S. Samuel
Maybach Music Group rapper Meek Mill recently discussed his roots from the battle rap scene and why he is down to throw up a $100,000 challenge to get the popular sport popping again.
Along with participating in the battles himself, Meek said he would love to see renowned rhyme spitters Cassidy and Murda Mook take up the challenge.
“I’m a leader. I don’t follow people. We have a lane to take this to another level where a whole ‘nother money circuit could open up. I’m a leader. I’m willing to take the leadership and when I take that leadership, don’t be mad when I’m the only one getting that leader money and you might be battling for a little 40 or 50 grand because I’m the one that took the chance to open the door. You gotta have a hundred [thousand dolloars] or better. I can’t do it for free. That ain’t my lane. Win, lose or draw, just for even stepping on the court. Just to step in. … They got a million sponsors that’d love to have Meek Mill with that banner in the back for them going in to 20,000 people because when I battle, it ain’t going to be 5,000, it’s going to be 20,000 people or better. I ain’t doing no home court advantages. … I think I’d [match up] Cassidy and [Murda] Mook right now. That’d be crazy right there. I’d do Cassidy and Mook. … Cassidy ain’t been in a battle but everybody knows, Cassidy, that’s what he do.” (The Warner Sound)
Last year, Cassidy spoke to SOHH and christened himself the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. of battle rapping.
“Even with my battle rapping, that whole little lane was created not just through me, but mainly through artists like me. Before most battle rappers got their success, that’s what I was doing and that was the direction that I was going in. I’m still undefeated. I’m like the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. with it. So I feel like I should get more credit than I do and I feel there’s a certain amount of people in the world that know what I do but I’m just talking about the masses. The majority of people don’t really know what I’m capable of.” (SOHH Underrated)
Over the summer, rap veteran Canibus issued a statement after whipping out a notebook to assist in a broadcast battle.
“A few days before the KOTD Vendetta event, I was abducted by human blood sucking leeches who did not make their identity known, but I assume were agents of the dark world. While in my vehicle ready to pay for a toll, a helicopter attached with a satellite device that promotes fear flew directly over me. Upon being aware of what was happening I decided to escape on foot and flee from this radioactive device that can cause mental and emotional harm to any man- Even a man who possesses the brain waves of a complicated degree such as myself. As I abandoned my vehicle, I got to a fence and as I climbed underneath, the helicopter got visual contact on its target and there was nothing I could do. Completely lost in a parallel universe I was removed from consciousness and as I woke up I had secret agents of some kind asking me why I decided to battle in this event that was being broadcasted world-wide. I explained to them it was strictly Hip Hop related but they did not believe me. They used Chinese water torture methods at first to try to break my spirits to no avail. They attached wires to my skull and moved on to “Alternative 2.” They then inquired about my knowledge of secret societies and about my experiences in the military.” (Canibus’ Tumblr)
A couple years ago, Grammy-winning rapper Eminem reflected on coming up as a battle emcee.
“I came up on the local Detroit scene and everything was about battling,” Em said in an interview. “If you wanted to make a name for yourself, the battle scene was so huge, it was battles every couple months where anybody who was anybody trying to make a name for themselves would come out. I think one of my greatest inspirations or things that I would feed off of was people not believing, the cloud of doubt I felt hanging over my head and I just wanted to prove everybody wrong. I wanted to make it and I was gonna make it regardless of what anybody said. I’m looking for somebody, one to stand out to be unique and also say the sickest, most ridiculous retarded sh*t you can say and think of that would make somebody quit. Emcees have competitive spirits, that’s why we’re in it and we do what we do. I would have written lines, I would have punchlines, that I would be prepared to say at anytime to kinda figure out on the spot what punchlines I would pick and choose for this person that was in my face but also be able to mix in freestyle with it. That would be the basic formula that I would follow, have my punchlines ready to go but also be able to say something spontaneous too.” (Real Talk NY)
Check out Meek Mill’s interview below:
