9. TIE: Lotta Zay Vs. Syahboy/ Lotta Zay Vs. Daylyt
What: 2013 was a great year for URL’s second Proving Grounds stage, a charge led primarily by URL organizer Norbes. It’s hard to pick a best PG battle of the year, Sno Vs. Ty Law is a definite contender for the top ten as well. Lotta Zay also had a great year. His battle against Tone Montana was probably on par with this one. 2013 was the year Lotta Zay became one of battle rap’s most feared and avoided spitters along with B-Magic and Swave Sevah. However when it comes to his career progression in 2013 alone, there’s no comparison.
What: (Daylyt vs. Lotta Zay) Aside from the big 3, Don’t Flop, URL, and King of the Dot, iBattle is probably the biggest up and coming league in 2013 and this battle is proof. Daylyt vs Lotta Zay was an inspired match-up and the battle went went off without a hitch. If anyone had as big a upward trajectory in 2013 as Lotta Zay, it was Daylyt but the two couldn’t be more different. Lotta has unique, well-honed bars but he’s like an amalgamation the best parts of your favorite battlers. On the other hand nobody sounds, looks or acts like Daylyt. He’s the Andy Kaufman of battle rap. You never know what is real and what is fake, and you never know what he’ll do next.
Why: This battle had everything people have come to expect from a great PG battle, two fresh faces surprising everyone and innovating the game. Syah had bars, Lotta had schemes and both had aggression. For Syah it was steady aggression-he stayed animated throughout. Whereas Lotta Zay’s aggression came in bursts. Check his opening round “I put the mean arm to the screen door, put the mac in her face.” Some great battles have a steady flow almost like a hot track. This is one of them. The back and forth from beginning to end couldn’t have been planned better.
Why: (Daylyt Vs. Lotta Zay) Because of the antics, that came surprisingly from Lotta Zay rather than Daylyt and because of the layered bar fest that both of them delivered. If you like multiple entrendres, this is the battle to watch.
Highight: Wiz Khalifa scheme 3rd round- Lotta Zay
Highlight: (Daylyt Vs. Lotta Zay)- “I prayed to the lord for a match for where the bread and the stage right. And history repeated, God let it be Daylyt. Them bars I just spit to Day- Light. I wasn’t even punching hard like a play fight. Bars, bloody war, I turn to a beast in that cage fight. Gremlin, cuz I’m about to eat after Daylyt- Lotta Zay, Round 1.
“Soul flyin’ I grout ya’ll sneakers. You’ll see more MmmK’s than a South Park teacher.” -Daylyt, Round 1.
Winner: Tough call. Lotta clearly won most of his battles this year, but this one was too close to call.
Winner: (Daylyt Vs. Lotta Zay) Both delivered a perfect offering of their signature style, so it’ a matter of which you prefer. If judged, this would have been a split decision.