Top Ten Battle Rappers

For more than 30 years, hip-hop has been one of the most popular music genres in the world, but rap in its truest form is a sport. Place two MCs in front of each other equipped with punch lines, personals, schemes and rebuttals as they attempt to take their opponents head off in lyrical combat. The early 2000s is known to battle rap fans as the SMACK DVD era, where footage of rappers going head to head was seen on DVD’s sold in local video stores. Since 2009, with the popularity of YouTube, SMACK URL shifted their platform and turned street corner rappers into viral superstars. Here are the top 10 SMACK URL battle rappers of the YouTube era.

10. Calicoe- In 2010, Calicoe started off his battle rap career on a rampage. He ran through every opponent, until he crashed into a brick wall by the name Loaded Lux in 2012. Recently, the Detroit rapper has been back to his old habits showing fans why he once was a top tier battler with his raw aggression, clever angles and hardcore delivery.

9. Aye Verb- In 2012, one round shook the battle rap world when Aye Verb took the personal angle to the next level in his third round versus Hitman Holla. Verb, from St. Louis, is the godfather of the “Let’s talk real life” angle in battle rap. Throw in his lyrical ability and crowd control, Verb can hang on the SMACK stage with any battler placed in front of him.

8. K-Shine- From Harlem, New York, K-shine is known for his fast-paced style and performance, but when he decides to slow down his rhyme schemes and gets intricate with his wordplay he turns into a different battler. His gimmick as Professor Shine is one of the most memorable in recent years, when he broke down and flat out embarrassed his current running mate DNA.

7. Chilla Jones- If you’re considered a king in your craft, then clearly you must be doing something right. Chilla Jones from Boston has garnered the nickname “King-Pen” for the complex, and intricate, scheming patterns he shows up with to every battle.

6. B-Magic- Hat brim low and eyes locked on to his opponent during every battle; B-Magic is a flat out beast on the SMACK stage. From St. Louis, B-magic is the battler fans enjoy watching over and over again, with every line he utters ending with a heavy punch, a battle against Magic and you’ll be bombarded by a series of punch lines that will have you wondering what goes through his mind when preparing rounds.

5. Tay Roc- The self-proclaimed “Gun bar King” from Baltimore, Maryland. Tay Roc has appeared in 12 SMACK battles as one of the most consistent battle rappers of the past three years. Every time he’s on a card, he brings his A-game with an in your face style that can’t be matched, aggression, stage presence, performance and “gun bars” that shake the audience.

4. Hitman Holla- If you go on the SMACK URL YouTube page, Hitman Holla is involved in three of the top-five most viewed battles in SMACK history. Hailing from St. Louis, Hitman is the best performer in battle rap today. His lyrics are straight to the point and when you mix that with his aggressive style, crowd control, and his signature “Remix” not many can compete against Hitman.

3. Tsunami surf- When introducing someone to battle rap you’ll probably end up showing them a Tsu Surf battle first. The New Jersey bred rapper is in an elite class of battle rappers with his unique aggressive street style, strong stage presence and witty wordplay. Surf has amounted 10 million plus views on SMACK, making him one of the faces of battle rap today. His next battle on SMACK will be next year against battle rap legend Murda Mook.

2. Charlie Clips- Prior to 2015 Charlie Clips, from Harlem, New York, was considered the battle rapper that arguably never lost. His battle rap resume include the likes of Tsu Surf, Hitman Holla, Tay Roc, Loaded Lux, T-Rex and Hollow Da Don. Clips has faced and defeated some of the best battlers of both the current and DVD era. With punchlines that hit hard and a rare freestyling ability, Charlie Clips earns his position on this list.

1. Hollow Da Don- Battler rappers come to the stage prepared with written rounds, but it takes a unique ability to freestyle mid-battle, leaving your opponent dazed and confused. The Queens native is the complete package equipped with an unorthodox style, humor, wordplay, witty schemes and performance. Not only is Hollow “Da Don” of SMACK, but also the battle rap world.