PH was a pioneer in battle rap and well-known in the New York hip-hop scene. Tragically, it took his death to remind the world of his influence.
The tributes from well-known indie rappers and producers — as well as the articles announcing his death in Billboard, Rolling Stone and many other mainstream publications — show his role as an OG that many veteran battlers looked up to before they'd even spat their first verse. It also speaks to the 39-year-old rapper's modesty that he never bragged about the accomplishments of his career.
His battle rap style was incredibly versatile, and he could switch between jokes and aggression with ease, mixing freestyles into his expert flow. He was also known for his gruff delivery, top-notch vocal projection and unmistakable Brooklyn accent.
These five battles show how long he'd been in the game and how incredible he could be at his best.
PH vs. Breez Evahflowin’
Where: Blaze Battles
When: 1998
Why you should watch it: It’s pretty remarkable that footage from this 1998 on-beat battle even exists online. PH himself actually commented on the video, amazed that it had surfaced. Obviously, the year shows how deep-rooted PH was in the scene, and the ease with which he rattles off multi’s over the beat speaks to his body of work as an underground artist.
The audio/video quality is understandably shaky, but the footage is some of the earliest from his career, showing him around the time of the success of his breakout 1997 single "Dynamic."
PH vs. Dizaster
Where: Grind Time's "Battle Of The Bay 4" in Oakland, Calif.
When: June 6, 2009
Why you should watch it: PH was a regular face in the battle rap scene by this point, but this was the first time he stepped into the ring in the written era, making him one of the first OGs/hip-hop artists to attempt the newer format.
PH always seemed absolutely bent on winning all his battles, and here you can see that urgency in full effect. Dizaster was on his way to the top in Grind Time around this time, but PH stopped him in his tracks. His smooth demeanor proved to be a difficult foil for Diz’s frenetic delivery, and he sailed through this clash with confidence and clear determination. PH was never content with using irrelevant material, tailoring his content to Diz and correctly predicting how Diz would come at him and his division.
As was often the case for PH, he was away from home, which only made his performance that much more vicious out of necessity. Antagonistic as his performance was, the masterful way he delivered it made it impossible for the Bay crowd to hate. This is a classic upset, and you’d be doing yourself a disservice to skip it.
PH vs. Arcane
Where: KOTD's "World Domination 2" in Toronto, Canada
When: Aug. 6, 2011
Why you should watch it: Here’s another impressive away-game victory for PH. This time, it was versus Arcane, who had already established himself in Canada with an impressive GP run that culminated in a win over The Saurus for his first (of two) KOTD title. As always, PH refused to let his disadvantage rattle him in the slightest, and this is an extremely dominant performance.
Arcane had jokes for days and plenty of haymakers, but PH’s consistency and forceful, unwavering delivery carried the day. Whereas the crowd smiled and laughed along through Arcane’s content, they seemed noticeably more enthralled with PH’s, and it’s easy to spot several dropped jaws at times.
Like many of PH’s battles, this one is criminally under-viewed, but his commanding performance will undoubtedly bring many viewers back as a reminder of PH's excellence.
PH vs. The Saurus
Where: KOTD's "Carnage" in Toronto, Canada
When: May 4, 2012
Why you should watch it: Beating "Mr. Two-Time Everything" is no easy task, especially in his second home of Toronto. This Number 1 contender match was the culmination of PH’s incredible KOTD title run that ended with Porich defending his title at "Outbreak."
You could argue that Saurus was a tad off his game here, but you really can’t take anything from PH. After all, it’s safe to assume neither were looking to miss the opportunity to snatch the increasingly-coveted KOTD chain. Saurus tends to match the intensity of his opponent in terms of sternness and desire to win, and this is no exception.
In the end, PH held it together more solidly, and his performance could appropriately be called “masterful.” His conviction in assuring (an incredibly drunk) Porich that he would kill him in the title match is telling; running through opponents in an unfamiliar environment to ultimately take it over was his prime ambition at the time.
PH was fearless, and this battle is a perfect example of his willingness to put it all on the line.
PH vs. Deffinition
Where: KOTD's "World Domination 4" in Toronto, Canada
When: Aug. 23, 2013
Why you should watch it: This was PH’s last battle on a main stage before his passing, and he crushed it.
Even against the jokey, sarcastic Deffinition, his uncompromising determination didn’t falter in the least. You’d think he’d let a smile slip at some point, but that usually wasn’t PH’s style mid-battle. As humble as he was in real life, he would often harshly stare his opponents dead in the eye as if they weren’t saying anything worthy of reaction. This is a very re-watchable style clash, so don’t let the echo-y audio dissuade you from seeing it through.
The result of this battle has been debated since it came out, and it is undeniably less than clear-cut. Deff brings jokes for the most part, and they don’t always hit despite several haymakers. PH brings some jokes too, and he makes a good case for victory based purely on the range of his content. In reality, his overall seriousness is to be commended, as most have trouble keeping it together against an absurdist like Deff.
As his recent Madness battle also proves, PH still had the goods right up until the day he passed.
Want more?
Check out PH against Dumbfoundead for another Grind Time classic, against Skelly for a polished showing in his KOTD debut, against Eurgh for a sub-standard but still solid performance that launched Eurgh’s American success, and against Uno Lavoz for a good old fashioned bodybag.
Donate to help support PH's family here.
Cover photo by Tanya O for KOTD. See the full set here.
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
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