For much of the new millennium, battle rap has grown by leaps and bounds, to become a craft that is well-respected in the music industry and beyond. It’s a culture, one that is home to plenty of special talents. A number of names have became legends in the battle rap arena — Charlie Clips, Hollow Da Don, Hitman Holla, Tsu Surf, the list goes on. Although those guys are still respected names, they don’t battle nearly enough to be considered the guys. Instead, there are some hungry individuals who have put together impressive resumes over the past couple years. Here are the top 10 battle rappers in Smack’s Ultimate Rap League right now.
1. Tay Roc (Baltimore, MD)
Whether you agree or not, Tay Roc is the clear top dog in the URL right now. The self-proclaimed “Gun Bar King” demonstrates the perfect combination of performance, aggression and delivery. Some of battle raps most special moments came when Tay Roc was on the stage. He’s not unbeatable by any means, but he brings the best out of every rapper he faces. That’s a testament to the respect the rest of the sport has for him.
2. T-Top (Fuquay-Varina, NC)
There’s a reason T-Top calls himself a grizzly bear. He’s attacks his opponents with intensity and ferocity. When he’s locked in, Top is arguably the best that battle rap has to offer. His storytelling is up there with the game’s elite. In his bars, he paints gritty, yet vivid pictures of the struggle. Just watch him up there on that stage, he’s a hell of a performer as well. It’s only a matter of time before Top reaches No. 1 on this list.
3. Rum Nitty (Phoenix, AZ)
Rum Nitty has been battle rapping since 2012, and has only gotten better with time. From King of the Dot to URL, Rum has battled some of the game’s best and more than held his own. Similar to Tay Roc, he has made a living off of gun bars. Nitty is also known for the relentless aggression he delivers his bars with. His poise and confidence have allowed him to go toe-to-toe with any opponent placed in front of him.
4. Nu Jerzey Twork (Trenton, NJ)
“I’m strapped in!” When you hear that you know what’s about to go down. One of the game’s brightest young stars is getting ready to go to work. Nu Jerzey Twork got his start in URL’s Proving Grounds, where he climbed the ladder from the bottom and is now featured on almost every major card. Twork’s unorthodox flow sets him apart from the rest of the crowd. He doesn’t really sound like anyone else and that goes a long way in battle rap.
5. JC (Pontiac, MI)
JC is one of the most well-respected lyricists in the game today. His pen is masterful and has taken down many a men. The baby-faced veteran is small in stature, but has a lot of heart and fears not one rapper in the battle arena. JC’s stage presence is apparent and it’s won him a lot of battles.
6. Shotgun Suge (Newark, NJ)
Shotgun Suge is your neighborhood bully. He uses his size and aggression to intimidate his opponents and knock them off their game. His pocket check maneuver is one of the most captivating moves in all of battle rap. He’s a seasoned veteran, which also means that he’s battle-tested. Sure, he’s taken some Ls but that experience only fuels him when he’s in a hotly-contested battle. See Round 1 versus Ave for Shotgun Suge at his absolute best.
7. Chess (Bronx, NY)
Chess is the youngest rapper on this list, but he is fearless. It doesn’t matter who Smack places in front of him, Chess will accept the challenge with open arms. The biggest knock on Chess is that he has a pretty extensive history of choking in several battles. However, when he’s on top of his game, he can rap circles around a lot of guys. He’s definitely grown in terms of his poise and stage presence so he could continue to rise.
8. Ave (Norfolk, VA)
Ave is one of the most promising new talents in the URL. His creativity is unmatched, as he consistently delivers bars that wow the crowd. His sports and pop culture references are some of the best in the culture. Even in his losses, Ave has never really wavered. He exudes confidence when he raps and that stems from the quality of his pen. As Ave continues to battle on big stages, he’ll climb up the ranks even further.
9. Geechi Gotti (Compton, CA)
Geechi Gotti is another name that made his name in the Proving Grounds arena. He bleeds the West Coast and it shows in his raps and his performance on stage. Geechi’s biggest battle of his career is going to happen at Summer Madness 7, when he takes on Shotgun Suge. The main stage will get to see what he’s all about. But, his hunger makes him one of the toughest battle rappers in URL.
10. Brizz Rawsteen (Raleigh, NC)
Brizz Rawsteen is one of a kind. There isn’t one battle rapper that raps quite like him. His unique flow and delivery is what draws viewers in. You never know what to expect from him. He gets up on that stage and spits with so much aggression and animation that Brizz has become one of the game’s fan favorites.
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