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Joe Budden: 'I don't think battle rappers get enough credit' Joe Budden: 'I don't think battle rappers get enough credit'
(about 1 month later)
Rap battles are part of hip-hop. It's lucrative verbal pugilism, where money – sometimes upwards of tens of thousands of dollars – and record deals are on the line. It’s a rite of passage for any young MC, and can happen anywhere: from the hallway of a tenement building to a 50,000-crowd arena. Aside from the spectacle, live rhyme-duels play a crucial role in molding young MCs. Lyrically acclaimed superstars, from Notorious BIG and Snoop Dogg, to DMX, Rick Ross and Eminem, started out battling locally before signing to major labels. Rap battles are part of hip-hop. It's lucrative verbal pugilism, where money – sometimes upwards of tens of thousands of dollars – and record deals are on the line. It’s a rite of passage for any young MC, and can happen anywhere: from the hallway of a tenement building to a 50,000-crowd arena. Aside from the spectacle, live rhyme-duels play a crucial role in molding young MCs. Lyrically acclaimed superstars, from Notorious BIG and Snoop Dogg, to DMX, Rick Ross and Eminem, started out battling locally before signing to major labels.
On Saturday, Eminem will return to his live-rhyming roots, with his newest project, Total Slaughter, a pay-per-view battle-rap extravaganza, which will air live. At the top of the bill is a much-hyped face-off between circuit star Hollow Da Don, and Joe Budden, a lethally lingual member of the hip-hop group Slaughterhouse, currently signed to Eminem’s Shady Records label. Budden enjoyed his biggest commercial success 11 years ago, with his self-titled debut on Def Jam records. Since then, he’s maintained a worldwide following with a string of independent LP releases and mixtapes. Here, Budden takes us inside the mind of a battle rapper, and explains what it takes to win a battle – and why he can't lose.On Saturday, Eminem will return to his live-rhyming roots, with his newest project, Total Slaughter, a pay-per-view battle-rap extravaganza, which will air live. At the top of the bill is a much-hyped face-off between circuit star Hollow Da Don, and Joe Budden, a lethally lingual member of the hip-hop group Slaughterhouse, currently signed to Eminem’s Shady Records label. Budden enjoyed his biggest commercial success 11 years ago, with his self-titled debut on Def Jam records. Since then, he’s maintained a worldwide following with a string of independent LP releases and mixtapes. Here, Budden takes us inside the mind of a battle rapper, and explains what it takes to win a battle – and why he can't lose.
You're a veteran MC with nothing to prove. You've been rapping for almost 20 years, you have multiple record deals, you're making music with Eminem. You're doing TV shows. Why jump into this battleground now?You're a veteran MC with nothing to prove. You've been rapping for almost 20 years, you have multiple record deals, you're making music with Eminem. You're doing TV shows. Why jump into this battleground now?
Budden: I think the time is appropriate. Battle rap is at its peak in hip-hop. It's probably the highest it has ever been. We weighed all the variables, and, not to sound cocky, but I'm never worried about losing as far as rap is concerned. My whole team feels the same way. We feel like we have a pretty good horse in the race.Budden: I think the time is appropriate. Battle rap is at its peak in hip-hop. It's probably the highest it has ever been. We weighed all the variables, and, not to sound cocky, but I'm never worried about losing as far as rap is concerned. My whole team feels the same way. We feel like we have a pretty good horse in the race.
What is do you stand to gain?What is do you stand to gain?
The gain is not personal. Part of the reason I wanted to do this is to provide awareness for the culture, and try to add some visibility. I think that's where the win is for me.The gain is not personal. Part of the reason I wanted to do this is to provide awareness for the culture, and try to add some visibility. I think that's where the win is for me.
What is the key to winning a battle like this?What is the key to winning a battle like this?
It's the same as with boxing: styles win fights. You can win or lose a battle on delivery alone, on performance. The guy who's the most lyrical doesn't always win, because there are so many variables to consider. There will always be a difference of opinion. For instance, people have Hollow [Da Don] beating [Loaded] Lux. Lux was very lyrical, but Hollow was very direct. A lot of people say Hollow won because of the style he used against Lux. Probably one of the only ways you could beat Lux, because not too many people are going to be more lyrical than him. It's the same as with boxing: styles win fights. You can win or lose a battle on delivery alone, on performance. The guy who's the most lyrical doesn't always win, because there are so many variables to consider. There will always be a difference of opinion. For instance, people have Hollow [Da Don] beating [Loaded] Lux. Lux was very lyrical, but Hollow was very direct. A lot of people say Hollow won because of the style he used against Lux. Probably one of the only ways you could beat Lux, because not too many people are going to be more lyrical than him.
Styles are so unique. What you say, how you say it. You don't write for every opponent the same exact way. Whatever your style, whatever your approach to your material, you want to deliver it as best you possibly can. You want to remember it as best you possibly can. There's so much preparation behind the scenes that people don't get to actually see. I don't think battle rappers get enough credit for the work they've done. Styles are so unique. What you say, how you say it. You don't write for every opponent the same exact way. Whatever your style, whatever your approach to your material, you want to deliver it as best you possibly can. You want to remember it as best you possibly can. There's so much preparation behind the scenes that people don't get to actually see. I don't think battle rappers get enough credit for the work they've done.
We all know how important it is win the crowd over. What type of adjustments do you make if the crowd is swaying in the opponent's favor?We all know how important it is win the crowd over. What type of adjustments do you make if the crowd is swaying in the opponent's favor?
All of that goes in the preparation. You want to walk in being as prepared as you can possibly be. You want to be calm and confident. That [battle] stage for MCs is not for people who rely on the hook, rely on the beat. That stage is not for that. For someone like myself who prides himself on lyricism, it's perfect for me. I'm not going to rely on a bunch of jokes, I'm not going to rely on a bunch of untruths. I'm going to go in there and do what I've been doing since '95.All of that goes in the preparation. You want to walk in being as prepared as you can possibly be. You want to be calm and confident. That [battle] stage for MCs is not for people who rely on the hook, rely on the beat. That stage is not for that. For someone like myself who prides himself on lyricism, it's perfect for me. I'm not going to rely on a bunch of jokes, I'm not going to rely on a bunch of untruths. I'm going to go in there and do what I've been doing since '95.
I don't have any gimmicks, I don't have any theatrics, I don't have any surprise guests. I'm just going in there rhyming. I'm just going in there with my abilities. That for me should be enough.I don't have any gimmicks, I don't have any theatrics, I don't have any surprise guests. I'm just going in there rhyming. I'm just going in there with my abilities. That for me should be enough.
1995 was such a special and competitive time in rap. I know plenty of MCs that tell me from, like, '94 to '03 that you had to have extra rhymes ready – because you never knew what you'd run into. 1995 was such a special and competitive time in rap. I know plenty of MCs that tell me from, like, '94 to '03 that you had to have extra rhymes ready – because you never knew what you'd run into.
That's the era I come from, which is why I think it's real funny when people say I'm delving into [Hollow Da Don's] world. I feel like he's delved into mine! I come from a generation of battling before him. I come from Shells and Super Nat [Super Natural] and [MC] Juice, and all of that was going on in the 90s. I do understand it, though, because people doubt what they've never seen and these kids have never seen me in that environment.That's the era I come from, which is why I think it's real funny when people say I'm delving into [Hollow Da Don's] world. I feel like he's delved into mine! I come from a generation of battling before him. I come from Shells and Super Nat [Super Natural] and [MC] Juice, and all of that was going on in the 90s. I do understand it, though, because people doubt what they've never seen and these kids have never seen me in that environment.
We used to hop out on anybody's block looking for a battle. I made my name in Jersey City. That's what I did. For some of my friends, it's shocking to see me do it again, because it's been so long. Nothing about what happens on Saturday will be unfamiliar to me. I won't be nervous. I haven't been nervous in over 15 years. I don't have fear about whatever he has to say to me. We're going to keep our hands to ourselves and have a good, clean, classic battle. We used to hop out on anybody's block looking for a battle. I made my name in Jersey City. That's what I did. For some of my friends, it's shocking to see me do it again, because it's been so long. Nothing about what happens on Saturday will be unfamiliar to me. I won't be nervous. I haven't been nervous in over 15 years. I don't have fear about whatever he has to say to me. We're going to keep our hands to ourselves and have a good, clean, classic battle.
What are some of the all-time great battles?What are some of the all-time great battles?
Hollow vs Lux is a great one. [Aye] Verb vs Hitman [Holla] is a great one. KC [Sinister] v Chiller is one of my favorite ones. Lux v Calicoe. Serious [Jones] v Jin. There's been some really good battles out there.Hollow vs Lux is a great one. [Aye] Verb vs Hitman [Holla] is a great one. KC [Sinister] v Chiller is one of my favorite ones. Lux v Calicoe. Serious [Jones] v Jin. There's been some really good battles out there.
Can we treat this event on Saturday like UFC and boxing, and place bets?Can we treat this event on Saturday like UFC and boxing, and place bets?
I hope so. I got a couple of bets on people for the night. I'm definitely taking bets on my behalf. I'm betting on me all day long.I hope so. I got a couple of bets on people for the night. I'm definitely taking bets on my behalf. I'm betting on me all day long.
Total Slaughter will stream here for $19.95. Those looking to attend live, they can purchase tickets via ticketmaster.com Total Slaughter will stream here for $19.95. Those looking to attend live, they can purchase tickets via ticketmaster.com