Freestyle battle
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Freestyle battles are usually contests (though they can occur spontaneously) where rappers compete or battle each other in the form of freestyle rap or cypher. The intention is for each rapper to insult their opponents more cleverly than he or she insults the others. Winners are often judged by simple audience response, though more structured battles can involve appointed judges.
In freestyle battles, it is often considered an act of dishonor to recite (or "spit") any written raps, because it shows that the rapper who does so is incapable of spitting spur-of-the-moment lyrics.
Freestyle battling is expressed in many forms in rap culture, such as the popular movie 8 Mile, where actor Eminem uses freestyle battling to win money and respect.
Venue
Traditionally, a battle usually takes place before live audiences. Recently, however, the Internet has been used as a forum to hold online battles. Proponents of this developing artform that some call "text" or scrypt say that the Internet provides a safe environment for artists to practice their skills. Without being hindered by beats, an online writer may use the full range of his or her imagination and vocabulary in a battle. The boundary is stressed even more so as many MCs or groups may record a "Diss Track" to spread and send throughout an audience or directly to another MC or group via the internet, CDs, or radio. Critics however, argue that true battles can only be held before a live audience.
The live audience involved in a freestyle battle is critical. In a battle rap the MC is downgrading his opponent and all of his words are aimed to his opponent, but he is really playing to the crowd. The crowd can serve as a way to breakdown the opponent by making him look inferior in front of his peers. The crowd's response is what drives the two battling rappers. And in most cases, it is the crowd that determines the winner of the battle.
Battle raps
Battle raps are raps written in the same fashion as those used in freestyle battles. They often incorporate the same self-glorification, insulting language, and violent similes as a real freestyle battle, but they are written beforehand and usually recorded in a song. These raps romanticize real freestyle battles, express machismo and/or disgust with other rappers (sometimes referred to as wack MCs), or are sometimes created just as a fun exercise of lyrical skill. Some of the most significant Hip hop rivalries have been the result of the battle rap.Battle rapping has become a large part of hip hop as a musical form; when a rapper has no other topics or concepts to rap, he/she usually will put a battle rap on their song aimed at no one in particular. Further, when two artists have a conflict, they may record disses, which are essentially battle raps aimed specifically at each other.
A diss can include attacks on credibility, threats of violence, or simply bragging that one is better than the other. Disses can also be recorded over the rival rapper's beat to add further disrespect. Allegations of sleeping with the another rapper's significant other have become increasingly popular in disses (such as 2Pac claiming to have slept with Biggie's wife, or Jay-Z claiming to have slept with the mother of Nas' daughter).
Battle raps are closer to the original form of MCing than concept raps, which are more essayic or narrative in form. This is because they feature 'shout outs' and insulting language, which are actually an evolved form of the roasting that was part of the original MC's craft (or toasting as it was called in Jamaica by Ragga and other dub artists).
Battle rappers
Some of the best-known battle rappers are:
- Big Punisher
- Chino XL
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Big L
- Canibus
- Hieroglyphics
- Chester P (British)
- Eminem
- Eyedea
- Jin
- Juice
- Rhymefest
- Supernatural
- 40 Cal
- Cassidy
- Proof, late member of D12.
See also
External links
- [Rap Battles] The largest Rap Battle Community on the net
- [Rapverse] Rap Community forum for skilled MC's.
- [HipHop-Battles.com] An Internet platform for audio MC battle raps
- [Rapagenda] An online rap community that contains audio battle raps and text battle raps
- [Letsbeef.com] Audio Battle online for free in real time
- [Hiphop Forums] An online forum for emcee battle raps
- [Rappaz United] Oline emcee battling forum.
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