There was a ton of great content that dropped in March, with all the top leagues turning up their output after some successful events. We've broken up this super-sized edition of the month's top battle into a few categories and then added some more dope battles to round things out. For more info on any of the battlers, follow their artist tags at the bottom of the article.
The URL Returns
North America's most-viewed league took a long break from putting on events after its well-received "Summer Madness 4" at the end of September last year. As a result, the channel didn't release any battles in February, and fans were starting to wonder how long they'd have to wait for their next fix. Well, lucky for them, the URL is back, now with a second division in the West. The league hosted small-room events in both New York and Las Vegas in late February and released the footage with (somewhat uncharacteristic) efficiency. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come for the releases from last week's "Rookies vs. Vets," most of which will make a future edition of this list.
Gjonaj vs. Gutta
There’s no denying that URL has been on a roll this month, and the battle that kicked it off was Gjonaj vs. Gutta.
If you haven’t seen this by now, you’re making a mistake. Gjonaj has had the internet buzzing since word of this SM4 Proving Grounds bar-fest got out, and to say he doesn’t live up to the hype would appropriately be deemed “hating.” But don’t sleep; Gutta is a more than worthy opponent, and that third round is something special.
Prep vs. Th3 Saga
Unless you pay very close attention to the scene, this battle probably seemed to come out of nowhere. That said, it was a perfect follow-up to Gjonaj vs. Gutta and, more importantly, an excellent hype engine for "Rookies vs. Vets."
Regardless of who you think won, it’s obvious that both Prep and Saga took this battle extremely seriously. Their precision and focus is a nice reminder of why they’re getting the shots they’ve earned, and it’s almost alarming at times. Did anyone really expect them to be rebuttaling every round? The amount of work they both put in has already paid off, and many fans are already calling this a classic.
Rum Nitty vs. Steams
Remember that URL West Coast event you heard about? It turned out to be a success, and the headline battle, Rum Nitty vs. Steams, is a showstopper.
For those not fond of the reach-and-stomp style that’s become popular — and you’re not alone — this battle just might show you that it can be pulled off if done really, really well. Minus one small stumble in Steams’ first, this is a pretty flawless showcase, and the wordplay seems to get more and more ridiculous as it goes on. Some of these punchlines hit so hard, the room just can’t keep itself together, and you might have a hard time too.
Shi Dog vs. Profecy
Another battle from URL’s West Coast event, this one is probably getting slept on simply because it heats up as it goes. Be patient … By the third round the room is electric.
Some have written this battle off with the “PGs are clones” critique that’s become increasingly popular, but that criticism seems misplaced here. Shi Dog gives a consistent, punch-riddled performance with a lot of aggression that serves to liven up even some of his weaker lines. Profecy on the other hand has a slow, deliberate approach that yields some jarringly hard-hitting punchlines. He has the crowd in the palm of his hand by the end of the battle, and both emcees are worth looking out for on future URL West cards.
Tink Tha Demon vs. Dre Dennis
When this is one of URL’s weaker showings this month, you know things are going well for Smack.
You’ve probably seen both Daylyt and Dre Dennis’ rendition of the “PG step” by now, and there’s no denying that the dude does wave his arms around a lot. Still, plenty of his lines are haymakers (that Fresh Prince bar!) — and his energy is unwavering. That aside, seeing Tink get equally huge, sometimes bigger reactions through sheer horror imagery is something to behold. Even though this battle might give you headache, Tink’s unusual style and Dre’s vigor are worth checking out.
The "Blackout 5" Battles
KOTD's two-day event in February hosted a ton of awesome battles, and fans reaped the rewards with the March releases. We're not going to post all of them here, but know that all of them are worth checking out.
Conceited vs. Dumbfoundead
You’ve seen this already, right? We’re putting it here anyway, so be sure to check out one of the best battles from BO5. With a perfect style clash and a hyped crowd, it’s like the Grind Time glory days all over again.
It's also the first battle in a long time that you could show someone to initiate them into becoming a battle rap fan. There's no complicated backstory, obscure references or dense wordplay. Just great performances and funny jokes from two of the scene's most charismatic and popular emcees.
Eurgh vs. 24/7
This is another one you need to have seen by now, and most people are hailing it as the best battle from Day 1 of the event.
It’s rare that a battler steps back into the ring with the exact same confidence he had when he left, but 24 really outdoes himself here. Eurgh’s performance is similarly masterful, and the overall mix of freestyles, personals, and jokes makes for a ton of replay value. If you find yourself getting fidgety, just wait for 24's third round. I’ll leave it at that.
Pat Stay vs. Charron
Not having seen this by now definitely puts you in the living-under-a-rock category, so do yourself a favor if you haven’t. Despite the controversy surrounding Charron’s censored third round, this is nevertheless one of the best KOTD title matches ever and a strong case for Canada’s talent.
Read our full review of the battle here.
Pedro's Rise
U.K. battler Pedro is a singular talent in the battle rap scene. He hasn't brought three rounds of written material for years (maybe ever?) and instead relies on his mad-cap freestyle ability. As one DF insider said recently: "Pedro's the most unintentionally funny person I've ever met." Read our full profile of him here.
Pedro vs. Oshea
You couldn’t really ask for a more quintessentially “Don’t Flop” clash, and Pedro and Osh do not disappoint here.
Oshea launches into this battle in typical fashion: bouncing through an absurdly hilarious verse and clowning Pedro with his signature zeal. What comes as much more of a surprise is Pedro’s unprecedentedly structured haymaker of a first round. Admittedly, the battle begins to unravel somewhat (mostly on Pedro’s end) after that, but it’s still a quality watch.
Pedro vs. Tony D
Speaking of Pedro, he’s become quite a force in the U.K. lately, and to see his frenetic freestyle abilities pitted against Tony D — arguably the U.K.’s best pen — is damn near surreal.
That said, this battle goes essentially how you'd think it would, and it’s worth every second. Tony seems relaxed and well aware of the style clash he’s involved in, and Pedro makes a slight adjustment in terms of organization but mostly just does what he does best. KOTR could probably benefit from continuing to set up these sorts of oddball matchups, as this one hits just the right, bizarre note.
RemyD vs. Reverse Live
This small-league battle is a comeback for RemyD and a much-deserved look for Reverse Live. The only real way to complain about it is to point out that it’s unfortunately only two rounds.
The moment Remy starts his first round, it’s clear that he’s back on his game with the same calm composure that’s distinguished his rapid-fire delivery over the years. Though Reverse Live doesn’t bring quite the same slickness to the table, he proves to be a perfect match for Remy. Both emcees favor intricate wordplay and flow over “bars” as we’ve come to know them lately, but it makes for a chaotic — albeit short — back and forth, and Reverse Live might shock you with some of his setups and punches.
Hopefully this is just an appetizer for their performances at KOTD's "Back To Basics" on April 18.
Fliiko L vs. Bad Newz
Spit Dat Heat has got to be the most consistent come-up league out there, and Fliiko L and Bad Newz are undoubtedly two of its next up.
This battle is typically bar-heavy, very debatable, and outdoors for that authentic street-corner feel. Actually, the bright setting only accentuates SDH’s trademark atmosphere, and with battles like these it’s easy to see how its crowds are always so engaged and receptive. Each emcee approaches wordplay and punches with distinct cadences, and are definitely two names to look out for, though if you caught our "Most Slept-On Battles Of 2014" list, then you should already know that about Fliiko.
Jay Rell vs. Mackk Myron
Remember Jay Rell, that guy who beat a hungry Danny Myers on URL a couple years ago? This battle proves he’s still in prime form in this Alpha League battle out of Detroit. You might not know much about Mackk Myron, but he’s been putting in work for years now, and it shows.
It’s true that both these emcees exhibit a punchline style you hear a lot these days, but their respective abilities to actually make it their own are to be commended. Mackk sounds like his performance has been internalized to the point that he could deliver it with any cadence he wanted. His dynamic style is the type to make you quietly anticipate a punchline and have to stifle yourself to hear the next one. That said, Jay Rell has patented a pretty devastating combination of bars and bully tactics, and he’s a force to be reckoned with here.
Bamalam vs. Dialect
When you think Don't Flop emcees who excel in the Grime style, the first names that come to mind might be Dialect, Zen or Bru-C (with the last two having a dope clash last month too). Bamalam may not even make your list, that is, unless you've already this watched battle from the "6.5 Birthday." He rides the third round grime beat convincingly here, stopping only when the crowd is cheering louder than the music.
The Saurus vs. Manaz Ill
This is a battle that seems like it should have gone down a long time ago, but it still lives up to what it would have been back then. Don’t let the questionable quality fool you; this is a debatable back-and-forth that’s definitely worth your attention.
It’s a good thing no one (besides Daylyt) sleeps on Manaz Ill. Just when it seems like following up Saurus’ clean, confident rounds would be almost impossible, Manaz fires back in the same way that’s won him respect for so long. He’s living proof that you don’t need to see your opponent to roast them half to death, and Saurus delivers a typically strong performance.
We probably missed some good ones because of how much content dropped in March. Post a link in the comment section with a write-up of what makes them worth watching.
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