iBattle stayed handing out sodas in 2015, in no small part thanks to league standout E. Farrell. Farrell was very much the flag-bearer for the Connecticut-based league this year, putting on some great appearances for his home league (as well as in GZ Battles and Don't Flop), all while making noise with a near-constant presence in battle rap Facebook groups.
And he brought plenty of friends along for the ride: league-mates like Bangz, Hazey, JeFFrey, Jak Tripper and Greedy Grimes all saw their stock rise this year and are poised for more classics in 2016.
Here are our favorite battles from the league in 2015:
DAYLYT VS. E. FARRELL
Who: Daylyt (Los Angeles, Calif.) vs. E. Farrell (Manchester, Conn.)
Where: iBattle's "The Takeover 3" in Hartford, Conn.
When: Sept. 12, 2015
Here it is: the battle you may have seen covered on MTV as "Batman vs. Superman." Daylyt and E. Farrell don those respective capes, but spoiler alert: to real battle fans, this is just two great, “normal” rounds followed by a solid, gimmicky third.
All things considered, the third-round costume switch was a savvy move, like an improved version of Day’s old antic formula. Rather than doing some crazy shit that overshadows (or completely eclipses) the rest of the performance, why not have both emcees deliver some quality content before the attention-grabbing Round 3?
The gimmick worked though, making this iBattle's most-viewed release of the year.
E. FARRELL VS. DOT
Who: E. Farrell (Manchester, Conn.) vs. DOT (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Where: iBattle's "I Got Next" in Rockville, Conn.
When: Feb. 15, 2015
E. Farrell has built a cult following with his iBattle performances, and the amount of work he’s put in to get it is evident in this performance. The dude has bars, specializing primarily in similes and clever double entendres. Creatively flipping “dot” is nearly impossible these days, but Farrell pulls it off better than most.
Dot’s style is nothing if not ambitious, and he’s in top form here. He truly puts himself out there with every line, constantly belting the type of content that could fall horrifically flat, while letting his originality and conviction largely erase that concern. If you’re a fan of energetic showmanship and borderline goofy bars, you really can’t go wrong here.
And if that's not enough Farrell for you, check his match-up with Bangz that could've easily made this list too.
SNO VS. DIRT
Who: Sno (Pontiac, Mich.) vs. Dirt (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Where: iBattle's "Takeover 3.5" in Syracuse, N.Y.
When: Dec. 6, 2015
iBattle rescheduled this battle for its first event in Upstate New York after it got cancelled from "Takeover 3," and the result is some surprising heat from both battlers. After two years off, Dirt comes swinging out the gate with some of the most personal personals we’ve heard in a minute, talking about Sno’s alleged assault charges and even reciting half his social security number.
Sno heats up too, bringing name-flips, bars and intensity that get the small room crowd super hype. It’s not that these guys switched up their styles or anything — Dirt comes with his classic angles and multis and Sno comes with his famous one-word bar repetition (though noticeably tones down his "ya mom/ya girl" content). Sometimes all it takes for a great clash is the right crowd and for both battlers to have a point to prove.
SHOWOFF VS. BANGZ
Who: Showoff (Brooklyn, N.Y.) vs. Bangz (New Haven, Conn.)
Where: iBattle's "Allegiance 3" in Hartford, Conn.
When: April 25, 2015
Showoff has been making a name for himself in RBE lately, and definitely shows up here with a polished performance in his league debut against Bangz. He brings gritty aggression and clever wordplay, landing bar after bar.
Bangz may not be as complex as Showoff, but his performance is on point, and his bars keep the entertainment factor high as he brings a lot of energy into the room with his stage presence. Bangz delivers witty one liners that shake the room to go along with his boastful delivery.
Even though it seems that Showoff’s third round was cut short due to time issues, this was an incredible showing from both emcees and is one of the top battles to come out of iBattle this year.
TINK THA DEMON VS. JAK TRIPPER
Who: Tink Tha Demon (Chester, Pa.) vs. Jak Tripper (Westchester, N.Y.)
Where: iBattle's "Takeover 3" in Hartford, Conn.
When: Sept. 12, 2015
This battle rounds out our list mostly for its uniqueness. With an inspired match-up that pairs two of the scenes most intense performers, this battle is unlike anything else that came out in 2015, and probably unlike anything ever again.
Threats of violence are nothing new to battle rap, but this battle sets a new bar for creative ways of describing indignities to a body with its vivid horrorcore imagery. Think of it as the black metal version of battle rap.
Words by Chris Mitchell, Jackson Yates, Ben Cofresi and Alex Fraknoi.
What were your favorite iBattles releases from 2015? Let us know in the comments below.
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