URL expanded their fan base even more in 2014, with another two seasons of "Ultimate Freestyle Friday" on BET's 106 & Park and events so large that they seemed to eclipse everything else that was happening in battle rap.
Here are our picks for the best URL battles from last year (finally). See the rest of our year in review content here.
Charlie Clips vs. Tay Roc
Who: Charlie Clips (Harlem, N.Y.) vs. Tay Roc (Baltimore, Md.)
Where: “Night Of Main Events 4” one-off in New York, N.Y.
When: June 21, 2014
Why you should watch it: This was the rematch that became so in demand that it was inevitable. Tay Roc’s clear loss to Charlie Clips in the Lionz Den years back, though gruesome, actually marked the beginning of his slow, steady climb to URL’s top tier. Clips is known for giving shots, and he was quick (and wise) to give Roc another battle when the time was right.
This battle was pushed back two weeks after NOME 4 ran late, but like Conceited vs. Surf, that was probably for the best. The one-off setting likely made what would have been a goodie a classic, and was a phenomenal return to form for URL at the time. This is definitely not the polar inverse of their first battle, but it’s debatable enough to leave room for a similar argument.
Clips brought more substance overall, but Roc was in peak form, leaving very little room to play around. Thankfully, Clips didn’t let the Lionz Den win go to his head in the slightest, and he clearly sensed the urgency in delivering a seasoned performance.
He appealed masterfully to his past victory through a bar-riddled character deconstruction, but Roc proved his growth with constant haymakers while openly acknowledging his prior shortcomings. Although Roc was already known for improving in every battle, this is probably the one that solidified his elite spot, and it was a W for him, Clips, URL, and the fans.
Hitman Holla vs. Tsu Surf
Who: Hitman Holla (St. Louis, Mo.) vs. Tsu Surf (Newark, N.J.)
Where: “Summer Madness 4” at Irving Plaza in New York, N.Y.
When: Sept. 28, 2014
Why you should watch it: Both battlers went into this battle treating it like it was the most important one of their careers. In an interview with BattleRap.com in September, Surf called it "the biggest battle in the world right now." It turned out he was right.
Hitman's frenetic first round and Surf's "real talk" third are the highlights, but the real story of the battle is its popularity.
The footage premiered on YouTube on Oct. 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
After 24 hours it had 240,000 views.
After 52 hours it had 383,000.
By the end of the month, it had passed 930,000.
Today (April 23), it has 2,122,526.
In case you're not a battle rap stats geek, just know this: those numbers are bananas.
We've got the lyrics for it here too.
Anubis vs. Xcel
Who: Xcel (Brockton, Mass.) vs. Anubis (Flint, Mich.)
Where: BET's “Ultimate Freestyle Friday” taping in New York
When: Oct. 2, 2014
Why you should watch it: URL scored another hit with this release from BET's "Ultimate Freestyle Friday," — one that's completely different in tone from their SM4 releases.
Before the footage dropped, Xcel told BattleRap.com: "It was the best battle UFF ever had."
Lately it seems like a new trend for battlers to say they had a classic, when really all they had was a good battle, if that. But Xcel wasn't exaggerating. The battle is fire and Xcel's writing is intricate, filled with subtle references, and delivered with ease.
Anubis brings perfection here too, upping the degree of difficulty with a mid-round flip. He caught the judges' decision and advances to the second round of the UFF tournament, despite only convincing 36% of the 800 or so voters in the online poll.
Xcel's densely layered style may have lost him the battle in the building, but it definitely won him a lot of new fans on YouTube.
Brizz Rawsteen vs. Young X
Who: Brizz Rawsteen (Raleigh, N.C.) vs. Young X (Portsmouth, Va.)
Where: "NOME 4 PGs" in New York, N.Y.
When: June 8, 2014
Why you should watch it: UFF finalist Brizz Rawsteen exhibited a very complete skill set in only his second showing on URL's Proving Grounds.
He attacked with unrelenting aggression from start to finish, utilizing his volume and theatrics to create a brilliant stage performance. His written material is structured into a series of dramatic, violent setups leading into huge punchlines. Brizz's style is a refreshing blend of originality and traditional elements of battle rap, and he puts on a showcase against his opponent, "I'm no sexist, I'll stab up a bitch too / and move my waist in her face like im Ravishing Rick Rude".
Young X (Portsmouth, Va.) is equally entertaining, counterbalancing Brizz's aggression with hilarious jokes and clever two-liners. His sense of humour resonates with the audience and they frequently show their appreciation by filling the room with laughter and cheers. X absolutely tears the roof of at the beginning of his third round with a playground-style roasting session as his entourage yells "GET EM!" between every line, "... Get your bitch ass slumped or something / Nigga, you be like a flat spare tire; you be in the trunk for nothin".
Ms. Hustle vs. Gattas
Who: Ms. Hustle (Harlem, N.Y.) vs. Gattas (Chicago, Ill.)
Where: "Night of Main Events 4" at Irving Plaza in New York, N.Y.
When: June 7, 2014
Why you should watch it: URL saved the best NOME 4 release for last, with Hustle and Gattas putting on a complete slugfest. There are a ton of priceless moments here, from Smack telling the emcees they could “both get it” in the intro, to him being more than happy to pin Hustle’s microphone back on her top, to Gattas’ Tomb Raider outfit, to Hustle’s flawless performance and cold bars. The list could go on, but it’s probably faster if you just watch the battle.
Shotgun Suge vs. Charron
Who: Shotgun Suge (Newark, N.J.) vs. Charron (Ottawa, Canada)
Where: "SM4: Warm-up" at Gramercy Theatre in New York, N.Y.
When: Sept. 27, 2014
Why You Should Watch It: The rivalry between these two polar opposites was one of the longest in battle rap, starting before they were supposed to battle on KOTD in the summer of 2013. After all the trash-talk, the battle lived up to the hype with both of them doing what they do best in front of an attentive crowd.
Suge gave us three rounds of vividly painted street imagery and aggression and Charron came with bars, comedy and freestyles.
And as much as we don't condone violence in battle rap, it was still pretty awesome to see some real tension between the two emcees, with Suge pocket-checking Charron into dropping his water bottle and then Charron jiggling Suge's belly after a line about pudding. Charron even coined a new catchphrase with his: "LOOK AT ME WHILE I'M KILLING YOU."
Obviously if things had gotten out of hand, this write-up would be different, but the entertainment value of what actually happened is through the roof.
T Top vs. Cityy Towers
Who: T Top (Fuquay Varina, N.C.) vs. Cityy Towers (Bridgeport, Conn.)
Where: "NOME 4 PGs" in New York, N.Y.
When: June 8, 2014
Why you should watch it: Cityy Towers does great here, bringing three rounds of the well-crafted material that got him this shot after excelling in Connecticut's iBattle league.
But it was T Top's night, clearly. His bars hit with heavy force and the crowd screwfaces throughout for his drug talk. This was the start of his incredible run through the PGs and Season 3 of 106 & Park's "Ultimate Freestyle Friday" that eventually led to a battle with Charlie Clips at 2015's "Rookies vs. Vets."
Conceited vs. B Magic
Who: B Magic (St. Louis, Mo.) vs. Conceited (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Where: "Summer Madness 4" at Irving Plaza in New York, N.Y.
When: Sept. 28, 2014
Why you should watch it: The long-anticipated battle for the title of "The Punchline King" mostly lived up to the high expectations, with both emcees igniting the crowd with strong writing and fresh wordplay.
Ill Will vs. B Magic
Who: Ill Will (Pontiac, Mich.) vs B Magic (St. Louis, Mo.)
Where: "Born Legacy" at Sanders Studios in Brooklyn, N.Y.
When: Dec. 14, 2013
Why you should watch it: Though it happened at the end of 2013, the footage dropped last year and it was the battle that got URL back on track, packed with punchlines and bereft of gun noises and Don Demarcos.
We only picked nine for this list. What should be #10? Let us know in the comments below and upvote/downvote other suggestions.
With help from Stu Mitchell and Jackson Yates.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
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