I remember when I first started listening to Hip Hop as a kid. I remember how rough, gritty, street and real it was. I remember how rappers would go in and spit out lyrics with a flow that was so fast and exciting, it made you stand up and take notice. They did it, almost as if it was unrehearsed and just spit what came to their minds and created a track that anyone could vibe to. Battle rapping is a form of rap where you went head to head with another rapper and test your skills to showcase your dominance. There was no Ja Rule – 50 Cent animosity; just a battle between two rappers that was done out of respect and nothing said during the battle was meant to spill over into real life.
Today, rap has undergone a terrible transformation, it has in essence lost its edge, as making money and having untold amounts of sexual encounters seems to be the only thing most mainstream acts can relate too. The movie 8 Mile actually diminished my apathy and brought me back to when struggling rappers were trying to make a name for themselves and using the venue of battle rapping to be heard, appreciated and recognized for their skills and not their bling, bitches, and boos.
I thought battle rapping was dead, but between BET’s 106 and Park's Freestyle Fridays and 8 Mile battle rapping is making comeback, inspiring me to find out as much as I could about today’s current Battle Raps. Interscope, home to Dre and Eminem, has become fascinated with the battle rap scene and created the multi-part documentary The Next Episode, featuring some of the hottest independent battle rappers in cities across the United States, all competing for a shot at rap supremacy as their quest is aired on national cable powerhouse station, Showtime.
The Next Episode is loosely described as a reality version of the rap contests in the movie 8 Mile, and follows the trials and triumphs of undiscovered rappers from across America struggling to become the country’s top MC. In each city, Detroit, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York, the field is narrowed down from hundreds of rappers to the top two battlers striving to be the"NEXT." Each one-hour episode showcases two MC's–in their respective cities in a lyrical war, ending in a final battle in front of peers, with special guest DJ’s and MC’s officiating. The series culminated with a massive winner-takes-all freestyle rap battle in a final showdown in Los Angeles. Interscope Presents ‘The Next Episode' also tells the untold hip-hop history of major cities as revealed by local legends and famed rappers, including 50 Cent, Joe Budden, Wyclef, Clipse, Big Tigger, Nate Dogg, Bonecrusher, Gang Starr and Loon.
I caught the last two episodes of the series, showcasing New York City, the birthplace of rap, and the final showdown in Los Angeles. After watching these two episodes, I just had to write about them. They were a great look into the whole battle rap scene and I enjoyed watching the whole battle unfold between some of the most talented rappers I have seen in some time. Finally, rap was taken back to its roots and it was great to see so many artists be tested without the help of producers, mixers or lyricist. They had to come in prepared, but they had to adjust to the moment and come up with lines off the top of their heads to overcome the odds and defeat their opponents. This documentary was hot, discussing how gang battles evolved into rap battles and how coming up with the lyrical poetry off the top of your head was a way of elevating people’s minds. It also discussed how rap was a way for African-American leaders to be heard, giving a new generation of social justice leaders and agitators a chance to have their opinions and struggles addressed.
However, rap is no longer a game dominated by African-American men. In New York City, I was floored by the rap genius of Chocolate Tai, who besides having a great name, also has a tight flow. Her story, as a single mother, looking for a big break, despite the fact that her mother and grandmother are very much against her career choices, left me pushing for her victory. However, she was up against Diabolic, who is a White rapper from Long Island, with a killer flow and a vast vocabulary. This classic battle of rap minorities, was hot. MC Lyte and Eminem were just some of the rappers discussing what women and White men had to overcome to make it in the rap game, adding to the intense battle that ensued. Chocolate Tai was the victor, using a killer line that I thought was off the hook (If you an atheist, then I’m going to send you to a place that doesn’t really exist). That was deep and right there, I wanted to see her win. She did and advanced to the final five.
In Los Angeles, Detroit’s Quest M.C.O.D.Y, Atlanta’s Ness Lee, L.A.’s Spit Fiya and Philadelphia’s Young Blake joined Chocolate Tai in a friendly rap battle. Everyone here deserved to be recognized, but in the end, Spit Fiya and Chocolate Tai set the standard. I was impressed by both their work and so were the judges. Chocolate Tai already displayed her skills as a strong woman with a depth in her vocals and a good use of words, but Spit Fiya showed us why he got the name as he spit lyrics at rapid speed and brought Hip Hop back to its old school sound with some new school flavor. As he said, Compton is back.
Spit Fiya controlled the mic by just breaking down his opponents and taking each victory one at a time. He told Ness Lee “You couldn’t be off the chain, if you was a runaway slave.” and “If his girl gave me a hand job, he still couldn’t beat me.” Tai was defeated, but able to move on and eventually faced Ness fresh off his defeat at the hands of Spit Fiya. Tai had to overcome odds as Ness tore the woman up, stating that she was a dude with breast implants and stating, “My titties are bigger than hers, when I’m spitting my rhymes...oh God, she’ll probably pull out a dick that’s bigger than mines.” Tai didn’t have to go for the jugular, but showcased better rhymes and won out. Spit Fiya tore up Young Blake, with a backhand battle rap insult. “I’m gonna give this guy props, he can really spit it, too bad 99% of his rhymes were all written,” he said to advance to the finals. Blake couldn’t get himself together and would lose out to Tai, too, setting up a battle between Spit Fiya and Chocolate Tai.
This was a great battle. Fiya told Tai, “Your rhymes ain’t hot, you just got halitosis.” Tai was hot, too, keeping up and forcing the judges to ask for one more round before they determined a victor. Tai seemed to have it locked up, proclaiming victory, calling herself the American Idol, “Hell no, you can’t win, got your shoulders on the mat, 1-2-3 pin.” However, Fiya saved the best for last, “I’m so addictive, they call me nicotine,” he said before expanding on the statement with, “You’re like Marlboro’s cause you just got smoked.” Taking a page from Eminem’s book, he finished Tai off with the line, “My style’s not feeling you like Christopher Reeve’s legs.”
Overall, it was a great battle. I had Spit Fiya picked to be a winner, but Chocolate Tai was definitely worthy of going to the finals and could have won it against anyone else or if Spit Fiya was off his game. In battle rapping, it is anyone’s game. If you don’t come correct, if you don’t have your vocabulary down, if you aren’t ready to take some heat and come back full throttle, then you are already a loser. These rappers are pioneering the return of the battle rap scene and it is something that this article does no justice to at all. Battle raps, specifically those found in this Showtime special, need to be seen and heard. Check your local listings, because the show is still getting play, before it eventually comes out in DVD format. Turn off the radio and stop listening to the same old nonsense…real rap is back in the Next Episode.
Send your comments and or questions to JMinners@ybfree.com.