had a great — albeit tense — vibe, and the crowd seemed to give it to Saga 2-1.
T-Top vs. Charlie Clips
T-Top vs. Charlie Clips was, thankfully, nothing close to a letdown. Many were hoping that someone’s head would be taken off, and that admittedly did not happen, but both performances were rock solid. Top took until the second round to really heat up, and Clips took advantage in the first. Top’s second was full of haymakers, and Clips didn’t quite match it despite also having good material. The third was extremely close and will undoubtedly be debated heavily once the footage drops. Some might think that Clips needed to kill Top, but the fans should be content with the competitive clash that this turned out to be.
Performance of the Night
Rookies - Th3 Saga
Th3 Saga got a lot of people’s attention at RvV, and he solidified himself as one of the most dangerous up-and-comers. To be fair, the only reason to give him rookie performance of the night over Mr. Wavy is that he heated up rather than cooling down throughout the battle. Despite his somewhat shy first round, he had the crowd in hysterics in his second and third, and he managed to noticeably get under Suge’s skin by clowning his frustration and feigned lack of interest. His "Look at me while I'm saving you" homage to Charron's line against Suge brought the house down too.
Vet - Real Deal
Real Deal was the only person who caught a body at RvV, and he really gave Sno a beating. To be fair, every vet put on a great show, and you could give performance of the night to almost any of them. That said, RD showed his adaptability and once again moved the URL crowd every single round.
The audience got pretty impatient with Sno, but RD didn’t let an ounce of that negativity overflow into his rounds. People made a point of not dismissing the battle as a whole, just because of RD’s masterful performance. The crowd was chanting “3-0 Real Deal” after the battle, and many people were saying they hope he returns to URL.
Top Moments
John John Da Don Making His Flight
John John was committed to doing the impossible: battling Prep in New York only to quickly pack up, fly to San Francisco, and battle Cali Smoov in nearby Vallejo. After a strong performance that earned him a debatable 2-1 win, he dipped from the venue to fly across the country for another battle everyone expected him to blow off. Say what you want about John John, but he’s definitely a hard worker.
Jaz vs. O'fficial at NOME 5
Between battles, Smack casually dropped this bombshell. These are obviously two of the top female battle rappers, and fans have been begging for a showdown between them for months. It seems like the match-up is happening the day after NOME 5 at a smaller cool-down event, but the hype is already building, and the footage should produce plenty of views either way.
Method Man and the Don’t Flop Staff Meeting
This moment didn’t really affect many people, but the point is that RvV was a very diverse event. There were representatives from multiple leagues, like Debo, Queenzflip, Raine and Bishop Brigante, and a generally rich variety of people in the venue. It made for a mostly receptive but discerning crowd that felt no pressure to react to weak lines but showed appropriate respect for strong ones.
Chess' Comeback
Chess was cooking against DNA from the gate, but an unfortunate gag reflex from drinking too much water partially thwarted his first round. From then on, however, he got stronger and stronger, and his third round was a bona fide showstopper. Despite much of the crowd rocking with DNA 2-1, he swayed many votes in his favor even after puking. The irony of this situation — a young emcee hurling against the young emcee known for hurling — goes without saying.
He landed his closer too, summing up the rookies' argument perfectly: ""Respect your elders? Nah respect the youth."
The Return of Professor Shine
DNA went the antics route for some of his third round, but don’t worry; he rapped the entire time, and the "taking you to school" gimmick was a welcome inclusion. DNA recruited K-Shine to don his lab coat once again as well as Suge to demonstrate the proper way to pocket check. It was an interesting way to admit how he had been roasted in the past and use it to his advantage, and to some it won him the battle.
Everyone Roasting Nunu Nellz
John John Da Don started the assault on Nunu in the first battle, and he and Shotgun Suge dropped the most devastating lines about her, but a startlingly large number of battlers took shots. Nunu took it well and looked amused most of the time, but she got blasted pretty mercilessly, and it was hilarious most of the time. Standout line: “What are we supposed to think Nunu do for you when we don’t even know what she do for Smack?!” – John John to Prep, who’s managed by Nunu.
No Cancellations and No (Real) Chokes
There was very little BS involved with RvV; the battles advanced smoothly and without issue. The night was riddled with great performances, and even Sno didn’t choke despite the crowd being against him. What happened to Chess wasn’t a choke in the sense of forgetting bars; it was more of a bodily function, and he recovered brilliantly in the following rounds. The RvV crowd was never cranky for a prolonged period, and the atmosphere was enjoyable from start to finish.
All photos by Joe Green for BattleRap.com.
Any questions about the event? What were your top moments if you were there? Let us know in the comments section below.
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