At its core, Atlanta's Spit Dat Heat is really just a local league. That said, it's one of the few local leagues that gets national attention, mostly because of the sheer number of quality battles it puts out. It seems like every week there's another SDH release making noise, featuring new names adding more talent to the already deep roster.
There's a grittiness to the league's mostly gun-bar content but also a contagious sense of joy, as the people in the crowd erupt with reaction as they watch classic after classic appear. The often outlandish reactions are never more exaggerated than the ones from league boss Miltown Bloe himself, who has become known for "yoking up" emcees after explosive lines, grabbing the back of their collar and giving them the "yeah-you-did-that" look. He's even got a new track called "Miltown Yoke" coming out soon. With the performances some of these emcees are putting on though, the collar grab is probably a safe precaution to make sure they don't leave Earth.
Here are our picks for the league's best releases from 2015. Let us know your favorites in the comments below.
Chef Trez vs. B Magic
Who: Chef Trez (Atlanta, Ga.) vs. B Magic (St. Louis, Mo.)
Where: Spit Dat Heat's "Legendary" in Douglasville, Ga.
When: June 14, 2015
It's battles like this that make choosing a winner nearly impossible (or, maybe, pointless). There's so much being said on both sides and so, so much crowd reaction that it's tempting to just tally the number of times Trez and Magic have to stop to let the crowd spaz to see who won. Don't bother though, because even that would be exhausting. This is a home game for Trez, but with a crowd this receptive, that means little. Add another classic to the Bloque on Bloque catalog.
A lot of close battles come down to preference, but if you're a fan of either of these emcees, you're likely a fan of the other. That said, if immaculate flow appeals to you, you'll probably go with Magic. For a more dynamic, perhaps less consistent approach, it's Trez. Obviously, you can't go wrong with this many punches, and you'll be surprised how little familiar ground they cover with references.
Cashflo Rizzy vs. Uneek Fatal
Who: Cashflo Rizzy (Norfolk, Va.) vs. Uneek Fatal (Trenton, N.J.)
Where: Spit Dat Heat's "Hunger 4 More" in Decatur, Ga.
When: Dec. 12, 2015
What's in the water in Norfolk? The city has produced Bigg K and URL's new gunner Ave, as well as Cashflo Rizzy, who is in fine form here against New Jersey emcee Uneek Fatal. The two were supposed to battle previously but the match fell through, which seems to have increased the build-up for this one. Though they've both been around for a few years, this was the SDH debut for both ladies, and with the quality they brought, we'll likely be seeing them on the platform again soon.
Bad Newz vs. Big Hann
Who: Bad Newz (Rocky Mount, N.C.) vs. Big Hann (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Where: Spit Dat Heat's "King Of Da Hill" in Douglasville, Ga.
When: Sept. 27, 2015
You might not be familiar with these names, but don’t sleep — both of these dudes have been grinding. Bad Newz has a ton of great battles on SDH, and Big Hann has been putting in work on 7 Cities Sharks, WBL, Trap House, and Pit Fights.
If you're looking for gritty punches and some of the more creative street talk you’ve probably heard lately, this is grade A. Both of these dudes bring some pretty complex material, but Big Hann’s has a bit more bark to it. That works in his favor a lot of the time, but Bad Newz talks right back, as usual. Plus, anyone who rhymes “praying mantis” with “save Atlantis” is cool with us.
Fliiko L vs. Xcel
Who: Fliiko L (College Park, Ga.) vs. Xcel (Brockton, Mass.)
Where: Spit Dat Heat's "No Witnesses" in Decatur, Ga.
When: March 29, 2015
Fliiko L has been one of the more impressive talents from the SDH roster, and we've been singing his praises since the earliest days of BattleRap.com, even calling his battle with Chef Trez the most slept-on of 2014. Since then he's continued to impress, with a great battle in SDH against Bad Newz (that could've easily also made this list) and a decent showing in an unreleased PG against Hemi. His potential is on full display here, as he shows off his pen against an opponent known for tight writing.
Xcel was one of the most active emcees in 2015, and though this match-up came at a time that he was arguably spreading himself a bit thin, his focus is apparent against Fliiko. His second round is something crazy, and he’s always a good enough sport to appreciate hot bars, which is obviously applicable here. The brightly lit setting of this battle compliments the tone nicely: it requires a sharp focus to catch all the bars and the nuances of the performances.
Bonus vs. Craig Lamar
Who: Bonus (Camden, N.J.) vs. Craig Lamar (Tampa, Fla.)
Where: Spit Dat Heat's "No Witnesses" in Decatur, Ga.
When: March 29, 2015
We've already mentioned SDH's excitable crowd, but this battle might have the biggest reaction in SDH history. Bonus heats up throughout his first round, hitting with schemes and some great one liners (Eg. "This gun fire like a blunt cypher cuz I take two pulls and then pass the joint").
But it's Craig Lamar who throws the biggest grenade into the crowd. He mixes aggressive multi patterns with some pretty heavy haymakers, getting around 60 seconds of reaction with a pattern that finishes with "One shot - BOW - that's gonna put Bonus features on the other side of him like a dual disk." Very entertaining stuff.
Words by Jackson Yates and Chris Mitchell.
Want more? Check out all our Spit Dat Heat coverage, or all our Year In Review content.
What were your favorite SDH battles from 2015? Let us know which ones and why in the comments below.
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