Following up his highly acclaimed single “Like Jeezy”, Connecticut emcee M.A.R drops off his new motivational song, “Haters”. This one is dedicated to those doing whatever they have to do to make it and it’s all about keeping your dreams alive, no matter what anyone thinks or says about you. Produced by ProffesionalAce of Street Level Ent., the driving force behind this is a simple key-laden instrumental with pure lyricism backing it up. Look for more from the Bridgeport emcee as he is constantly releasing new material to keep the streets fed.
NY native and Miami transplant Brenton returns with the visuals for his catchy acronym based cut, “A.D.O.T.S.”. The formerly unreleased cut from the emcee’s 2012 mixtape, The Brenton Brown Affair, maintains it’s energetic feel when transformed into video with the help of director Ra-Image. The Skitzo produced cut finds Brenton living his everyday life in the 305, making moves through his city and showing us what goes down on the daily. Look for more releases from the positive-minded emcee with a project sure to be on the horizon soon.
Justice League artist Prime not only wants to leave a mark in this game, he wants to be a “Head Honcho”. The Tampa, Florida native has been busy preparing his next project, and to get you ready for it’s release, he’s linked with fellow Florida representative, Famous Kid Brick to spit rhymes at a level only bosses are capable of understanding. With a braggadocios flow and his confidence at an all time high, Prime shines over a big 8BARS beat. Look for his upcoming mixtape “Worth The Wait”, dropping sooner than you think.
With the impending release of their upcoming tape “My Brother and Me”, Yung Dred and Richie Wess continue their push of new material with a brand new one they are calling “Fogo De Chow”. Produced by The Beat Plug, this one is strictly about living that blowing money fast life and everything that comes along with it. With a bright future ahead for the YTC ENT rappers, they show no signs of slowing down as they prepare the release of a visual for this one, followed by the release of the tape this summer. Look for that!
One man’s dilemma can be another man’s Miracle, which is what buzzing Detroit emcee Ro Spit creates in the second edition of his Free Bars series. As Ro tells it in the track’s description, the instrumental, produced by the one and only Just Blaze, was left out in the open after artists like Jay Z, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, and J. Cole were unable to finish the full record. The producer requested that emcees who picked it up “be respectful and rap good”, and Ro does just that, unleashing a statement of a verse with hard punchlines and changing flows. It won’t be long before he is in the lab with heavyhitting producers like Blaze, and fans and critics alike will be able to hear the company he keeps already when his new album IV Life drops next month!
With his upcoming project Ain’t No Stoppin Me dropping tomorrow, Snootie Wild decides to let one more track fly. This one features Lil Boosie and is titled Hatin’.
While we patiently wait for more news about his upcoming album, Mac Miller continues to feed his fans free material. This time he goes in over Clockwork DJ beat titled I Got This Beat In My Head.
Last month, fast-rising Atlanta label released their debut compilation, Change The Game. The project has already spawned burgeoning favorites like Ketchup’s TM-88-produced “Flood The Block,” featuring PeeWee Longway, and Viking Life’s Metro Boomin-produced “On Fleek,” and now the label is premiering the latest act from the label, Type-A, with the video for their Don Cannon-produced single “Mastermind.” Says the duo of the song, “Corruption in today’s world and our personal lives gave us our inspiration for ‘Mastermind,'” says the duo of the lyric-driven single. “We feel that tomorrow’s future is in the eyes and minds of today’s youth.”
Welcome to the darkside. The man playing the role of battle rap’s Sith Lord is Northeast/Down South representative Brizz Rawsteen. Frequently dubbed one of the brightest rising stars in battle culture, Brizz is earning praise from the fans and his peers.
It was actually a veteran battler that helped put Brizz on. John John Da Don saw the young rhymer’s match against Lotta Zay and referred him to URL recruiter Norbes. With that endorsement, Brizz’s email inbox was flooded with interests for his talent.
Brizz says he was set to be part of the Smack/URL Proving Ground class which featured Jay Rell, Prez Mafia, Steamz and Ty Law, but his scheduled bout against Dice-Roller was cancelled at the last minute. Rawsteen had to wait in the wings for his time to rise to the major leagues.
The up-and-comer finally got to the big stage in March as part of URL’s “Rookies vs. Vets” card where he took on top tier battle rapper Aye Verb. This year also saw the release of his The RawTape mixtape in January.
AllHipHop.com tapped Brizz Rawsteen as the latest subject of the “Profiles In Battle Rap” series. The rap version of Anakin Skywalker discusses his Darkside crew, names his top five emcees dead or alive, reflects on facing off against fellow Tar Hell State native T Top on BET, and more.
My hometown is Wilmington, Delaware, but I represent North Carolina to the fullest, because I spent a whole lot of time down there. That’s where I got on as far as battling. I spent 13 years in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Years Experience
My first battle was in March 2012 in Raleigh. I battled a guy named Africa. Prior to that I was doing street, playground battles. So about 3-4 years.
The Africa battle was hosted by Hitman Holla. He was the first person to tell me, “You’re gonna make it. I guarantee it.” So when I see him now he always says, “I told you.”
Style Known For (aggression, wordplay, punchlines, freestyle)
I think my style is unorthodox. I’m not known for one thing. It’s a style of fighting without fighting, like my man Bruce Lee said. I just like to be different. I’m not a clone. I don’t like to sound like other people.
Crew
Darkside. We’ve actually been around since before battle rap. It’s Me, Blu-Ray Blade, Billy Dutches, and Strata Gize. All the guys have battles that are on YouTube. They’re very reputable guys in the south, and we’re not done yet.
Out of the squad, I was the first one doing it on this level. Now we’re doing it. Blu Ray Blade is one of the best guys I’ve heard doing this. We’re really trying to put on for North Carolina and the south. Darkside.
Slogan
I don’t have a slogan. Right now it’s just “Darkside.” You might randomly hear me say “Darkside” in the middle of a conversation. I thought about having one, but I don’t want to take the time to make up a slogan. But if one comes to me…
Leagues Competed In
I started out in a league called R.B.C. in Raleigh. It was started by this guy named C-Dub. Shout out C-Dub. Then I showed my face in the 7 City Sharks League which is Norfolk, Virginia. Shout out to them and Showtime.
After that I battled in Pit Fights in Baltimore. After that I battled in Spit Dat Heat for about three battles straight. After that I did K 100 which is a Midwest league. After those it was pretty much straight to the URL. I also did Go Hard Or Go Home and MeleeTV.
Favorite Battle (Participant)
My first one versus Africa, and my battle versus Lotta Zay done in Atlanta. And then probably the BET battles as a whole. That opportunity was dope.
[T Top and I] are real guys. We’re both kings of Carolina so we agreed we’re not going to be on national TV and try to tear each other down personally. We’re just going to come with these bars and may the best man win. Everybody thinks, “Brizz, you gave it to him.” Nah, I ain’t give it to him. That’s just how it worked out.
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Favorite Battle (Non-Participant)
Lux vs Miles
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One Of Your All Time Hottest Lines
I got a lot. “The bullet in the tech is toe size, that’s no lie. I put em to your neck from both sides like bow ties.” I have one where I say, “It’s hard picking. From your b*tch, I’ll leave parts missing like Saw 6. But I make all of her [Oliver] twist like Charles Dickens.”
I said that against DC. I’ve said a lot of sh*t that’s going to go unappreciated. I ain’t tooting no horn, but if you watch my battles prior to URL, you’ll see I said a lot of sh*t. I’m not scheme heavy, but I can do it. I said, “I’ll catch you at the Waffle House. As soon as I hop [IHOP] on the scene, then he’s [Denny’s] dead.”
Your Battle Rap Mount Rushmore
I gotta go with Beloved [Loaded Lux]. I’ll take Murda Mook. It’s hard to do the greatest of all time. I gotta rock with Arsonal. I guess I don’t have a fourth guy.
If you were to ask me my favorites right now, I’d probably say Lux, Big T, Verb, Ars, and Pat Stay. And B. Magic, I got to have a punchliner.
One Mainstream Rapper You’d Like To Battle
Probably Kendrick or Royce da 5’9”. I would want somebody that really does it. Not just somebody that got a name because of their money.
Which New Battler Is The Most Serious Threat When They’re On Their A-Game
I’d say Tink The Demon, and – he’s not really knew – but like I said Blu Ray Blade. I think he’s the biggest threat in battle rap period. He’s one of those diamonds in the dirt. He’s really not in the dirt, but for some reason they’re not seeing it how they should. I got him as a threat against anybody he stands in front of.
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What Two Battlers Would You Most Like To See Face Off
I’d want to see Lux and Verb face off. That’s a Pacquiao-Mayweather for real. I’d give Verb six months to prepare.
Your Battle Rap Hit List
I don’t necessarily have a hit list, but when they send that list – whoever is on it can get dealt. Just hope you ain’t on it. That’s what I tell everybody.
Top 5 Emcees DOA
I don’t listen to no new rap. My top five is the same as it was in ‘99 – Pac, Big, Nas, Jay, and AZ. Right now my favorite rapper outside of those guys is Joe Budden. I’ve been a Joe Budden fan since the first Mood Muzik.
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Do You Prefer To Participate In A Debatable Battle Or A Clear Victory?
Debatables are more classic and have more replay value, so I would probably rock with those. Body bags – I don’t really like seeing a guy get killed.
What Has Been The Hardest Part Of Succeeding In Battle Rap?
Just knowing the ropes, because there’s no manual for this. And it’s not like the guys that’s been around for years are showing us the ropes. I don’t blame guys, but they don’t really reach back and say, “This is how you want to do it.” And if they do that, they’re not doing it in the open. I have had guys drop some jewels though.
Where Do You See Your Career Five Years From Now?
Hopefully, five years from now I would have dropped an album. Hopefully, I will still be relevant and able to live off displaying my talent. In the battle world, I hope to be a legend. I hope to be one of those dudes where when they bring up battle rap, they have to bring up my name. From Delaware to Carolina and everywhere in between.
Read other “Profiles In Battle Rap” articles here.
Stream/Download Brizz Rawsteen’s The RawTape below
What other new battle rappers would you like to see featured in AHH’s “Profiles In Battle Rap” series? Hit them up on Twitter and share your picks in the comments section below.
With things turning to the worst in society and the world we live in today, Truth Hurts, Joe Young & the Legendary Guitarist/Producer John Frusciante come together to present this recording to the world. “Naked” is a piece of music that is more then a song. Its the gateway to the movement, #AllLivesMatter. The 3 have come together to build a force against racism thats ruling the world today.
Effortlessly condensing life’s circumstances into resonating bars, Nick “MURS” Carter, has learned to astutely control the microphone. Combining the lessons learned from an inherent entrepreneurial spirit with that of a humble student mentality has yielded tangible success in the form of his latest project, HaveA Nice Life.
Sentiment wrapped in sincerity, MURS offers candid insight on his transition to Strange Music, and reveals although it’s been a bit of a “pay cut,” the organic showman’s art has benefited from the move. When probed about his latest project, which drops on May 18 he offered, “This is my favorite album and my best work to date. I don’t think I could have done any better. I didn’t hold anything back. I challenged myself; I pushed myself as far as I can.”
The condensed clip reflects MURS’ thoughts on array of subjects such as signing to Strange Music, such as why he doesn’t view his Strange peers as lyrical competitors, and such as why he considers this his best work to date.
An attack at an AMPM store in Pasadena, California, resulting in a woman being stabbed with a pocket knife and the alleged assailant knocked out cold on the ground, was caught on cell phone video
A crude on-camera confrontation between Toronto soccer fans and a reporter has cost a Sunshine List employee his job.
The incident between reporter Shauna Hunt and fans at Sunday’s Toronto FC game featured several bystanders mimicking a viral trend seen across North America, in which on-air reporters are harassed with the phrase, “F— her right in the p—-.”
Hydro One is firing an employee involved in Sunday’s incident, while Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is taking steps to have the fans involved banned for “at least” a year.
A Hydro One spokesperson identified the employee as Shawn Simoes, an assistant network management engineer who made $106,510 last year. He appears on-camera laughing and taunting, alongside several other men.
Emerging artist Marissa is making waves with her new synth-heavy single “Tied Down”. The Big Fruit produced single allows the Atlanta native to express a woman’s desire to be free instead of being tied down to any man. The single life and no strings attached life does have its perks. Marissa isn’t looking for love right now; she just wants someone who just knows what it is. Right now she just wants to live and have fun. “Maybe she’ll be ready when she’s older, but right now she doesn’t want to look over her shoulder.” Take a listen to the track below.
With Rayven Justice still on his “Hit Or Nah” tour, he decides to release the official remix of his buzzing single “Hit Or Nah” featuring Keyshia Cole & French Montana.
