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 site features a whole slew of talented MC's who are lyrically driven. numerous on-line forums are not moderated well- leaving the door open for sub par trash talking- but My16Bars keeps a high degree of quality and features desrving rappers with their own feature page and articles.
Jump Off TV. These guys have done a astonishing job of promoting some of the best freestyle struggle rappers out there now. Viewing the dynamic duo of Ilmaculate and TheSaurus crush the competion in the last two ages has offered hours of entertainment. You watch tons of additive combats on their site, or search via YouTube.
For anyone interested in checking out specific battle rappers, I highly suggest (in addition to those already mentioned) Eyedea, DZK, Brother Ali, Wordsworth, Jin, Ras Kass and Kanye West (just kidding). If you get a chance, the bonus Eminem rap battles 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.
My16Bars. This site features a whole slew of talented MC's who are lyrically driven. numerous on-line forums are not moderated well- leaving the door open for sub par trash talking- but My16Bars keeps a high degree of quality and features desrving rappers with their own feature page and articles.
Jump Off TV. These guys have done a astonishing job of promoting some of the best freestyle struggle rappers out there now. Viewing the dynamic duo of Ilmaculate and TheSaurus crush the competion in the last two ages has offered hours of entertainment. You watch tons of additive combats on their site, or search via YouTube.
For anyone interested in checking out specific battle rappers, I highly suggest (in addition to those already mentioned) Eyedea, DZK, Brother Ali, Wordsworth, Jin, Ras Kass and Kanye West (just kidding). If you get a chance, the bonus Eminem rap battles 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.
