Battle rap was on the big stage at the BET Hip-Hop Awards on Tuesday as North Carolina born rapper T-Top took on DNA in a live rap battle for $25,000. Later on, T-Top revealed that while he was getting the look of a lifetime, his grandfather had passed away.
“While I was on the awards tonight my grandfather took his last breaths, hope I made you proud king,” Top wrote on Twitter following the awards show. The Smack/URL battler received many well wishes from fans via social media.
While I was on the awards tonight my grandfather took his last breaths, hope I made you proud king R.I.P
Battle rap was a major highlight of the Hip-Hop awards and although T-Top didn’t win the $25,000, he did receive a lot of praise for the bars he spit on stage, some fans even felt as though he was robbed in the battle.
“No cameras because the feds like to hold that image/so tell T.I. my trap museum ain’t have no Kodak’s in it,” Top spit in his battle with DNA. Top also participated in a BET cypher giving himself the maximum exposure he could get on BET’s platform Tuesday night.
My Condolences and my prayers are with your Family
SMACK/URLTV continues to drive the ascension of battle rap to the next level with a 4-man battle tournament confirmed for this year’s 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards ceremony featuring DNA, Geechi Gotti, T-Top and Shotgun Suge hosted by SMACK himself. With filming set for this Saturday at the Cobb Energy Performing Centre in Atlanta, Georgia before being televised on BET throughout America on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 8PM ET, the star-studded award ceremony to be hosted by Lil Duval will be the first time battles have taken place live on stage at a BET award show.
Although numerous and now classic BET ciphers have heavily featured battle rappers in recent years, this brief four-man URLTV battle tournament consists of one 90 second-round each per battle, with the two winners then facing off in the finals for the $25,000 prize to be judged by the crowd live in the building. These four battle rappers are among the culture’s leading at the moment, with veteran and highly viewed battle DNA taking on the rising superstar out of the west in Geechi Gotti who has had a very strong last two years in what is sure to be an entertaining encounter in this unique format.
A rematch of sorts of T-Top vs. Shotgun Suge after their classic battle in July 2015 on the ‘Redemption’ URL Card finds a welcome home on BET. T-Top had a breakout 2014 year which included a battle versus John John Da Don and taking out BET’s “Ultimate Freestyle Friday” on 106 & Park against the previous seasons’ champion Sno and the 10k with it. Shotgun Suge has been a long-running force in battle rap on SMACK/URLTV for a decade with his aggressive style and the inclusion of him will ensure that the authentic feel of battle rap will remain on stage here.
Also, brand new this year, the “Best International Flow” segment honors selected artists globally with nominees from Canada, Ghana, France, UK, and Nigeria. Internationally, these hip hop awards will air on BET Africa October 9, 2019, at 7:00PM CAT; on BET UK on October 10, 2019, at 9PM BST; on BET France on October 10, 2019 at 8:45PM CEST; and on BET South Korea October 10, 2019 at 9:00PM KST – and with it battle rap reaching potentially millions of new eyes worldwide. Tune in!
The team at the Ultimate Rap League made good on their promise by providing fans with an event to make up for Murdaland and Parklyfe not battling in Charlotte, shy of a month ago on the original Summer Impact mega-card. And they even brought DJ Don Demarco back!
Billed as the battle of the decade, few can argue that Summer Impact did not give battle rap enthusiasts an epic experience – touting match ups like NWX vs. EFB, Goodz and Clips vs. Multiple Remixes, Monstars vs Quest MCody and Marv One, Gunz N Cake vs. Loaded Hollows and The Bardashians vs. 40 B.A.R.R.S. and E-Hart. Due to a late start and the venue closing at a certain time, the co-title bout between Murda Mook and Calicoe vs. T-Top and Brizz Rawsteen simply never happened. Thus Reloaded was set up to pacify fans, who felt duped.
Does this make-up card calm their rumblings?
It seemed to… as URL did everything that they could to make the experience one for the books for those who purchased tickets or the PPV for the battle. They attempted to do this by adding extra value to the new double impact themed summer card that still has people talking. They added additional battles and a performance from Loaded Lux.
The event even saw two stars emerge from the PG ranks (Franchise and Ace Amin), allowed friends to see Shotgun Suge and Nu Jerzey Twork rap like never before and saw street-style toxic masculinity pour outside of the fictionalized lyrics and onto the stage.
The first battle was against Richmond’s Jakkboy Mane and Toronto’s Franchise. Franchise did not come to play. From the time he opened his mouth in the first round, he lit the stage up with haymaker after haymaker. There is not much to say, as Jakkboy Mane – WHO CAN RAP – stumbled through the battle like a blind man in the pitch dark of winter. It was painful to watch as this Goonie forgot his rhymes. Franchise, clearly a great sport (well both of them were), encouraged his opponent to stand firm. But it did not help. Franchise did not let anyone down even though Jakk did not show up. He emerge as the first star of the night.
This was a bar heavy scrap that has been meaning to happen forever. Ace Amin (another Goonie) and Snake Eyez (from Dot Mobb fame) delivered an interesting battle that appeared to be a style clash and aggression barometer. Hip-Hop is a space where traditionally Black male machismo is celebrated; encouraged even. The back and forth kept the crowd engaged, but it was clear from round one that a huge chunk from the audience rocked with Ace. His crowd control was equal to that of a seasoned vet. They not only knew his slogans, “Holy Sh*t” and “He Knows,” but they really were rocking with the intricacies of his word play and aggression. Snake Eyez on the other hand, matched his aggression and raised his lyrical stock by adding color to his performance… in a way that few have seen over his career. Particularly in the third round where T-Rex assisted with an alley oop. Let’s face it… people love seeing T-Rex. Fresh off of a horrible car accident, the Dot Mobb Capo set the third round off, setting up this battle as a debatable preference battle. Many believe that the debatable or preference category is a co-out. Well it is not, if that is the God honest truth. 2-1 either way…. Both had moments. Both had energy. Both almost punched the other in the face, the tension was so high between crews. And even though you can argue that… Ace Amin emerged as a shining star in this battle. Great for his debut on the big stage.
Woah! Ace Amin going at Tay Roc and says he bought a Cave Gang chain like John John Da Don did Jakkboy! pic.twitter.com/pExIH2euFB
The Monstars vs. NWX was one of the battles that came out of nowhere. No one can deny that NWX are gods at this two-on-two thing. Hardly ever losing to any other group (well they did lose that one time to Gun Titles), this new team had their work cut out for them. Did the Monstars deliver? YES. THEY. DID.
Antics aside, these big guys came with a melding of their styles that made them formidable opponents. Punching swiftly… Punching consistently… Landing them jawns… Monstars showed why New Jersey is not to be messed with ever.
But NWX is like fine wine to the Monstars’ Jack Daniels. K-Shine and DNA seem to have nooks and crannies in the brains that they share. What advantages did they have over the Jersey boys? That damn DNA and his freestyling, their symmetric timing and choreography and the energy that K-Shine seems to have bottled up in his little body. On the flip side, Monstars benefits are first apparent in their appearance. The fact that they dominated with their intensity, dunking on them this way and that way, pushed them closer to the win than anyone expected. And while their antics did not go as planned, there is something to be said about their creativity. BAR NONE. This is another preference battle. 2-1
“i watched him pull Shine card… i woulda did Holla graphic”
The last battle of the night was between Murdaland and Parklyfe. Aggressively generational. It looked like to uncles arguing with their younger nephews. And while both sides started out giving the crowds what they wanted, too many personals stoked the fires burning in their bellies. Alas, a scuffled popped off and ended the otherwise wonderful event abruptly.
What a shame, because URL did everything that they were supposed to do. Unfortunately, battlers don’t move with a certain code of honor and respect, not only disrespecting themselves (looking like brutish hoodlums and not the beautiful and brilliant Black men that they are), they disrespected the platform that has afforded them a comfortable lifestyle.
One to the next one… perhaps the fans will get a card as dope as all the other cards URL has produced this anniversary year.
By now it is common knowledge that former Jive recording artist and Swizz Beats protegé, Cassidy lost in a rap battle against the Bronx bomber, Goodz.
The two have had history. They were both loosely affiliated with the Ruff Ryder camp, but also have had beef. Cassidy claimed that he never lost to anyone, much less the kid he once “mentored.” That was until…. SMACK/ URL hosted a battle this Spring called “Resolution,” where the lead battle on the card was this grudge match between these two rhyme spitters.
Only thing…
Cassidy did not have the same caché he sported back in the early 2000s and did not have the same gas that he enjoyed during the battle against Dizaster in Los Angeles on King of The Dot. According to most, he lost to the Grown Man Bars leader.
Fans have been saying that. Battle rap media and analysts rappers have been saying it. But now some of Cassidy’s fellow commercial rappers have weight in… Dave East linked up with Goodz in a studio to talk real rap about the now infamous battle. Battle rap media giant, HipHopIsReal captured it on film.
Dave says to Cassidy, while kicking it with a group of friends:
“Ayo Cass, I believed in you bro. I was a fan at one time. So I ain’t one of the n*ggas that ain’t gonna say, ‘I wasn’t a fan.”
But before he could say that “Goodz f…” everyone starts hysterically laughing, presumably at the his loss.
He finishes with a word to the wise, “You have to grow with the time.” And later broke down the real problem with Cassidy, “He is delusional.”
URL does it again by shifting the culture with a new franchise to tickle the fancy of battle rap enthusiasts. Combining two of their marque events, Summer Madness and Double Impact, the world’s most respected stage in battle rap promises to bring the star power in double doses.
Summer Madness has been the platform for at least the last 7 years that has brought out the biggest names in the culture and in the industry to see titans go at it in lyrical warfare. Double Impact, a fairly newer franchise founded in 2016, pairs up dynamic duos to play tag team in these bar-for-bar contest.
While the card has not been announced, one bout has been and surely you will be floored.
Mega-star Tsu Surf and his partner Tay Roc aka “The Face of URL” will make another appearance as Gun Titles to battle two heads on battle rap’s Mt. Rushmore, Loaded Lux and Hollow Da Don. Load Lux has long cemented himself in battle rap’s history, and pairing him with Hollow Da Don proves to be a coup for the master think tank over at URL.
But let’s look at these four contenders Summer Madness records so far.
Hollow Da Don and Tsu Surf have only appeared on one Summer Madness a piece. Hollow Da Don battled Tay Roc at SM6, where many believe that Tay Roc killed him with two crazy bars that had to deal with a seat belt and a buzzing fly. See below. While Tsu Surf had a great entertaining battle with Hitman Holla at SM4.
Lux stunts with his Summer Madness appearances as he had an incredible battle with Calicoe in SM2, and even memorable battle with Charlie Clips at SM5. In both battles, the Harlemite took aim at his opponents’ fathers. In the Calicoe it won him the battle, and in the Clips battle not so much. Clip’s free style ability backfired with the Wild N’ Out star hitting him with the line implying that it doesn’t matter what you think his father did… his mother was the real gangsta in their family.
Leading the pack is the reigning “King of Summer Madness,” Baltimore’s own Tay Roc. There is little to be said about this emcee, other than when you here… “Summer Madness coming,” you can’t help but get excited. He is sure to bring passion and fire to the table. Summer Impact, with his partner Tsu Surf, we are sure he will do the same.
Resolution lived up to its name by resolving the ever burning questions that Hip-Hop fans in general and Battle Rap enthusiasts specifically have been asking for years:
Battle Rap’s elite gathered to see if Cassidy, probably their childhood favorite, could beat their colleague, Goodz.
Is Cassidy really the best battler ever and is his record really with an undefeated record?
Could Cassidy keep his spotless record if he were ever to step on a stage with killers known to eat industry rappers for dinner?
Did Half-A-Gallon Goodz, the Henny-drinking-style-on-them-hustler beat Cassidy in a battle back in the day at a Ruff Ryders’ video shoot?
Well, the answers flooded the gates after the last bout on URL’s last card unfolded before out eyes on Saturday, April 27th. No. Not now. We thought so, but nah. Probably.
Cassidy vs. Goodz on SMACK/URL’s Resolution Card on April 27th.
Cassidy who boasted a astounding 5001 and o record in battling all during promo for the epic contest, took his first “L” to a rapper that he repeated tried to son in interview after interview. And while it was Goodz’ shinning redemptive moment, it really was a victory for the culture- Emcees that desperately are on guard watching for imitators that slip in off the clout of gold records, major label marketing budgets and the buzz of yesteryear glory. The Bronx swag-animal stunted on the Philly lyrical miracle with a 3-0 (maybe 2-1 if you give The Hustler the first round).
“Ok, I punch a lot. I’m telling u now, and that fake ass ice u got will not make the swelling go down!”
The crowd went bonkers. For many their king had returned (or finally came).
He hit them with the lines “before GPS, I was stuck in my waze,” and “Shots I’ll clap on 5th, like I shop at Saks.” But the bar that left everyone stuck and that clapped louder than any machete D.N.A. could have shoot was “I never lost a battle SMACK. I made battle rap popular, you got popular off battle rap”
His first round proved that he was still a beast with those words. Punch after punch, he clearly prepared for the battle and knew the Battle Rap industry like a true ethnomusicologist might. [Ed. Note] And that should not be the question. Unlike many other rappers who decide to hop on this stage, it is clear that Cassidy (and Joe Budden despite both of their loses) love and are a part of the culture in an experiential way. Punch after punch, Cassidy exploded. Ironically, Cassidy did not craft rounds in a way that broke down Goodz. The braggadocious style that is probably in Cass’ dna did not have room for Goodz to really be the subject of his round. It was all about Cass.
Still, that was not enough. Henny-less cup-holding Goodz was calm, collected and eyes zoned in on his opponent. One angle that Goodz took during the battle was to unpacked Cassidy’s obsession with rapping- juxtaposing his obsession with getting money trapping (BARS Y’ALL).
A nail in the coffin line Goodz spit that encapsulated this sentiment was, “You think I give a f*ck about a gold album? N*gga, I went gold in the streets!” The crowd with their drug-dealing-talking selves went wild.
He mentioned Goodz watching the infamous R. Kelly tape and then said something like the next little girl on Kelly’s tape is going to be Goodz’ daughter. Perhaps all is fair in love and war, but this may have crossed the line. Instead of people giving the Jaz face (made popular by the champion femcee when bars are just nasty), people moaned in disgust. This may have been too soon for the culture to accept, especially after the Tech 9’s death/child pornography/ sexual assault allegations hit the news. People held their breath knowing how Goodz gets about his daughter, but he did not snap and there was no repeat of what happened that other time he thought someone said something about his angel.
But there were some schemes that made people really take note. One in particular when he ran through all of the battle rap bloggers using “figurative language,” culminating with “I drop knowledge, he couldn’t drop gems.” Cass’ word-play is undeniable. Knowledge is the popular blogger from the hit Battle Rap media platform, HipHopIsReal.com and gems was in reference to the popular battler and blogger, Jimz.
Well, then why are you saying Cass lost? Funny you should ask rap-grasshopper.
Picture this… and this is probably for the entire battle… Cassidy is a champion fighter that no one can deny… has great form… technique is exquisite… but he is in the mirror battling. He is boxing himself, shadow-boxing maybe. Cassidy did not leave room in his “lyrical masterpiece” to include Goodz in his part of the battle. His focus was on being the best rappity rap rapper alive… and not the best battler of the night.
Another way to look at it is that he was intellectually masturbating with each round saying to himself that “Whose battle is this?” “What’s my name!” And not pleasing the folk who came to enjoy the show. He had no care whether or not he gave a good show, but rather was more concerned with defending a legacy that no one really wanted to take from him… they just wanted some humility, reality and respect for the culture.
To the contrary, Goodz did not talk that much during the promo season nor throughout the battle… but when he did… things like this fell out:
“How you get 100k for a battle, but can’t get 100k for a show?” SMACK on the side giggling making the bar hit harder.
“Since you were good with a Freeway, they keep giving you an EZ Pass.” Of course making note of one of his 2.5 battles on cam against then Roc-A-Fella flame-spitter Freeway, and how easy people have been on him in the culture.
Apparently, the URL team arranged for this battle to go last. Makes sense, since the battle was so anticipated- and no one really knew how Cassidy was going to do. The card was chock-full of amazing battles leading to this one.
Would we like to see Cassidy again? Absolutely. Him against Suge would be awesome to watch. Did he keep that undefeated crown? Is he the best to ever do it? Is he above any of the names that folk have been saying are their Mt. Rushmore of battle rap? -HELL NAH…
Platinum-selling, number one charting Philadelphia legend Cassidy makes his long-awaited return to battle rap next month on Saturday 27 April on the big stage in Atlanta, this time debuting on the SMACK/URL stage vs. Bronx legend Goodz.
This will be Cassidy’s first battle since his controversial encounter with Los Angeles- based battler Dizaster four years ago at the FilmOn.TV’s “Ether” event in LA, with consensus giving that battle to Cassidy 2-1 in an overall disappointing battle plagued by technical issues that failed to live up to the lofty hype surrounding such a potential classic showdown.
With one of the battles of the decade now only five weeks away, the 27 April event “Resolution” will also feature a stack of other top quality battles making it the battle rap event of the year thus far. The long-awaited rematch battle of SMACK/URLTV.tv’s top gunner Tay Roc vs. the red hot, in form K-Shine has battle rap fans in a frenzy and promises to deliver one of the best battles in years. The indisputable number one new guy in battle rap, Nu Jerzey Twork, has been setting SMACK/URLTV on fire in recent years and faces a formidable opponent in the experienced John John Da Don, who is coming off a great 12 months both on stage and with his Atlanta-based BulllPen Battle League. Big stage enforcer Shotgun Suge takes on the rapidly developing Chef Trez, which will be a great test for the Chef as he has an opportunity to go head to head with one of the most commanding big stage performers in the culture in Suge. Back to back puncher Rum Nitty takes on CaveGang’s T-Top, in a battle that will be interesting to see if the small room (king of the Volumes series) expert Rum Nitty can continue to perform to such a high level in the main room as he has also previously done in the past.
Goodz over the last 15 years has battled the likes of URL’s Tay Roc, T-Top, Aye Verb (hosted by Jadakiss), X-Factor, Hollow Da Don, Rone, Hitman Holla, K-Shine, Jae Millz, Conceited, Head I.C.E, Tech 9, Rich Dolarz as well as Cassidy (off-camera) more so at the beginning of his career. Goodz is currently in top form, coming off a very strong performance against Tay Roc in Houston at NOME 8.
Cassidy came up in the late 90’s and early 2000s as a feared, tried and well-tested battle rapper throughout Philly and beyond who honed his craft heavily (including famously battling Freeway of State Property) before being signed by Swizz Beats/Ruff Ryders. Cassidy would go on to release three classic albums in the mid-2000s, collaborating with the likes of Styles P, Talib Kweli, Havoc, Nipsey Hussle, Nas, Fat Joe, The Game, Alicia Keys, Murda Mook, Tay Roc and Loaded Lux amongst many, many more.
This will be the first time that big room battle rap has reached Atlanta and “Resolution” is shaping up to be a hip-hop event that cannot be missed. Head to Club Mansion for one of the biggest battle events ever held outside New York on battle raps leading platform, SMACK/ URLTV and cop the Pay Per View if you can’t be in the building. Sure to be a night for the history books.
On paper, the rap battle lineups are exceptional. Just judging off the battles that have already been announced, leagues are looking to the culture of battle rap to the next level. Let’s take a quick look at five of the top battles that have caught our eyes this year.
Loaded Lux vs. Aye Verb
Harlem legend Loaded Lux is set to make his long-awaited return to SMACK / URL. This year, he will do so by at NOME 9 in Houston, Texas against St Louis’ Aye Verb. Without doubt one of the greatest battle rappers of all-time, news of Lux’s return to the world’s biggest battle rap stage has sent fans in a frenzy. This is a battle that fans have wanted to see for some time, but not as much as Verb. The vegan vet has been chasing this battle his entire career. Facing a formidable opponent in Aye Verb, whose last year battle on RBE with Murda Mook might have chiseled his face in many people’s Mt. Rushmore, “Beloved” may have his work laid out for him.
Loaded Lux has previously battled in the SMACK/URL DVD era against Midwest Miles (aka Young Miles in 2006), and most famously against Murda Mook over eight rounds back in November 2003 in the Bronx. Lux then went on to battle half a dozen times on the now defunct 106 & Park on BET in 2009. In the most modern era post-SMACK DVD on URL TV, Lux headlined Summer Madness 2 against a young Calicoe in a classic, had a very tough battle against Charlie Clips on a heated Summer Madness 5 three years later in 2015, a classic versus Hollow Da Don on UW in 2014, a rematched with Murda Mook on Eminem’s Total Slaughter in 2014 and most recently battling Arsonal Da Rebel on UW mid last year for Arsonal’s then supposed retirement battle.
Verb will be no easy opponent by any stretch of the imagination for Lux. The experienced Verb has had near 50 battles on camera over the last decade since the Grind Time era on multiple platforms. He has stood on that stage and like Lux also faced off against Charlie Clips, Hollow Da Don, Arsonal, T-Rex, Midwest Miles (twice) and of course most recently with Murda Mook in a performance which really made its own case for him to now face Lux. Aye Verb’s complete battle resume is one of the most impressive overall, having also battled the likes of K-Shine, Math Hoffa, O-Red, Pat Stay, Hitman Holla, Dizaster, Tsu Surf, Cortez, Goodz amongst dozens of others.
This battle has been long in the making for seven-plus years already, and Verb’s recent strong showing against Mook coupled with strong fan support for this battle to go down now means the time is now finally right for Lux to greenlight it. The battle means a lot to both, a Lux win will really see him cement his place at the top end of battle rap table while a win for Aye Verb would really rattle battle rap.
Platinum-selling Philadelphia legend Cassidy makes his long-awaited return to battle rap, this time debuting on the URL stage versus Bronx legend Goodz. This will be Cassidy’s first battle since his controversial encounter with Los Angeles- based battler Dizaster four years ago at the FilmOn.TV’s “Ether” event in LA, with consensus giving that battle to Cassidy 2-1 in an overall disappointing battle plagued by technical issues that failed to live up to the lofty hype surrounding such a potential classic showdown.
Goodz over the last 15 years has battled the likes of URL’s current top gunner Tay Roc, T-Top, Aye Verb (hosted by Jadakiss), X-Factor, Hollow Da Don, Rone, Hitman Holla, K-Shine, Jae Millz, Conceited, Head I.C.E, Tech 9, Rich Dolarz as well as Cassidy more so at the beginning of his career. Goodz is currently in top form, coming off a very strong performance against a formidable Tay Roc in Houston at NOME 8.
Hollow Da Don vs. Math Hoffa
With the personal grudge match of NYC legend Hollow Da Don facing off one-time close confident in infamous Bronx legend Math Hoffa, fans can expect a heavy-hitting encounter full of personals from two of the cultures best over the last decade with an unlimited third round sure to expose all and more on RBE’s Pearly Gates 3 card in mid-February.
Charlie Clips vs. Nu Jerzey Twork
One of the most random matches off the stacked SMACK Volume 4 card, New York’s Charlie Clips returns from Wild ‘N Out and collaborating with Nick cannon to the URL stage to take one the most electrifying performer in battle rap at the moment, Nu Jersey Twork. After a very strong year mixed with a couple of chokes, no-shows and stumbles, a consistent Twork in 2019 could see him cement his name as one of the most feared battlers while Clips is here to prove why he is still an active legend. RANDOM but potentially great.
Head I.C.E vs Chilla Jones
The long-awaited title match for the chain on King Of the Dot pits Harlem legend and reigning champion Head I.C.E vs. one of Boston’s finest in the schemin’ Chilla Jones at KOTD’s World Domination 8 event in London. The style clash on foreign soil is sure to be a strong battle after the match-up was already previously postponed once.
Honorable Mentions – the whole SMACK Volume 4 card, Yung Ill vs. Ill Will on RBE, Arsonal vs. Soul (UK) on KOTD.
Harlem battle rap legend Loaded Lux is set to make his long-awaited return to SMACK / URL next year, with a NOME 9 appearance battling against St Louis’ Aye Verb in Houston, Texas.
Without a doubt, one of the greatest battle rappers of all-time, news of the return of Loaded Lux to the world’s biggest battle rap stage in URL has sent battle rap fans in a frenzy and looks to set up 2019 as the biggest year for battle rap yet. Facing a formidable opponent in Aye Verb (who most recently took it all the way and then some with Murda Mook on RBE earlier this year), this is the battle that fans have been requesting ever since then. The announcement yesterday on Christmas Day was the greatest present that owner Beasley could have gifted fans.
This is just one more battle that URL has lined up, that has fans trembling with joy. The other announced battle that is on deck is Goodz vs. Cassidy. Goodz is one of the most formidable emcees in the culture and Cassidy… well everyone knows about the Philly vet.
Coming up battling for years off-camera throughout New York before making his on-camera debut, Loaded Lux has previously battled in the SMACK/URL DVD era against Midwest Miles (aka Young Miles in 2006), and most famously against Murda Mook over eight rounds back in November 2003 in the Bronx. Lux then went on to battle half a dozen times on the now defunct 106 & Park on BET in 2009. In the most modern era post-SMACK DVD on URLTV, Lux headlined Summer Madness 2 vs. a young Calicoe in a classic and battled a very tough Charlie Clips on a heated Summer Madness 5 three years later in 2015. Lux has also had a classic vs. Hollow Da Don on UW (2014), rematched with Murda Mook on Eminem’s Total Slaughter in 2014 before most recently battling Arsonal Da Rebel on UW mid last year for Arsonal’s then supposed retirement battle.
Verb will be no easy opponent by any stretch of the imagination for Lux. The experienced Verb has had near 50 battles on camera over the last decade since the Grind Time era on multiple platforms. He has stood on that stage and like Lux also faced off against Charlie Clips, Hollow Da Don, Arsonal, T-Rex, Midwest Miles (twice) and of course most recently with Murda Mook in a performance which really made its own case for him to now face Lux. Aye Verb’s complete battle resume is one of the most impressive overall, having also battled the likes of K-Shine, Math Hoffa, O-Red, Pat Stay, Hitman Holla, Dizaster, Tsu Surf, Cortez, Goodz amongst dozens of others.
This battle has been long in the making for seven-plus years already, and Verb’s recent strong showing vs. Mook coupled with strong fan support for this battle to go down now means the time is now finally right for Lux to greenlight it. The battle means a lot to both, a Lux win will really see him cement his place at the top end of battle rap table while a win for Aye Verb would really rattle the battle rap Mount Rushmore. Stay tuned to The Source for news as the lead-up to this monumental battle.
After a successful venture internationally with the weekend’s Summer Madness 8 in London, URL has announced that their next major event will be SMACK Volume 3 on Saturday, December 15th.
Smack Volume, an exclusive small room series, has proven to be a huge success for the platform. When SMACK Volume 1 was birthed last December, numerous battles including JC vs. Nu Jerzey Twork, Rum Nitty vs. Iron Solomon and K-Shine vs. Danny Myers made the card a classic. In fact, it clocked a mind-boggling 2.5 million views.
SMACK Volume 2 culminated the marketing frenzy of March Madness aka SMACK Madness earlier this Spring. On this card was the highly anticipated Arsonal Da Rebel vs. Hollow Da Don rematch. This battle failed to live up to its lofty expectations. However, SMACK Volume 2 was notable for the Aye Verb vs. Nu Jerzey Twork battle, which included one of the best moments in the history of battle rap. Twork’s 3rd round showed that he had the showmanship and wordplay that makes superstars in this sport.
Both SMACK Volume cards have been All-America affairs, and it will be interesting to see how the card is after URLTV’s first true international taste. Pat Stay’s excellent performance against Tay Roc puts him in contention for a home URL debut, while a call-up for K-Shine, Geechi Gotti or Iron Solomon can all be influential in deciding who is the CHAMPION of the year. Stay tuned to The Source for more details.
(@TOPBIZZY) October 9, 2019
you made everyone proud king. Stay gold. Keep your head up. https://t.co/MzrTzTxMsh
