The fourth annual Summer Madness, battle raps biggest day. After last years Summer Madness 3 failures, the fans were sure that this time around URL would do it bigger and better then ever. And they did. This years card is arguably one of URLs best. But not only did they step up the card, they took it a stepped up the event as a whole. This year was the first ever Summer Madness all star week end. Friday was a PG event, Saturday was the warm up card featuring names like Qleen Paper, Charron and Shotgun Suge headlined by Head ICE Vs K-Shine. And obviously the main event on Sunday. SM4 looked as though it was meant for greatness. But did it live up to the hype….?
I usually set the scene prior to the event kickin off, but let’s be real. Yall just wanna get to the battles right? So let’s go…
Note: For Summer Madness Smack usually sets the battles in random order. He may throw us one good one at the start, but then the rest are predictable. But man, last night he threw us for a loop. From start to finish we didn’t know what battle we were about to see. It was real dope. And no one could’ve guessed the battle that set off the night…
B-Magic Vs Conceited
A long awaited match up between battle raps top two punch liners. This battle was actually number 1 on my “Top Ten Must Happen Battles in 2014.” Conceited has been on the top of Magics list for some time now, and Con has finally accepted the challenge. Both believe they are battle raps punch line king. So who walked away with the crown….?
Round 1:
When they both hit the stage Con is talkin shit to some people in the crowd who thinks Magic will win. He definitely is confident. But Magic sets off the night. He starts spittin punch after punch. The first few aren’t hittin then follows with a “cavalier” bar that stops the crowd. A “hyper con” bar a reach bar about Goodz Toyota line, a “condo foreclosure” line and Magic is puttin in work. He then fires off a few jokes that get the crowd laughing. He ends his round with a dope aluminum foil bar. It’s on Con. Con opens up with a mean “Beyonce Blue Ivy” bar that gets the crowd goin wild. A few bars later a dope “trade center” bar leading into a crazy Swave Sevah line. You can already see the difference between the two. While Magic is punchin more, Con is punchin with delivery and presence that got the crowd feelin it. Mid round Con starts punchin more frequently. And then came his signature slow it down. A church scheme that had the room in a uproar. May be the best bar of the battle. Con clearly gets round 1.
Round 2:
Magics throwin puches from the gate again in round 2, but they’re not really landing. But that doesn’t last too long, because as soon as he drops a “NY undercover” line the crowd is right back with em. Magic is on a roll from here on out. A “con’ll run” bar, “concession stand” line, “liftin the fifth” and “shadow boxing” bars that’s vintage Magic. He ends his round with a dope non sense bar. Great round from Magic. Back on Con. Con opens up by flippin Magics slogan that got the crowd dying! He then starts clowin on Magic for his fight with Fox that keeps the crowd laughing. After that with a good hair scheme and bad boy scheme. Then he drops a candy scheme and a believe bar that the crowd aint feelin at all. But he ends with a real good Rodney king line. Magic got that round.
Round 3:
Magic starts off with a real good Brooklyn bar. A wild “conjucal visit” bar followed by a mean “statue of Jordan.” Each bar had the crowd jumpin, but then he fires a bad boys 2 line that had the room goin crazy! He ends his round with a fire August Alsina line a his popular slogan. It’s on Con, and he opens with a good Ben and Jerry bar. Then comes another slow it down. A “commissary” bar that lands well, then ANOTHER slow it down. Then Con decides to start cracking on Magics girl that’s getting wild laughs. He ends with a great Juno bar. Con edges that round. Good battle.
Conceited 2-1
Hitman Holla Vs Tsu Surf
This battle needs absolutely no introduction. One of (if not THE) most anticipated battles in the cultures history. We’ve been waiting for this battle for about 4 years now, and the hype around it never died. We know their history, we know the amount of fans tuned in and were willing to bet on the victor. So let’s skip the intro and get into the main event of Summer Madness 4, Hitman Holla Vs Tsu Surf is underway…
Round 1:
Surf kicks off with his “First thing I hear when I touchdown is Surf the Midwest grooving” scheme he said against X-Factor. He drops a mean car crash bar. He then gets into a dope college basketball scheme that lasts maybe 8 bars, and all of it lands. He then throws a crazy Halleluiah bar! Surf is coming with straight bars this round. After he lands a wild reach bar, he ends his round abruptly, it kinda throws off the crowd. It’s on Holla. He starts of with a rebuttal. During Surfs round, he said he wants the Holla with the tank top and the rope chain. So Hitman takes of his hoodie and reveals a tank top and rope chain. He follows up with a dope surf bar. Hitman is up there performin his ass off. He throws a dope subtitle bar and an even better Lux, Calicoe line. He then throws a crazy shot at Shotgun Suge. And right when Hitman is turninup, he tags in his brother. And you know how that goes, remix time. And the room is shakin. Hitman is havin his vintage classic first rounds. He ends it by takin a shot at Tay Roc. Clear round for Hitman.
Round 2:
Surf starts off his round where Hitman left off, takin shots at Tay Roc. And it’s right back to the bars A bill line, a g baby line, a reed dollaz it’s in he car bar. Every bar is stopping the room, but Surf aint slowin down. A mean Geno Smith bar and a crazy jalapeño bar that has the room jumpin. From start to finish Surf was on fire. Back to Hitman. Hitman decides take it back to the old Holla a bit. That aggressive talk with wordplay. He drops a real good O-Red translation. He then starts talkin that shit to Surf. The crowds fucking wit it. He then drops a subtitle bar. He ends his round good. It was a heated and back and fourth round but Surf got that one.
Round 3:
Another 1-1 battle going into the third. Surf starts off by saying he wants no reaction. He then starts talkin that real shit. Every line is jus hittin more and more. The crowd is goin crazy. He’s not thrownin punch lines at all, but the shit he kickin is getting the response of the most complex punches. Niggas is really feelin what Surf doin. But he doesn’t finish without giving us some good bars. A mean tom boy bar and a dope wrestling bar closes out his round. It’s time for Hollas final round. He opens up comparing Arsonal, Surf, and Red to Paul Pierce, Rondo and KG. He then starts to break it down and it’s dope. He drops a good Calicoe bar and a real good rugrat bar. He continues takin the bar route, but the crowd aint really respondin. But what he sayin aint wack at all. He then gets on Surf for reaching and flips Surfs U R in the middle bar that goes over well. He then drops a Hard ratchet bar, but it gets little response. This was a GREAT battle on both ends. Hitmans third may be come out better on cam. But I had it….
Tsu Surf 2-1
Aye Verb Vs John John Da Don
A match up that NOONE saw coming. And at first, the fans weren’t too crazy about it. But since the card was announced, between interviews, blogs, twitter and just about any other outlet you can think of, these two have been coming for each others necks. The trash talking, disrespecting and downplaying of each others careers have truly put this match into the top must see battles of the weekend. So who proved to be better….?
Round 1:
John John Da Don goes first. He opens up with a good microwave bar. And he decides the go the with all bars this round. He has a good Luther Vandross one that stands out. Then JJDD does a showtime, Verbs signature move, which leads to a good foreign hairline and buck teeth line. An alright round from JJDD. Verbs Up, and he wastes no time. He begins his round with a showtime, and it immediately lights up the room. A hall mark bar, a jump the gun bar. Back to back each punch is sendin the crowd in an uproar. This is what most of his round is like. He drops another Lebrons mom haymaker, then switches it up. He finishes his round talkin some real shit. It’s lookin bad for John right now.
Round 2:
JJDD starts with a pop for real bar, something similar to what he said against Hitman at SM2. And it’s more bars from here. A mean “cockin steel” one. A pretty good PG scheme follows. A “strap” a “Kevin Hart” and a dope “Jumpin jacks” bar all follow. Some are getting love from the crowd, some aren’t. But they all are good punches. He then reinvents his multiple choice scheme, which you may think was wack, but actually pretty clever. Back on Verb, and again no hesitation. “So It’s SHOWTIME” from the jump. A off the bat a crazy vogue punch. Followed bay an “outback” one and a “joyride” one. Verb hasn’t slowed down at all in the battle so far. After a number of hard hitting punches, he’s kickin some real shit again. He’s then show boating with some flow and vintage Verb wordplay and ends his round with a cold ratchets line. This round was closer, but still Verb got it.
Round 3:
With each round JJDD is getting better, and his 3rd proved it. He has an arsenal of good punches from the start. A “cb4” line, a “posterize” line and a “angel dust” bar. All leading up to a crazy Slowbucks bar. He then does a Magic Johnson Showtime scheme that goes over well. And ends with a solid “day in the life” bar. Time for Verbs final round. He begins with a Boys II Men line, then follows with some more bars. A booster bar, it hits. A kruger bar, it hits. Then Verb starts talkin some boss shit to JJDD. The crowds feelin it, but a some point the drops a bar that doesn’t go over too well. John gets that round. Another good battle.
Aye Verb 2-1
Tay Roc Vs DNA
Two of battle raps biggest stars. I wouldn’t have guessed these two face off at SM4, but it makes sense. Tay Roc has been having great performance after great performance, and he’s coming off an incredible battle against Charlie Clips at NOME 4. And recently DNA has reinvented himself 3-0’n Prez Mafia, then turnin up and easily beating one of Smacks favorites Ill Will. Now the underdog who always shows up when doubted, DNA, is up against Smacks top gunner Tay Roc…
Round 1:
DNA kicks the battle off. He opens up with a cool vine bar. He then drops some pretty good smack down and Mack Wilds bars. Another pretty good clothes scheme. He’s getting light reactions from the crowd. He had a cold Charli Baltimore line, but the crowd aint catch it. He finishes with a good “that’s lite” bar, and his signature “Get em the fuck outta here.” Tay Roc starts off talkin that aggressive shit to DNA. After a few bars of that, he drops a MEAN “red dot” bar. And it’s tough bars from here on out. A swifter jet one, a fried chicken one and a shop liftin one, all stopping the room. He lands a dope Eric bar as well, He then remixs DMA Get em the fuck outta here. Tay Rocs first round against DNA, looked like DNAs first round against Ill Will.
Round 2:
DNA starts with a lights out bar. He continues with bars and a league scheme that are ok, nothing special. But then DNA starts to heat up. He starts getting on Roc for not making sense. He drops a real dope murda bar, then does an “around 2” scheme that goes over real well with the crowd. He even got on Rocs infamous hype man. Rocs 2nd round consists of nothing but hard bars. One of his best is a Corona Queens line, followed by a far rock bar. Another one of his key bars is a washer and dryer one. He also has a good ice bucket bar. He ends with a dope NY building bar, but the NY crowd wasn’t tryna show it love lol. This round was a bit more debatable than anything.
Round 3:
DNA opens with a freestyle rebutting a d nanny bar Tay Roc said in round 2. Then throws a good Starbucks line, then gets on Roc for stealing Tsu Surfs style. The crowds following for a bit, then DNA starts to lose em. He tries freestyling, but it doesn’t work. It’s now back on Tay Roc. And Tay Roc displays arguably his best round ever. It’s a whole lotta hard bars. He starts with a lq one a side piece bar a crazy loosie and DNA bar. He even throws a crazy shot at Conceited. Roc keeps going. He drops a cold juice scheme. Another tough smack bar. The battle is over, but Roc aint letting up. A dope black light bar and he finishes with a crazy boxing scheme. That round was an overkill.
Round 1: Tay Roc
Round 2: Debatable
Round 3: Tay Roc
Charlie Clips Vs T-Rex
Two living legends in battle rap, both hailing from Harlem. Both have been on a spree lately. Charlie Clips picked up 2014 right where he left off in 2013, amazing performances. And Rex shined and ran through everyone on Total Slaughter. This battle was heavily fan requested. With most fans going back and fourth about who would take it, this battle had classic written all over it….
Round 1:
Rex starts the battle off. He’s doin his usual Rex shit, getting aggressive and talkin that shit to Clips. He has some bars but nothing that’s too crazy or moving the crowd. Although he does drop a Reed Dollaz bar that gets reaction. But after about 1:30 - 2 mins, he ends his round. Not the start we thought he’d have. It’s Clips turn. Clips opens with a dope Mayweather bar. Followed by a dope jenga bar, which is followed by a crazy graduation scheme. And like that, Clips has already won the round. But he drops a even CRAZIER elevator bar. Clips is in top form. A wild ESPN First Take scheme. He ends his phenomenal round with a Cassidy bar.
Round 2:
Rex starts off with a pretty good Sonics line. Then it’s back to Rex bein aggressive and spittin random bars. The crowds not feelin it and are on the edge of booin him. Then again after about a minute thirty, Rex stops smh. Back to Clips. He opens by addressing a line from a past battle that got Rex upset. He drops a bomb with a Eric Decker line, then decides to get personal. And man Clips did not hold back. He talks about Rex school life, his sex life, and even a situation with Rex and his wife. He clowns Rex for a bit then drops a MEAN Sisqo bar. Some hard bars and great schemes follow, and the way he ends his third is classic. Man oh man this is looking crazy!
Round 3:
Rex final round is a story, but he lost the crowd so when he starts he receives a wave of boo’s. But after some time they quiet down and he proceeds to tell his story. He gets personal about how Charlie Clips pops was a snitch. After he starts freestyling a bit, owning the fact his first two rounds weren’t that good. His 3rd round wasn’t great, but definitely better then his first two. Clips starts off freestyling about what Rex just told us. He’s giving us his background story on how he came up, then gives us his side of his dads story. And the way Clips did it rebutted everything Rex said smh. The crowd is goin crazy. The room is shaking. Then Clips starts talking real shit and includes Math and Head ICE. But Clips doesn’t forget the bars. He drops a crazy vix rub bar, and an INCREDIBLE ice bucket challenge line. He follows that with a cold Denzel scheme. Rex died in the 2nd round in my opinion. Clips is now putting him in the grave. Then out of no where you hear Smack yell “TIME!”…….I don’t think anyone thought the battle would turn out this way. Charlie Clips body bagged Rex.
Charlie Clips 3-0
Overall:
Honestly, it was an all around great event. Every battle was good and entertaining. And when it hit’s the net will have replay value. I’ve been to about 9 URL events now, and this one is definitly one of my favorites. Everything ran smooth (well with the exception of the Mic issues which caused a 20 min delay before the first battle even began and the wait before the last two battles cause niggas can’t get the fuck off stage). But I can’t complain. I had fun and am waiting to see what URL has in store for us next. Salute to all the battlers, SMACK, Beasley, and The URL Staff…
Note: I know I’ve been slackin on my blogs lately and I apologize to anyone that looks forward to them. I’m gonna start posting more frequently ASAP
