4/06/2011

Freestyle Rap Battles

By Daniel Akinson


Freestyle rap battles, if done on an elite level, can be some of the most entertaining ways to spend an afternoon. Though perhaps not as popular as they were a few years ago, freestyle rap battles remain an important part of hip culture, and a great way for up and coming MCs to gain respect while sharpening their lyrical skills. Here's some of the best places online that you can find hard hitting battle raps...

My16Bars. This website features a whole slew of talented MC's who are lyrically driven. many online forums are not moderated well- leaving the door open for sub par trash talking- but My16Bars maintains a high level of quality and features desrving rappers with their own feature page and articles.

Jump Off TV. These guys have done a spectacular job of promoting some of the best freestyle battle rappers out there today. Watching the dynamic duo of Ilmaculate and TheSaurus crush the competion in the past two years has provided hours of entertainment. You find tons of additional battles on their website, or search via YouTube.

For anyone concerned in watching out particular battle rappers, I highly advise (in addition to those already mentioned) Eyedea, DZK, Brother Ali, Wordsworth, Jin, Ras Kass and Kanye West (just kidding). If you have a chance, the bonus Eminem rap combats on 8 Mile (the real freestyle battles, not the movie ones) are worth checking out as well.

For a more in depth consider of what makes a dope rapper I highly suggest Kool Moe Dee's There's a God on the Mic: The 50 Greatest MCs of All TIme. He truly breaks down each rapper by dozens of skill stages, such as songwriting, combat skills, freestyle, showmanship and industriousness affect. It's a great work of rap written by one of greats.

BET has hosted several freestyle rap battles, though its most popular is 106 & Park, which features a weekly battle rap at the end of the show. This is where Jin, one of the most respected battle rappers of the decade, got his big break after winning week after week (though admittedly, his competition wasn't that strong some weeks).

Freestyle rap battles have lost some of their popularity gained from the film 8 Mile, but still remain prominent in the underground hip hop scene.




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