Everything You Missed At Scrambles 4 Money’s “Talk Is Cheap 3”

Africa’s leading battle league threw its biggest event to date on Oct. 18, featuring a stacked card of up-and-comers, Scrambles vets and international emcees like Bender, Raptor and Quill. Unfortunately Ness Lee and Math Hoffa didn’t make the trip because the battle fell through a few days before the event.

I was defending my title against Cerebro (one of the best in South Africa) and flew up to Jozi (Johannesburg) a couple days early. It’s always a mad exciting time — a few years ago we were watching these guys on YouTube, dreaming of being on the same cards as them. Now we are.

I was staying in the hotel with the international visitors, which is always fun since they don’t know anybody else and have to chill with me. The Banister Hotel in the middle of Braamfontein is where the battlers usually stay. It’s within walking distance of everything: the event’s venue, one of the best tattoo parlors in Africa, Mac Dees, Nandos, Steers, Spur, clubs, bars, all that shit. It’s mad cheap too — whenever internationals come down here they always talk about how cheap it is.

We picked Bender up on Wednesday evening. Quill and Raptor had arrived earlier so we all packed into (S4M boss) Gin I’s car and drove to the airport. We found Bender pretty easily — I’ve been a fan of homie for years so it was pretty surreal. Anyway, as we're driving out of the airport the cops pull us over and ask Gin for his license.

The conversation went something like this:

Pig: License please.

Gin: Aaah I left it at home my man.

Pig: Okay we going to have to arrest you now.

I could feel a collective sigh from the internationals. Gin gets out the car, has a couple words with the cops, then gets back in the car. A cop comes to the window and Gin shakes his hand, giving him a R300 bribe (about $20 dollars).

Pig: Have a good night boss.

Gin turns to us grinning from ear to ear and says: “WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA BOYS!!”

We drove back to the hotel in high spirits, and I was glad everybody got to experience the authentic South African passtime of bribing law enforcement.

Here’s a recap of some of the standout battles. Big shouts to photographer Mdu Sibanyoni for the images.

BENDER VS. TUMI

This battle was insane. Bender came with three of the best rounds I’ve ever heard from him. What made his material amazing was the local references he had — most cats would namedrop a nearby city or mention our president into their verses, but nah, not Bender. The Canadian emcee had the best local TV show reference we’ve heard: “I’m sure they’d be happy to drop his ass in the desert/ But pop a cap in his chest first like Poppa Action N Chester.” (SPELLING) The crowd went crazy! I’ve never seen Gin react like that before. Homie had a new snapback on and started scrunching it up he was holding his head so hard.

Every round Tumi had was fire too. He has such a unique style and strong presence, his writing is next level and he gave us his best performance to date. After each round I asked myself how Bender could beat it, so when the battle ended and most people gave it to Bender 3-0 you know it was a crazy bout. Not taking anything away from the King though. I couldn’t call the first round. Just enjoy the battle bruh bruh. If you're a battle fan you’re going to want to watch this, laaawd it was mad. A true classic.

Here are a couple of quotes from it:

Bender - “Your style’s tonic water, without Gin no one would buy it.”

Bender - “Yeah I’m a fat fuck too been eating a mean diet/ I just ate The Last King Of Scotland, got Idi Amin’s Diet.” (SPELLING)

Tumi - “If you betting on Bender it better be David Beckham.”

Tumi - “Ben then was a monster to watch, Ben10.” (SPELLING?)

Bender - “You're a part time preacher/ I’ma a large white Jesus walking starved hyenas on some barbed wire leashes/ My archive’s deep you want this bar fight genius/ Get a cut with a Fat Lip like a Pharcyde remix.” [Editor’s Note: MMMMMMMMMMM.]

JAKE BAKER VS. CEREBRO (TITLE MATCH)

This battle got real quick, with both of our thirds probably being the most personal rounds in Scrambles history. The first is debatable, but Cerebro was the more prepared emcee with his best performance to date. I was walking with a limp, but we were both proud after everything was over. The first real South African title match gave the fans a real battle. And a new champ was crowned! Bastard.

RAPTOR VS. CHRO

This was Don’t Flop regular Raptor’s second Scrambles battle after facing me at “Divergence.” Chro also had an impressive performance at that event, so the up-and-comer was given his toughest opponent yet. This battle had an awesome back and forth feeling and both cats had moments of greatness.

QUILL VS. KUSS DIVERSE

Kuss was originally supposed to battle another British emcee (CoJay) but took his replacement Quill on a few days’ notice. You wouldn’t be able to tell that from the battle though. At one point Kuss started speaking in Xosa — a language comprised of a lot of clicking. Quill tried to rebuttal it which was funny. After the battle Quill was surprised to learn it was a real language and Kuss wasn’t just joking and making random clicking noises.

STANDOUT MOMENTS

L THE STREET POET

The Botswana champion traveled far to give a great performance, decisively winning his battle and impressing KOTD boss Avi Rex who was watching on the PPV. Homie’s got a bright future in battle rap.

ELIJAH GIVING HIS BEST PERFORMANCE TO DATE

PAVA GUNS DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST

Seriously. Don't miss this.

OTAREL VS. CHAOS THEORY

This was a really entertaining battle, both rappers came with it.

REALLY GOOD LIVESTREAM

The livestream was crystal clear and people all over the world were hitting us up telling Gin how impressed they were with the PPV.

Raw Artifact’s SPELLING third round being fire

You have to watch that man, a quote doesn’t do it justice.

THE CROWD

Not too long ago we were throwing cats out of the event all the time. Literally. Like throwing them down the stairs because they were unruly and wouldn’t leave. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve all come, the internationals kept saying how the Scrambles crowd was one of the best crowds in battle rap and that was really cool to hear. Something everyone attending the event should be very proud of.

Gin had this to say:

”Thanks to people who supported. It’s been three long years of pushing and I think we are starting to see the rewards now in how far the league’s reaching abroad as well as how far the talent has come. The only way forward is forward and the more battlers we bring out from wherever else in the world reflects in how the level here rises with each big event. It was a great event all in all, from production to battles. Bender, Raptor and Quill were great guests and it was an honour to have them out here. Looking forward to what next year holds. Hopefully we can lock in some sponsorship deals and make the coming year a big one.”