Fans and critics might be quick to point out the perceived failings of what was set to be the largest battle rap event of all time. Whether you thought it was UW’s High Stakes featuring Loaded Lux vs Hollow Da Don, or King of the Dot’s Blackout 4 that deserved the superlative there’s no doubt, this weekend was the biggest in battle history. No doubt, High Stakes succeeded. Daylt’s battle with B-Magic was the kind of souped up new era of battling entertainment fans hunger for. As for the main event, Lux proved he’s still capable of wowing an audience, of innovating the craft, of commanding attention. Hollow Da Don on the other hand, simply proved that right now he is the best battle rapper alive. The event served as a great example of why battle rap is growing so rapidly.
Blackout 4 on the other hand was a sprawl. Even though a number of the most anticipated events of the night unraveled, most that attended King of The Dot’s Blackout 4 will be too focused on their fond memories of the battles to harp on that which didn’t occur.
Here’s what made Blackout 4 special:
Timing. For those who don’t know we are amongst a battle rap renaissance. If you haven’t watched a URL or King of the Dot Battle, you probably don’t know what Battle Rap in its current form really looks or sounds like. It isn’t 8 Mile. It isn’t Blaze Battles. It’s like watching two the of the most talented rappers alive perform entire albums, memorized, perfected and aimed directly at their opponent complete with shots at their craft, shots at their personal life and sometimes props or antics. It’s literal boxing, debate and theater all rolled into one and it only seems to grow.
Some are quick to write battle rap off. Hot 97’s E-bro has vocalized his aversion to it, while Star has become such a fan that he formed his own league. Sadly, the extent to which battling is a grassroots/DIY movement has resulted in the occasional hiccup. Violence has plagued some battle events. General chaos has plagued others. King of the Dot has developed a reputation as the battle league that can make things happen, the league that makes battlers feel welcome and does solid business. The Ultimate Rap League on the other hand continues to lead the competition in views. However, KOTD often bursts in front of the pack when it comes to sheer cultural influence.
To break it down simply, KOTD originates from Canada and The URL is born out of New York and they represent different sides of hip-hop. If the URL is Biggie and Pac. KOTD is A Tribe Called Quest and Eminem- but as time goes by and the two leagues continue to put distance between themselves and any tertiary competition King and the Dot and URL have become closer to one another in style and in content and as people. The respect between the two leagues is evident. The presence of URL’s figurehead Smack White at the event illustrates this. Looking back, the day Organik and Smack hosted Conceited vs Charlie Clips in Toronto is likely to be considered an important moment, maybe even a turning point in battle history. The once clear divide is now blurry.
Which brings us to the second reason Blackout 4 made battle history- it was a clash of styles. Many rappers who had only battled in URL were coming to Canada to battle KOTD’s best. For instance, a rapper like Yung Ill who grew up on the mean streets of the Lou battling Fresco- a semi-pro video game player from Rockford Illinois with a penchant for a fashion and knack for breaking down his opponents.. Uno Lavoz- the high voiced joke-cracking Philly battler went up against Bonnie Godiva in the league’s first ever inter-gender battle. Style clashes were peppered throughout the card.
Sadly, many of them failed to occur. American battle rappers have historically had difficulty crossing the border, and it’s no wonder why. This reporter found it difficult to cross Canada’s borders, so if a quarter of the gun and drug talk in most of these rappers lyrics is true, it’s a wonder that any of them make it over. A border guard that asked not to be named agreed to discuss the nature of Canada’s border policies. While certain drug offenses aren’t taken as seriously in Canada as they are in the US, DUI’s are seemingly taken far more seriously. Exemptions are possible. The border guard cited 50 Cent as an example- someone who could potentially generate a significant amount of money for their performance, drive tourism etc, and thus be granted an exemption. The rules are malleable but they kept a number of rappers from making it over for Blackout 4. Pontiac Michigan’s freestyle genius Ill Will was unable to cross the border due to a YouTube video of a violent incident of which he was allegedly a part. Ill Will was set to battle Real Deal- a schoolteacher from Pittsburgh whose rap style is aggressive yet high-minded. JC whose preacher-esque style also didn’t make out of Michigan due to problems at the border. He was set to battle Philadelphia’s Rone- who was featured in recently in the Source Magazine. Rone is a skinny white boy with more confidence than just about anyone you’re likely to meet. As a result it’s long been speculated how he’d perform against an opponent with a more street-oriented style. The 2nd main event was also canceled. Chicago’s Big T- the sound effect making, street soldier with a knack for imagery was set to battle Bender, Canada’s smartest and most technical MC, but a blizzard kept Big T from making it. St. Louis’s RemyD was matched up against attorney-turned-battle rapper, Osa, but a car accident kept RemyD from showing up. Rich Dollaz was set to make his return against Loe Pesci. He even landed in Canada and flew back, apparently due to a sudden and tragic death in the family. Finally, one of the most disappointing cancellations was the match between Manchester England’s Shotty Horroh and St Louis’s Aye Verb. Aye Verb is a battle vet, known for combining street-style bars with intellectual angles. Shotty Horroh is perhaps one of the most talented battle rappers on the scene but he also has one of the most interesting trajectories. Shotty went from battling lesser known rappers to, in one year battling against Arsonal (a battle which got 2.5 Million views) and Daylyt. Shotty’s battle vs Arsonal also impressed Canadian superstar DJ Deadmau5 who was moved to collaborate with the UK MC. Horroh calls their collaboration “innovative, a combination of boom-bap tempos of American based hip-hop with European bass and dubstep elements. Shotty stepped up as one of the most likely battle rappers to have a successful music career. Deadmau5 and Shotty enjoyed the event and though Shotty performed a few bars on stage, his battle was sorely missed.
The final reason why this was one of the biggest battle events of all time- the format. The idea was risky and innovative- announce only 3 of the 18 matches. From there on the fans would know only who is battling but not who they are against. Only a few days from this announcement it became clear this was a stroke of genius rather than a misstep. Fans rushed daily to the internet as one by one, day by day the competitors were announced. King of the Dot let fan’s imaginations drive their decision whether or not to spring for tickets. Imagination is a powerful thing.
It was Murphy’s Law for Blackout 4. The cancellations may have stripped the event of the title “The Biggest Battle Event of All Time” but nonetheless it was a among the best battle events of all time. Blackout 4 reached its crescendo on Saturday night when Dizaster who likely has the biggest fan base in battling, faced off against Pat Stay, a veritable hero in the Canadian battle world. He’s Canada’s Loaded Lux, and he’s proven himself enough that it wouldn’t be too far fetched a Pat Stay Vs. Loaded Lux battle to occur. Or rather, now that consensus is that Hollow Da Don was the victor of Sunday’s High Stakes battle. Hollow Vs. Pat might be the next big battle. Pat’s Blackout performance has the potential to be received with a kind of fervor comparable to Lux’s 3rd round against Calicoe- it was a transcendent piece of hip hop. Only time will tell, but until then here’s a breakdown of the battles that took place at Blackout 4.
Day 0
Before the event began there was a press conference on Thursday night. Afterwards a so-called “Quiet Room Battle” was held between battle wunderkind Lotta Zay and Yung Casper. Lotta Zay is the only battle rapper to appear twice on our “Best Battles of 2013” list. Quiet Room battles are done without an audience so there’s no reaction and therefore no bias. For the third round they brought in an audience and the response was wild. Both emcees brought a lot heat to this under-publicized bout. It’s hard to call a winner, but this is a battle both rappers should be proud of. The press conference itself featured battlers talking vaguely about their competition and answering questions. Battler Rone had the conference’s most notable interviews with his general wit and quick study hilarity.
Day 1:
Set Up: This battle was culmination of KOTD’s Ground Zero tournament. These two battlers defeated numerous competitors to get this battle and the winner walked off with a check and the title. DDSS is a tall skinny white boy from Vancouver. Step Easy is a shorter skinny white boy local. They’re styles are similar and DDSS was booed the moment he introduced himself. But then, something amazing happened- he managed to completely change the crowd’s mind, a huge feat in the battle world.
Result: By the end of the battle DDSS was the obvious victor. He had the crowd completely on his side. His lines were always smart and never generic. This battle ended up a sleeper battle for the event, and his performance will be a favorite amongst die-hard fans.
J-PRO Vs. 100 Bulletz
Setup: An interesting matchup. J-Pro hails from Oxnard, California. His bars are clever and his delivery is commanding. Bulletz hrives on elaborate schemes and word association. He’s been the subject of barbs from those who claim he sounds extremely Caucasian for a black man, nonetheless his debut at URL in New York was apparently well-received.
Moments- “You pull strings to get feedback on stage, you Jimi Hendrix amplifier.” – 100 Bulletz
“You’re on a quest to find love but Bonnie’s just another black thought.” – J-PRO
“You try to sway but don’t get the answers like Kanye”- @J -Pro
Result: J-Pro’s performance was considered by many to be the night’s best. He clearly got the best of his opponent.
Bonnie Godiva vs. Uno Lavoz
Setup: Bonnie Godiva is one of the preeminent female battlers out there and a rare bird in that she manages to battle and still maintain her femininity. Bonnie, who has been linked to Math Hoffa, showed up to the battle in a tight lime green dress. During his battle, J-Pro freestyled saying she looked like a glowstick. Uno Lavoz is the “Your Mom Joke” king of battle rap.
“Ill Face- F*** with all that lipstick on. That’s makeup sex.” –Uno Lavoz
In Bonnie’s 3rd round she donned a judges robe and a bible. She then produced an ex girlfriend of Uno’s and essentially accused him of sexual assault. It was a strange moment you’d only in battle rap. Many thought Uno took the battle, some thought Bonnie had it.
DNA Vs Arcane
For DNA, 2013 paled in comparison to past years as far as his battling record was concerned. He had some major losses. However he also had some very good battles like his battle with Thesaurus, and with Charron. He just didn’t really have big wins in 2013. Still he’s got more fans, and more wins than most battle rappers. Arcane is the disgraced former champ of KOTD, coming off a pseudo-scandal in which he was accused of purchasing material from a fellow battler. All of this overshadowed Arcane’s skill and work ethic. This was a good opportunity for him to regain some love.
Moments: “I’ll put hands on Cane like the Monopoly Man”- DNA
“I’m a green beret, I leave shells scattered everywhere like this was Easter Day. “- Arcane
Result: Both rappers walked away from this one looking good, and ultimately it might come down to preference. The first round belonged to Arcane and the second belonged to DNA. Impressively, DNA freestyled for the entire round.
Thesaurus vs. Charron
Canada’s Charron had an interesting year last year. After winning BET’s freestyle Friday Championship he was promised a spot on BET cypher as a prize, but once it came time to film the BET hip hop awards, he was denied what was rightfully his. The attention that came from this controversy served Charron well. But it wouldn’t have mattered had Charron not had one of the most impressive streak of wins in battling that year. Watching 2013’s Charron was like watching Carmelo Anthony in 2003. He just blossomed proving his wit is lightning fast and his sense of humor well honed. His ability to craft jokes quickly is simply unmatched in battling at the moment. Thesaurus deserves the title of veteran more than anyone else in the league. Twice over he won Scribble Jam and the KOTD chain. “Mr Two Time Everything” they call him and he never fails to prove why he deserves that title. Tonight was no exception.
Moments: “If you’re the father of my style then you neglected your son. You’re the exact person In 10 years I hope I never become” – Charron
”Sorry player, I’m getting Cory Tailored for a slip knot.” Thesaurus
Result: This was the most competitive battle of the night and opinions on who won will differ from fan to fan.
Arsonal Vs Swave Sevah
Setup: Arsonal holds the title of “most viewed battle rapper.” He also runs UW Battle League. . Swave is the protégé/partner of Immortal Technique and part of Team Homi, a battle rap clique that represents the absolute upper crust of the battle world. Arsonal is from Jersey and Swave is from the Apple. They have similar punchline oriented styles that they both deliver in their own way.
Moments: “I bust mine so many time the kick back gave me carpal tunnel/ Headshots have his dreads looking like burnt spaghetti.” – Swave Sevah.
Arsonal referring to snatching a purple bandanna from Charron’s hands says he whooped Charron at capture the flag.
Result: Some were disappointed with the brevity of this battle. In the end Swave had the more creative punch lines.
Battle of the night: Thesarus vs. Charron
Performance of the night: J-Pro
Most Underrated: DDSS Vs. Step Easy
Day 2
The energy in the building skyrocketed for Day 2 and the battlers fed off the crowd’s energy.
Megadef vs. Lexx Luthor
Setup: This is the up and comer battle of the night. LA’s Megadef has a quiet and tenacious style that builds until it explodes. Lexx Luthor is known for showing up and taking out his opponent against all odds.
Moments: “I don’t watch a lot of conceited, but I’ll leave of a SON Heartless, gun so big, Mega had to kick start it.
(Reference to rapper Conceited’s clique S.O.N.S and fellow battler/SON Heartless)
Result: This was a career performance for Megadef. Quite a few people called this “Bodybag of the night.” He easily took all 3 rounds.
Sketch Menace vs. Soul
Setup: Sketch Menace was once the KOTD champion but he’s had a fall from grace since then. It’s hard to really understand why, a few mediocre battles and fans turned on him. Soul on the other hand is known by most Americans for punching fellow battle rapper Caustic after battled a close friends of Soul’s and exposed him for cheating on his fiancée. Soul was banned from his home league for the incident and wasn’t let back in until recently. Since then, he’s had an amazing year, showing he’s one of the most unique battle rappers around- top 3 in the UK, and the most well read of just about any battler.
Moments: Sketch Menaces calls out Soul for only referencing books that have been made into movies.
“The only time you hear a great Scott is from Doc Brown.” – Sketch Menace.
“I inspire assassins like J.D Salinger.” – Soul.
Result: This one was too close to call. Both battlers were in top form. Sketch was as good as he’s ever been. This was certainly one of the highlights of the event.
Tycoon Tax Vs. Rum Nitty
Setup: Rum Nitty is an up and comer whose battle vs. Danny Myers is considered one of 2013’s best. Tycoon Tax is Canada’s favorite up and comer.
Moments: “When I say I got something for Rum, it ain’t a message board.”
“Tax wanna be black so much he got coon in his name. Get a permanent vacation when I hit you with a can, coon.” – Rum Nitty
Result: Rum got an unbelievable amount of love from the crowd and was too much for Tax even though he put up a good fight.
Fresco Vs. Yung Ill
Setup: Both rappers are huge fan favorites and this was one of the most anticipated battles of the event. Both rappers also get a little flack for not living up to the ultra masculine standard of battle rap, and for being appearance conscious. However, they are also both beloved for their innovative styles. Fresco is coming off a long hiatus. He came back recently to battle Rone in what amounted to a classic battle. Yung Ill is also coming off of a hiatus after having something of a mental breakdown. This is his third battle back.
Moments: “I’m a do Fresco bad. Black bag with the yellow strings just to show ya’ll Fresco’s trash.” – Yung Ill
I’m ahead of this Mark like the Gospel of Matthew. – Fresco
Result: This battle was probably as anticipated as Swave vs. Arsonal but it lived up to the hype much more so. Fresco stumbled in the first due to a literal choke of some kind but he came back in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Yung Ill the best he’s been since his return. This battle was reminiscent of his classic battle with Tsu Surf, only it was more even. This was a great battle.
Conceited Vs. Charlie Clips
Setup: Both are URL transplants, both are considered top tier. Conceited achieved some fame beyond battling as a cast member of Nick Cannon’s WIldin Out, but he also had an extremely disappointing last battle. Still his resume is far beyond Clips. He’s an innovator famous for his trademark “Slow it down! I just dissed you.” It’s just been awhile since his last great performance. Clips on the other hand is most people 2013 Battler of the Year. Having just defeated Tsu Surf, there’s reason to believe he cannot be beat. The consensus amongst fans is that KOTD’s Charron is next in line for a title shot. Afterwards Charlie Clips, Real Deal and Rone are said to be the top competitors. After this battle, Clips might be on top. This battle was co-hosted by URL’s Smack White.
Moments: “You get capped and more guns (Captain Morgans) come out.” – Conceited
“I’ll smack your gun and step on the barrel like Captain Morgan” – Charlie Clips
Result: Both rappers were strong out of the gate. Conceited was on his A-game. Clips too. However, Conceited went a bit light in his second round. Clips freestyle his whole second round, and in some ways, it was the most impressive round he had. Really though, Clips just performed at the highest caliber and he’s proved that he’s one of the best doing it right now. Clips 3-0.
Dizaster Vs. Pat Stay (Title Match)
While Arsonal is the most viewed battle rapper, Dizaster and Lux are the most famous, by far. A whole new generation of fans were introduced to battling because of Disaster’s performances. He is the father of the new age of rap battling. While he’s gotten a lot of criticism since battling Arcane, and having a few so-so performances following his title loss, you can’t take Disaster’s legacy away. Since his slump Dizaster has recently had some performances that have been back up to his standards. Pat Stay is simply a hero in Canada. He’s their horse. He can quiet an entire venue with a single hand motion. He’s a giant presence with great timing and absolute command. He’s the kind of guy who seems like he has no fear.
Moments: “You know you never lay the smack down, when you go through security at the airport is the only time you’ll ever see Pat down.” Dizaster
Pat Stay’s third round was the round of the entire event. It was transcendent and must be seen to be understood. It was the perfect cap on the event.
Result: Pat Stay deservedly kept his title.
Battle of the Night- Dizaser vs. Pat Stay
Performance of the Night- Pat Stay
Most Underrated- Soul vs. Sketch Menace
For an extremely in depth, bar-for-bar recap with video interviews click here.
