Overview of Rap Battles and Their Impact

Rap battles have been a staple in the New York City music scene for decades. From the epic battles of the Bronx's Busy Bee Starski vs Harlem's Kool Moe Dee , to the legendary face-offs of Roxanne Shante and U.T.F.O, rap battles have been a way for MC's to showcase their skills and earn respect from their peers.

In recent years, the art of rap battles has gained widespread attention in pop culture, thanks in part to the success of platforms like King of the Dot and the Epic Rap Battles of History (ERB) series on YouTube. ERB, created by Nice Peter and EpicLLOYD, features battlers such as Snoop Dogg, Drake, and Eminem, and has become a cultural phenomenon with millions of views.

One of the reasons rap battles have gained such hype is the use of clever punchlines and put-downs. Battlers use their quick wit and wordplay to outdo their opponents, often backed by instrumentals that create a high-energy atmosphere.

The history of rap battles is as rich as the city that birthed them. From impromptu battles in the Bronx to the televised battles on MTV, rap battles have been a way for artists to showcase their skills and gain respect in the competitive world of Hip-Hop. 

As new music and new artists emerge, the tradition of rap battles continues to evolve. However, the foundation remains the same: two MCS facing off with nothing but their words and their skills.

The Beginning

In the early days of Hip-Hop there were battles before rap recordings. DJ’s battled to see who has the best skillset, record collections, and sound systems. B Boys battled to see who had the best moves and MC’s battled to determine who had the best rhymes and routines. Rap battles were judged by which MC (or crew) received the loudest applause at the end of the said battle. It was just that simple, the audible response from the audience determined the victor.

Rap Beef, Diss Songs And Answer Records

Since Roxanne Shante released 1984’s “Roxanne’s Revenge,” rap’s first diss record there has been a mislabeling of diss records and battles. A rap battle has MC’s squaring off face to face with the crowd determining the victor. Diss records and rap beefs remain on records, however some beef has unfortunately spilled over into real life.

Epic Early Rap Battles

The Cold Crush Brothers and The Fantastic 5 were best of friends, in fact members of The Fantastic 5 were in groups with The Cold Crush Brothers’ Grandmaster Caz at times. As MC’s the Cold Crush and The Fantastic were mortal enemies. The Fantastic 5 battled The Cold crush in 1981 at Harlem World in what is one of Hip-Hop’s most talked about battles. The Fantastic 5 were crowned the winners by the crowd to strong disagreement by the Cold Crush.

“We told them that we were gonna eat their asses and they didn’t believe it”, Kevy Kev of The Fantastic 5 told The Foundation. “We wore tuxedos, we had new routines and we were ready! We had no fear, they wanted to battle us and we gave them what they wanted.” There are still people who witnessed the battle and believe that the victory should have gone to the Cold Crush. Pioneer MC Debbie D told The Foundation “The girls in the crowd are the reason that the Fantastic won! Kev and his Brother Master Rob were like sex symbols. The Cold Crush only had EZ AD who was looked at as a ‘pretty boy’ at the time.

Busy Bee and Kool Moe Dee remains one of the culture’s most significant battles because it marked a turning point in battles, and the impact is still very much felt today. Busy Bee was very popular at the battles which at the time were promoted as “MC Contests”. Busy Bee was one of rap’s most energetic live performers and as a result he did well in these contests. He had a Muhammad Ali type braggadocios swag, and one night Moe Dee was hosting a contest and was annoyed by Busy’s claim that we was “knocking out all bums”. Moe Dee snuck his name onto the list of contestants and faced Busy with a rhyme that birthed the personal attack. This was a first in rap battles, where previously MC’s rhymes were judged by how good their rhymes and routines were. Moe Dee talked about how busy always said the same rhymes, how he bought rhymes from MC Spoonie Gee and never paid. There is a clear line from what Moe did that night to the current underground battle circuit.

Rap’s Biggest Beefs

In addition to the previously mentioned “Roxanne’s Revenge,” there are many monumental rap records that stem from beefs and misunderstandings. Kool Moe Dee felt that a young new artist by the name of LL COOL J was being disrespectful and arrogant when he claimed that he was “only 18 makin’ more than ya pops.” Moe Dee responded with 1987’s “How Ya’ Like Me Now,” LL COOL J responded with “Jack The Ripper,” and the two went back and forth over several songs in what is one of rap’s most talked about beefs.

Ice Cube who was one of NWA and Eazy E’s strongest writers left the group in 1990 when he found out that he was being taken advantage of financially. After he left the group he was labeled a benedict Arnold on NWA’s “100 Miles And Runnin’” which prompted Cube to respond with the scathing “No Vaseline” which many revere as rap’s hottest diss. Ice Cube also has a small understanding with Common which led to Common releasing “The Bitch In Yoooo,” a scathing diss. Roxanne Shante has dissed JJ Fad, Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, and MC Lyte all in the same song “Big Mama” – while MC Lyte launched “Ten Percent Diss” accusing Antoinette of steal her beats. The legendary Bridge Wars between Boogie Doen Productions and The Juice Crew, MC Shan vs LL COOL J, LL COOL J vs Ice T, and Dre Dre vs Eazy E all produced classic songs based on beefs.

The Battle Rap Circuit

Battle Rap has taken on a life of its own, and is something not measured by records, popularity or the music industry. There are Battle Rap leagues such as Queen of The Ring, Ultimate Rap League, and Rap Contenders. Battle rappers like Loaded Lux, Hollow Da Don, Murda Mook, Hitman Holla, Rhymefest, Math Hoffa, and Eyedea keep Battle Rap alive and vital, and it only continues to grow.