(AllHipHop Features) Hollow Da Don has been one of the premier battle rappers in the game ever since he dominated 106 & Park’s “Freestyle Friday” competition in 2006. The native New Yorker took home the show’s weekly battle crown seven times in a row.
Hollow parlayed that TV success to numerous battle rap league victories and an eventual co-sign from Young Money superstar Drake.
With a stat sheet that includes matches against elite battlers such as Arsonal, Big T, Illmaculate, Aye Verb, Hitman Holla, Tsu Surf, and Loaded Lux, Hollow still broke new ground when he went face-to-face with major label signee Joe Budden at Total Slaughter I.
There are two other top-tier battlers that Hollow has in his immediate lyrical crosshairs. In AllHipHop.com’s fourth edition of “Profiles In Battle Rap,” Da Dinininon shares his personal hit list, favorite battles, rap producers he has worked with, and one of his slept on lines from the match with Budden.
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Hometown
Born in Brooklyn. Grew up In Queens.
Years Experience
Professionally, in front of a wide audience 7-8 years. In total battling period, about 12-13 years.
Style Known For (ie aggression, wordplay, punchlines, freestyle)
Untouchable is the best way to put my style. It’s unpredictable. You don’t know if I’m going to go punchlines, jokes… keeping opponents on their toes, not knowing how to come at me.
Crew
I wouldn’t call it a crew. It’s more of a movement – Loyalty Over Money (LOM).
Slogan
“Loyalty Over Money”
Leagues Competed In
I’ve done every possible league and dominated every league – 106 & Park, Fight Club, Grind Time, WRC, URL/Smack, Total Slaughter.
Mixtapes/Albums
Loyalty Is A Way Of Life, Money Changes, Loyalty Don’t. I decided to stop making music to just focus on battling. I still write. I just haven’t recorded. I ain’t really been in my bag lately. I’m just letting it flow. I might drop singles, but I don’t plan on dropping a whole project.
Favorite Battle (Participant)
Me vs. Big T
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Favorite Battle (Non-Participant)
Conceited vs. Arsonal
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One Of Your All Time Hottest Line
In the Joe Budden battle I said, “You know who the hell is Joe?/That funny Martin episode/He talk about that hoe tell (hotel) when in the end/He’s fighting with the rat.” They didn’t catch that. A hotel is actually an “inn.” In the end of the Martin episode, he was fighting with the rat in the hotel.
Your Battle Rap Mount Rushmore
Me, Loaded Lux, Murda Mook, Illmaculate
One Mainstream Rapper You’d Like To Battle
Anybody that’s a lyricist. It ain’t about attacking the mainstream. I’m definitely trying to go at an Eminem, Cassidy – lyricists that I respect. But there’s no official mainstream rapper that I’m gunning for.
Name One Battler You Think Could Possibly Beat You On Their Absolute A Game
Any top-tier battle rapper. Anybody you name. That’s what they don’t understand about battling. Everybody wants Jordan to have 63 points against Boston, but he may have different nights where he might have 32 and 10 rebounds. It’s still a good night, but they don’t appreciate it because they want to see the classic night they remember that you got famous off of.
Different nights you are going to have great performances. It’s just a different type of performance. That goes to say, with anybody that’s a top-tier battle rapper – as long as they’re on their A-game and having a great performance – you’re not going to beat them. You know who the top-tier cats are.
Artists You’ve Worked With Musically
I’ve worked more with producers like Alchemist, Chuck Inglish. I was just in the studio with Scott Storch. I mess with a lot artist too, but I’m just not the collab type of guy. I’m the guy that chills, kicks it, and if I’m feeling the vibe, I’ll hop on the track. I hate to force the issue. This is when I was doing music. Like I said, I’m not doing music anymore. I’m not a rapper.
Your Battle Rap Hit List
Charlie Clips first and foremost. Maybe even Mook, if he wants to jump in the way and get stupid. It’s still “ABG” – anybody can get it. No exceptions.
Top 5 Emcees DOA
Not in order: Biggie, Pac, Eminem, Big Pun, Pimp C
Do You Prefer To Participate In A Debatable Battle Or A Clear Victory?
Honestly, it depends on how much you really hate the person. If you hate the person you’re battling you want to win no matter what. If you’re battling somebody you respect, a classic will always be the best, because those are the ones that get talked about the most.
Where Do You See Battle Rap Going In The Future?
It’s just going to get bigger. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a sport that’s respected like any other sport. That’s what we’re hoping for. We don’t expect it to change the world and bring peace. None of that is going to happen with battle rap. It’s an aggressive sport. It’s underground. We just want to get respect, because we respect rap and music period. So we want to get respect in the same breath.
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Follow Hollow Da Don on Twitter @hollowdadon and Instagram @DonLennonLOM.
Read other “Profiles In Battle Rap” articles here.
What other battle rappers would you like to see featured in AHH’s “Profiles In Battle Rap” series? Share your picks in the comments section below.