In recent months, we've pointed out that battle rap in 2015 so far has been about showcasing new talent, but in May the veterans were very much at the forefront of the culture. URL's "Night Of Main Events 5" featured some of the biggest names in the scene (as well as on-stage appearances from Murda Mook and Drake) while KOTD's "MASSacre" and QOTR's "Panic Room 3" also brought out the heavy hitters.
Expect footage from those events on future editions of this list, but don't sleep on this month's picks, which include several battles that people are pegging as some of the year's best so far.
Math Hoffa vs. Chilla Jones
Who: Math Hoffa (Brooklyn, N.Y.) vs. Chilla Jones (Boston, Mass.)
Where: Don't Flop's "Resurrection" in Atlanta, Ga.
When: April 4, 2015
Why you should watch it: Things don’t always go as planned in battle rap, and that often works out for the better. Chilla is nothing like T-Top (Math's original opponent for this event), but apparently he didn’t need to be in order to have a classic with Math. This is being touted as one of the best battles of the year so far and for very good reason.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: to quote Chilla, the game needs Math. So long as he doesn’t act on any violent impulses, battle rap benefits from the presence of a bar-heavy bully. That’s right, bar-heavy. Math has always been that, and this performance should make that obvious to those who haven’t taken notice. “Forget who the F-U-R and that’s your chin, Chilla,” is already among the most quoted lines of this year, for example.
Chilla, a very different guy from Math, proves to be a perfect counterpart. Who knew “math” wordplay could still be done creatively? Chilla takes it to the next level and makes a solid case for victory. This is ultimately a preference battle, and the great crowd, flawless performances, and style clash will give it that golden era feel.
Related: Jon Rines' recap of this event and Majin's full review of the battle.
Soul vs. Cee Major
Who: Soul (Dunfermline, Scotland) vs. Cee Major (London, England)
Where: Don't Flop's "Checkpoint 2" in London, England
When: April 25, 2015
Why you should watch it: If you ever hear one of those degenerates discounting British battle rap altogether, show them this. Two names that couldn’t have possibly seemed feasible for title consideration two years ago have come together to put on an absolute classic and perhaps the best DF title match yet.
This could be seen as an unlikely match-up to decide the replacement for Tony D (who stepped down after multiple title defenses) since one battler was banned from the league at one point (Soul) and the other only had one battle last year (Cee). But being that they're among the most talented in the U.K., there is a certain logic.
Although he’s been incredible on several occasions, this is arguably Cee’s best performance. It’s almost impossible to keep up with Soul lyrically, but Cee comes quite close and also offers an ease of flow and delivery that better his opponent's. He powers through this performance without the slightest slip and proves that not taking a lot of battles doesn’t necessarily form rust.
All that said, Soul is just a powerhouse in this one. Despite a (pretty severe) choke in the first, the energy and content of his performance basically made it impossible for him to lose. Those in the know are already well-familiar with Soul's talent, but this win should help bring him to a bigger audience.
Related: Our preview, the lyrics and our exclusive post-battle interview with Soul.
Rone vs. The Saurus
Who: The Saurus (Las Vegas, Calif.) vs. Rone (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Where: KOTD's "Back To Basics" in Los Angeles, Calif.
When: April 18, 2015
Why you should watch it: Rone (or should I say “Hard Hitting Poet”?) has a way of making rap battles fun to watch for people who have no experience whatsoever with the culture, and this is a prime example. This isn’t just The Rone Show though; Saurus more than holds up his end.
It’s always a blast to see two vets say the meanest shit possible to each other while sporting friendly grins. This battle is just six polished, hilarious rounds, and the "Back To Basics" setting was a perfect backdrop for it. Saurus was his usual self, slinging multi's and bars inextricably related to personals breaking Rone down. Oddly enough, his rebuttals are probably the low point of this battle. Nothing dreadful, but they seem a bit uninspired and stumble-y (take note, battle rappers: no rebuttals are better than weak rebuttals). They hardly detract from his performance though, and he stays consistent throughout.
Rone, however, seems to be earning a reputation for his ferocious third rounds. He goes through his West Coast resume in a way that will really make you wonder why you’re just now realizing he’s one of the best in the world. This is a debatable classic, but that third will likely influence a lot of people’s perception.
Related: Read our preview of this battle, watch our post-battle interview with both emcees and catch up with all of our B2B coverage.
E. Ness vs. Bill Collector
Who: E. Ness (Philadelphia, Pa.) vs. Bill Collector (Norristown, Pa.)
Where: Don't Flop's event in Philadelphia, Pa.
When: March 29, 2015
Why you should watch it: Remember that enraged lunatic who gave one of the most ridiculed performances of all time versus DNA on URL? He’s nowhere to be found here. This is just a great battle between two emcees who were both looking for another shot.
Getting lumped up by Hitman's little brother and going to jail is not a great way to build momentum in battle rap, but here we find Bill Collector back in fighting shape. E. Ness is back to his old self too, thankfully with no references to Krazy Glue anywhere in sight. Bill comes off as consciously restrained in this battle, giving a clean performance that lacks some of the more spastic flare that made him famous.
Don’t worry though, because Ness makes up for that absence with plenty of Bill Collector impressions that leave the room dying. From the moment Ness starts rapping his first, it’s clear that he’s there to win and to restore his legacy as much as possible in one battle. That Philly flow is extremely dangerous when done well, and Ness takes it to its height. It’s pretty hard to give Bill the win, or even a round, but this is a solid battle and a remarkable return to form for Ness.
Related: Watch our post-battle interview with E. Ness.
Xcel vs. Born
Who: Born (Bronx, N.Y.) vs. Xcel (Brockton, Mass.)
Where: Black Ice Cartel's "Battle On Olympus" in Milwaukee, Wis.
When: March 15, 2015
Why you should watch it: It’s not easy to stand out in battle rap just for having an amazing pen game. Not easy, but not impossible. Born has remained a respected lyricist over the years despite vicious ridicule at times, and Xcel continues to work his way up the ladder though he has been harshly criticized lately for taking too many battles and stumbling in damn near all of them.
Here though, he clearly understood the potential to get bodied by Born’s pen (and Jon Dough’s video effects), and he stepped up tremendously. His performance is still not quite as polished as Born’s, but this is an undeniably strong showing from him.
At this point, everyone should be willing to admit that Born is an absolute monster bar-wise and that he deserves — no, needs — a top tier opponent that can match his writing. Choke artist accusations would be misguided by now; it’s just not something you see him doing these days.
Related: Listen to our event recap interview with Xcel.
Ah Di Boom vs. JC
Who: Ah Di Boom (Bridgeton, N.J.) vs. JC (Pontiac, Mich.)
Where: RBE's "Blood Sweat & Tiers 2" in New York, N.Y.
When: April 18, 2015
Why you should watch it: It seems like RBE league owner ARP is incapable of putting together lousy match-ups. Even when they seem random (and that’s not really the case here), the footage is fire pretty much every time.
Although he deserves the shine, Boom owes a lot to RBE. In the midst of being discounted by fans for his reach-and-stomp tendencies and ending his business relationship with URL, he consistently put in solid performances elsewhere, RBE in particular. Now, people look at him as the versatile threat that he is, and this battle is a perfect example. Is he goofy, perhaps not always on purpose? Sure, but he’s got bars and performance that can’t be denied, and his irreverence brings something to the table that JC doesn’t necessarily provide. However, as we all know, JC is a guy who can battle 400 times a year and be consistent in every round. This showing is no different, and he edged this debatable battle in the eyes of most fans.
Related: Read about the Top Moments From BST2
Morawsha vs. QB
Who: Morawsha (Kansas City, Mo.) vs. QB Black Diamond (Bridgeport, Conn.)
Where: BCBL's "Collateral Damage" in Bronx, N.Y.
When: April 26, 2015
Why you should watch it: The typical battle rap fan is probably not accustomed to watching two women pummel each other with Arsonal-caliber disrespect. If you’d like to get acquainted with that niche, this is definitely a good place to start.
Morawsha announced ahead of this battle that she’d be “disrespecting a disrespectful bitch,” and then followed through on her intentions. Both performances here are sharp, and it’s truly refreshing to watch a battle where both competitors try to really get under their opponent’s skin instead of just loudly reciting wordplay at them. In this context, that means bringing up your opponent’s intensely personal details and explaining why every aspect of them is terrible. In short, the angles and observations get pretty uproarious. At times, the crowd has trouble not flipping out, but you can’t really blame them for getting excited over such a tense match.
DNA & K-Shine vs. John John Da Don & Syah Boy
Who: DNA (Queens, N.Y.) & K-Shine (Harlem, N.Y.) vs. John John Da Don (Yonkers, N.Y.) & Syah Boy (Atlanta, Ga.)
Where: Don't Flop's "Resurrection" in Atlanta, Ga.
When: April 4, 2015
Why you should watch it: This has been billed as the first ever “street” 2-on-2. Despite the eye rolling from seasoned fans who have already seen the rise and fall of doubles matches, the movement will undoubtedly gain momentum as it reaches a new audience.
These two teams approached this battle completely differently. DNA and Shine gave an electric performance, finishing each other’s lines and amping up the crowd with theatrics. JJDD and Syah, on the other hand, took an easily criticized approach with surprising success. Taking turns as long as half a round is generally frowned upon in 2-on-2’s, but JJDD and Syah had such good bars that they were able to pull it off and convincingly win at least a round. Also, with this being only one week after John John's "two-battles-in-one-day-on-two-different-coasts" it's surprising he didn't lean on his partner even more.
To be frank, DNA and Shine’s first round is what this battle will be remembered for, and their success as a team has evidently lit a fire under them. It could be coincidence, but the NWX movement they’re both part of seems to have breathed life into their performances and, more importantly, their love for the game. Be on the look out for the official DNA & K-Shine vs. Hitman Holla & Aye Verb announcement as part of Don't Flop's Chicago card on June 20.
Chubby Jag vs. Cortez
Who: Cortez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) vs. Chubby Jag (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Where: Phone battle on Angryfans Radio
When: May 27, 2015
Why you should watch it: You can’t knock Angryfan's hustle. The success of his (re-formed) radio show is no secret, and these phone battles are really starting to take off. He's even participating in one himself soon, against Murda Mook of all people.
If Cassidy affiliate Chubby Jag qualifies as an industry dude and a one-rounder over the phone counts as a battle, then he’s near the front of the pack for crossovers. The result is highly debatable, with both sides claiming victory with considerable fan support. It's been a minute since Cor has been on a mainstage after a very busy 2014, but here he reminds us how nice he can be with wordplay and punches.
Jag, on the other hand, surprised many with how aptly he fit the battle rap format, which on its own is probably enough to sway the victory in his favor for some people. In addition to bars, the substance is there, as Jag made a clear effort to get personal. This is a tough one to call and will likely take several listens to make a decision.
For another crazy industry-crossover phone battle on Angry Fan’s Radio, check out Danny Myers vs. Tom Gist.
Prep vs. John John Da Don
Who: Prep (Baltimore, Md.) vs. John John Da Don (Yonkers, N.Y.)
Where: URL's "Rookies vs. Vets" in Manhattan, N.Y.
When: March 28, 2015
Why you should watch it: Rumors surrounded this battle before it dropped, with some claiming that it had been vaulted because Prep got bodied (definitely not the case) and others saying that JJDD’s verbal assault on Nunu Nellz caused URL to hold the release. All that turned out to be nonsense, and here we have one of the better battles from "Rookies vs. Vets."
Aside from the "bars-over-everything" fans — and let's face it, there's more to battle rap than just bars — most people give JJDD the win here simply because he performed like a vet is supposed to. He had crowd control, strong writing, and delivery in spades, and Prep’s bars, though phenomenal, weren’t quite enough to tip the scales in his favor.
But don’t get it twisted — Prep is a beast with the wordplay, and adding some more pelts to the wall will only make him a better performer. If he had been able to move the crowd and make them laugh like John John did, he easily could have scored a clear win. The clash boils down to this: Prep has bars for days, John John is consistent as hell whether you like it or not, and Nunu is a good sport.
Related: Watch our post-battle interview with Prep, or check out all our "Rookies vs. Vets" coverage.
Did we miss any? Let us know which ones (and why they're worth watching) in the comment section below.
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