The summer session of battle rap is in full effect now with events happening every weekend and official footage dropping faster than most fans can process. So to help you catch up, watch the battles below and check our full coverage of KOTD's massive "World Domination 5" and "Traffic," URL's first major West Coast event.
T-Top vs. Shotgun Suge
Who: T-Top (Fuquay Varina, N.C.) vs. Shotgun Suge (Newark, N.J.)
Where: URL's "Redemption" in New York, N.Y.
When: July 25, 2015
This much is completely clear by now: T-Top is here to stay as one of URL’s staples, and Shotgun Suge is reaching his full potential.
As always, Top does more than enough to stand out against a high(er) profile opponent. No matter what, you can count on him to deliver three solid rounds. You cannot, however, always bank on that being enough. He’s gaining a reputation for bringing nearly unbeatable second rounds, and that was definitely the height of his performance here. It’s not like he did anything wrong (although a bit more direct content wouldn't hurt); Suge was just on some other shit.
Fans who have been backing Suge since Day 1 are looking really smart right now. It's not really that he's changed his style to catch this new wave of popularity, it's just that his aggression is much more effective when fans are cheering after each line. Having the crowd on his side also seems to help the two areas that his critics were quickest to point out previously: his lapses of memory and the shortness of his rounds. Regardless, Suge is in his prime right now, proving it with performance after performance in 2015, and this is an another great example.
Next, watch both emcees break this battle down, or catch up on all of our "Redemption" coverage.
C3 vs. E Hart
Who: C3 (Queens, N.Y.) vs. E Hart (Yonkers/Bronx, N.Y.)
Where: QOTR's "No Holds Barred 2" in New York, N.Y.
When: Aug. 9, 2015
This battle is the epitome of what makes Queen Of The Ring great.
C3 brings authentic, unfiltered content to every clash and this is no exception. With every round, it seems wildly unlikely that Hart will be able to bark back and take the crowd, but she does it fairly resoundingly.
Questioning a legend’s legacy is often a fool’s exercise, because a lot of the time they perform like E Hart did here. She’s been damn near untouchable for years, and not battling frequently doesn’t seem to affect her at all. Even though she doesn’t employ the more ambitious methods that have become popular, her style is so punchy and finely tuned that it’s impossible not to react. It’s hard not to give her at least two rounds here, and the Jaz callout is, to say the least, noteworthy.
See what people at the event were saying as this battle was happening with our collection of live updates.
Born vs. Gjonaj
Who: Born (Bronx, N.Y.) vs. Gjonaj (Baltimore, Md.)
Where: Bar Wars' "KingPen" in Detroit, Mich.
When: July 18, 2015
Isn’t it great when things live up to the hype? Gjonaj as an emcee and this battle in general are great examples, and your personal preference is likely to play a pretty big role when it comes to deciding who won.
I’ve written about this match-up at length already, but the short version is this: Born brings fire in every round and is on pace to win until a choke in the third does just enough to spoil it for him. Don’t let my brevity turn you away; he still punches like the veteran he is and does at least enough to win a round.
Gjonaj, whether you like him or not, is two for two with high profile battles. Two doesn’t sound like many, but that really says it all. To be the most logical next opponent for Dizaster this early in one’s career is unprecedented, so, once again, here’s to hoping we’re not just gassing this guy up.
For more on this battle, check our preview, exclusive post-battle interviews and full review. Or if you're just discovering Gjonaj now, read our profile on him and our reasons for putting him on our Top 10 Breakout Battlers Of 2015 (So Far) list. Don't miss Born's battle with Rolla too.
100 Bulletz vs. QP
Who: 100 Bulletz (Burlington, Canada) vs. QP (Stockton, Calif.)
Where: KOTD's "Back To Basics 2" in Los Angeles, Calif.
When: June 27, 2015
Don’t let the inexplicably quiet "Back To Basics 2" crowd fool you — this battle is fire in terms of overall competitiveness and, of course, wordplay. Brace yourself. The grudge match between two ex-Innuendo crewmates is… well, pretty amicable, but dope nonetheless.
QP's manipulation of pronunciation and syntax is practically unmatched, and he runs with it whether you're following or not. Here, as usual, you’ll find him wandering down some strangely specific lyrical paths, but do yourself a favor and listen closely.
“Will Bulletz ever get the shine he deserves?” is a valid question. He’s a hell of a lot more versatile than people seem to think and even the accusations of him being boring fall flat as he brings a surprisingly funny impersonation of his opponent. It’s definitely not easy to out-bar QP, but Bulletz arguably did it.
Catch our post-battle interviews with both emcees here or see all our coverage from the event.
Danja Zone vs. Danny Myers
Who: Danja Zone (Temple Hills, Md.) vs. Danny Myers (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Where: URL's "Traffic" in Los Angeles, Calif.
When: Aug. 1, 2015
You have to have patience to watch this battle. Not because it takes Danja and Danny a while to heat up, but because the URL West crowd can’t help but bug out every five seconds. You can’t blame them though, and this is clearly another Bloque on Bloque hit.
Danja has been arguably undefeated this year and, strictly speaking, that’s still the case. If you went off ooh’s and aah’s alone, you’d have to give this to Danny, but don’t be that person. Make your own decision, and rest assured it won't be easy.
All of Danny’s opponents have at least one thing in common: they had to push themselves to match his energy. Danja willingly acknowledged that necessity, and it gives this battle a competitive intensity. In Danny, you can count on punch after electrifying punch, and in Danja, you can expect to hear some insanely well-crafted schemes. Definitely don’t sleep on this one.
Follow the lyrics, read our live updates from the event and check our post-battle interviews with both emcees.
Quill vs. Harry Baker
Who: Quill (London, England) vs. Harry Baker (Bristol, England)
Where: Don't Flop's "Training Days" in London, England
When: March 22, 2015
It’s not often that special effects add to a battle (see Daylyt vs. Tsu Surf, or ... don’t), but Don't Flop's Cruger is not your average editor. If you have any place in your heart for video games, this is sure to entertain.
It feels ridiculous to say, but this rap battle comprised of bars based exclusively on video games will come down to your personal preference. If you really like video games, you can’t go wrong with Quill. If you’re looking for a more tongue-in-cheek homage to the medium, Harry Baker is your dude.
There’s really no point in breaking down how this battle transpired. Just do yourself a favor and reminisce with the incredibly precise visual components that accompany this bizarrely niche bar-fest.
If you missed our full article on this battle read it here.
Stricc vs. B Dot
Who: Stricc vs. B Dot
Where: LA BattleGroundz' "Domestic Violence" in Los Angeles, Calif.
When: July 25, 2015
Who? Versus who? It’s always a treat when battles come out of nowhere and end up being classics. This West Coast clash will give you that Danny Myers vs. Rum Nitty feel but with even more sophisticated content.
Whether it’s raw talent or the result of close study, Stricc is a phenomenal writer. Newcomer or not, there’s some serious depth to his material. Sure, his setups are a little belabored and not always guaranteed to carry the crowd’s attention, but it all feels worth it. More importantly, he’s able to lock in and continue through his content, regardless of how it’s received. B Dot gives him more credit than the crowd does at times, but there’s no denying that Stricc more than did his thing.
B Dot, also relatively new to the game, is surprisingly savvy as well. Though appreciative, he seems to see opportunity in Stricc’s approach, and his aggression will do enough to win this for him in the eyes of plenty of viewers. You pretty much have to give Stricc Round 1, but if raw energy appeals to you more than contemplation, you’ll probably give this to B Dot. That’s not to take anything away from his caliber of writing either, because it’s also top notch.
Big Kannon & Young Kannon vs. Real Deal & Fresco
Who: Young Kannon (Chicago, Ill.) & Big Kannon (Chicago, Ill.) vs. Real Deal (Pittsburgh, Pa.) & Fresco (Rockford, Ill.)
Where: Don't Flop event in Chicago, Ill.
When: June 20, 2015
This battle proves two things: 2-on-2’s can be successfully revitalized if done well, and Fresco is still a monster.
I often find myself wondering what leads the Don’t Flop staff to the match-ups they create. So many times, they seem random but prove to be products of careful insight. This is just one of those times. Who knew the Kannons would have such natural chemistry teaming up for the first time? It’s decidedly different from RD and Fresco’s approach, but it most definitely works.
RD is solid as always here, but you wouldn’t be reaching to say Fresco was the standout. He’s back, and he earned what had to be some of the most thunderous reactions from the entire event (“Let another couple bang like wife swap?” Stop it). This one is extremely close, and it’s probably too entertaining for you to care who won.
Now watch our post-battle interviews from this event.
JC vs. Xcel
Who: JC (Pontiac, Mich.) vs. Xcel (Brockton, Mass.)
Where: Traphouse NY's "U Got Smoke" in Norton, Mass.
When: Aug. 8, 2015
Yet again, Trap House delivers a battle that demands to be featured in our monthly list. Make no mistake: this match-up wasn’t just to settle who can take the most battles in a year.
JC is Mr. Consistency in battle rap. He can battle 17 times a year and you might still find some of his hottest material buried in a round written for a no-name. His battle versus Psycoses was another candidate for this month’s list and, though fire, it pales in comparison to this one. However, if I had to give JC one unforgivingly broad critique, it would be that his material sometimes settles below a certain threshold. It’s almost as if his consistency is holding him back: every round is crafted excellently, but they sometimes lack haymakers.
If you pay loose attention to Xcel's career, you may think his preparation is a concern (but if you study it more closely, you'll realize that tons of his lesser-viewed performances are clean). Here, though, he’s in top form. Instead of stumbling through intricate bars, he sums up how to beat an elite writer in three easy steps. First, prove that you can do a bit more than bars. Second, exude confidence in your approach over your opponent’s. Third, out-bar your opponent. That last one might be a tough pill to swallow for diehard JC fans, but Xcel was in his bag that night.
Dre Dennis vs. Chef Trez
Who: Chef Trez (Atlanta, Ga.) vs. Dre Dennis (Lawnside, N.J.)
Where: URL's "NOME 5 Proving Grounds" in Harlem, N.Y.
When: May 10, 2015
It’s never easy to predict when URL will drop some new PG footage, but it’s usually only the very best content that reaches the airwaves. That’s certainly the case here and, frankly, this battle goes pretty much as you'd expect.
PG-stepper extraordinaire Dre Dennis is nothing if not consistent. He’s gotten a ton of flak for his over-orchestrated reach-and-stomp style, but he always brings a few “holy shit” punchlines that make him impossible to ignore. This battle is a perfect example, and as long as you don’t have your headphones turned up too loud, you’ll love it. Dre doesn’t do enough to beat Trez, but he’s comfortably able to win a round and elicit a ton of reaction in the ever-discerning Black Star setting.
Trez has risen to renown this quickly for a reason, and he reminds us of that here. There’s a certain nostalgia to his approach, simply because he seems extremely dedicated to being versatile. Here, he clowns Dre’s method expertly, rains punches like a true Writer’s Bloque member, and even squeezes in some (fire) rebuttals. When your opponent, like Dre, is landing punches consistently but sometimes throwing the crowd with over-intensity, it makes the most sense to be smooth and technical, like Trez. There’s just no getting around how dangerous he is, and URL was smart to sign him.
Check out our recap of this event and post-battle interviews with both emcees.
Dre Dennis vs. Ah Di Boom
Who: Dre Dennis (Lawnside, N.J.) vs. Ah Di Boom (Bridgeton, N.J.)
Where: Traphouse NJ's "Execution Style" in Blackwood, N.J.
When: Aug. 1, 2015
It says a lot when two guys who were at one point some of battle rap’s most ridiculed figures still manage to appear on this list (twice in Dennis’ case). You might pull a muscle watching this New Jersey rivalry, but you also have to acknowledge how far Boom and Dre have come.
The above statement applies particularly forcefully to Boom. He’s had a great year, and he’s made staying relevant post-URL look like a breeze. In a way, he’s forced the masses to accept his rather one-note style simply by giving clean performances every time. Just like Dre, he always has some jaw-droppers mixed into more… we’ll say, coerced wordplay.
If you found yourself getting irritated with Dre’s performance versus Chef Trez, you’ll probably have more luck here. He’s enhanced in basically all aspects, and he does plenty to arguably win.
Did we miss any good ones? Let us know in the comments below.
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