The Blue Room.
ARP stands by it. Guarantees it. And on this nite the hued RBE theme delivered.
My man…
“If you owe me ten dollars, you ain't giving me nine”
Straight to it. Within the blue mist you do not find any apparent blood, sweat, and tears yet you know they are there in spirit. So for a maxed out company credit line to produce and fortify the talent distribution up and down the promotional billing for this event coupled with a max price point to either attend or bear witness in real time, the “card of the year” as stated by the RBE honcho himself invited the added pressure to outperform even the loftiest of standards. Well, job well done. The Art of Rap won above all else as the mint performance given by the collective artists for the coined blue room offered no shorts to we the consumers indulgence.
2Cents
What more can one ask for from the sport of Battle Rap?
“I wish for you a hundred years of success but it's my time..”
The RBE collective deserves to have this moment to and upon itself. Earned. And as we and they know, the fleeting satisfaction of it all will soon find its place to land and make way for the next latest thing (event) destined in time to leave it’s mark, but for now- fly high Max Out 3. The efficiency, quality, location, vibe, and overall permeant magnetism of the blue room experience is now in the books for me and is one that our histories recollection will be kind to no doubt in my mind.
Salute the Rare Breed helm. Tip my hat. 🎩
Unto the matches ↘️
Zay v. Cino Savvy 🧱
“copper squeeze, periodically I first think to silence C/
it’s a science to this nerd hobby”
Zay ✏️
First takeaway: Zay is a ⭐️ level talent beaming behind the skyglow of polish.
The Charlotte MC stings with an eel like lyrical quality who’s efficiency of sting has not quite caught up with its own tenacity but man are the ingredients for the recipe there to be reckoned with should the cook find his touch. Zay’s ability to meet his performances crescendo once captivating the room is the most glaring defining area of skillset to further sharpen in the toolshed. And once deployed properly in place of mere shoulder bumps and physical imposition, swift witty jabs like correlating suppressors to transition metals of tedious plan can pack a more destabilizing force behind it and complement Zay’s high octane rap style. The positive gains are all there. Would like to see Zay as a mandatory for a tier up.
As for Cino Savvy- spatial awareness strangely became a brief and momentary hiccup to the production of the performance early on which may have impacted the integrity of the approach for Savvy which if the case would be unfortunate.
“White girls in horror movies, you have to trip/
fold a right thru a textile, do X foul/
X i’ll/exile make sure you never come back from this”
Cino Savvy ✏️
Cino Savvy brings high energy which is great however the tape reveals in this bout a slow pitch count on lyrical delivery that his opponent for the night can see a mile away. Telegraphed punches allowed Zay’s defense to shine and stymie the effectiveness of the actual material despite the ringing support of the buildings momentum behind them. This consistent pattern sticks out particularly as the matchup builds itself, something to consider for Cino- less feints (empty set-ups) and more compound lyrical jab sequences that connect in rhythm. The ability to piece it together in battle format is already there no question so with a few minor tweaks to the stance behind the punch (meaning and impactful depth) lead ups like the one provided above will sync the viewer to the image more profoundly as to whether or not he is Michael Myers or Fox Mulder in this analogous diatribe.
Savvy can certainly keep a room engaged and that is always a leg to stand on.
J Slash v. Riggz 💉
“I’m a perfectionist, so even if I fail i’m good/
David Alan Grier, once I drew this monster on paper he dies/
it’s just another tale from the hood”
Riggz ✏️
Welcome to Hell.
Riggz on paper can rumble with the best of them. Whether this bout marks the beginning of the rest of that realization being played out in real-time is what’s to come I don’t know but I sure hope so. Precision steering rhyme schemes and four wheel drive in his control of each bars methodical traction in conjunction with elite timing at the point of emphasis makes any big punch landed potentially deadly. In the spirit of lyrical surgery it also makes Riggz a prime candidate for “f**k around and find out” pen crafters beware. Maybe RBE plans to green light this project and put the wordsmith in the ring with his true test of ilk. Battle Rap loves to make a movie. Here’s one- Lethal Injection: Riggz Beating Everybody. Directors cut edition.
“Slash, I might be up for a pension/
you in every f**kin bar, I own a f**kin bar/
we don’t make the same decisions”
J Slash ✏️
J Slash. Fitting description. The death by a thousand cuts approached Zab Judah style lyrical delivery from Slash had a silk like jab and slip flow to it that I found very pointed and timely to the setting. Whether or not they were able to do the damage intended over the course of a full 3 round battle is another matter but kudos to him for his approach and clear plan of sustained effort. The issue of time will no doubt be held against his rounds for mildly short changing but still, work.
RX v. QB Black Diamond 🎓
“RBE my house, for breaking & entering you gon leave with exit holes/
the techs exposed/
it ain’t no hugs and kisses for you here b**ch just X and Os”
QB ✏️
QB Black Diamond and her metamorphosis into a perfectly balanced live act of both rapping and humorous shock value that stays within the invisible bounds of morality gaging substance is one of the more interesting developments to occur within the RBE perch of vets spreading their wings over the years. As expected, QB and her entertaining raunch gave the viewer their full experience that comes with a QB bout now absent the bridge too far many feel it’d become for her of late prior to her most recent string of RBE matchups. Well, this film certainly helps with the stock health of her present footage tremendously not to mention the failsafe strategy of drawing the opponent out from the ropes by provoking them to talk in between your rounds approach always works to a tee once it begins. We know QB is capable of being eye-popping in her disrespect within the ring. What we are learning? It is great to see her take on the mantle bearing burden of being the hunted crown. She will be tough to dethrone as the field may appear scarce so perhaps outside reinforcements become her mandatory.
“You was tryna step ya pen up for this battle/
I’m not a bit pressed/
I know Diamond a gem but we never spot you with the bars/
do a bench press, get ya weight up”
RX ✏️
RX delivered this bar combination to perfection live and the film footage supports that. “Do a bench press” is crazy and spoken from a tone of almost genuine disappointment lol But here is where defense counts and QB held serve in that moment when she could’ve shot RX some bail and gave this punch more effect than the conviction of RX could generate on her own. A semi-problematic turn of events so to speak when the fact is that pouring out Olde English in New England is vivid and speaks to the mustard certainly being there within the lyrical body of work RX provided however cutting it to the tune of landing at a high percentage range of execution necessary to knockdown the current RBE women’s division pound for pound champ? Possible but highly unlikely. Fact is, RX has things to say with substance to match. But will it bloom if she doesn’t veer all the way into it? Questions that don’t really require answers within the current climate of the sport. Despite that, RX provided a reverse engineering (a scheme worthy of expansion that never got its chance to fully realize) composition with a great deal of promise certain to age very well as a catalogue piece people like myself may revisit at a later point in time with a reprising sentiment of enjoying the lyrical symmetry given while concurrently festering with intrigue as to whether or not the woman behind the pen will ever foresee herself thriving in Battle Rap as the worthy rationale to steal a bit more time from real life to Dojo her technique in order to expound upon her strong suites as a battler such as a shadow work re-wiring of the complex cortex that connects a great start to a scheme being cut short and the ability to rap within the endearing mold of a pretty woman with a vengeance yet empath all while being the center of its transient host when in battle. Subtle yet descriptive examples of where RX’s material can really puncture the mind of a viewer and pique interest once nuance becomes the surface level view of her as a lyricist embodiment oppose to mystery and passive interest.
RX/B.A.R.R.S. 2024?
Head I.C.E. v. Showoff 🐺
“My b**ch asking me how the show went, I replied with a dozen roses”
I.C.E. ✏️
Ice had his moments. The devil is usually in the details when it comes to his crafts true effectiveness. Overall, both parties appeared to leave opportunity on the table and punches in the ring, perhaps by design which could help explain the dry spells for both throughout. Despite it, both as expected vesseled the ship through the storm of blue room crowd control and made a night of entertainment out of it for the consumer to enjoy. The clear camaraderie between the two men though leaves to wonder might’ve the mutual respect clearly at play here been better served to instead usher a stronger message for viewers to cling to revolving more around substance than to what many will likely find most memorable to the contrary- “pause” banter or lost in translation. Unfortunate as both had a really strong round each of punch laden material with promise outside of the bottom feeding distractions as this bout in itself held more potential on paper than what became of it. Man, “I bend the corner like 9, 12” and the entirety of I.C.E.’s 2nd round are the epitome of what makes his presence lure as unique as they come.
“Real life you one of my favorites/
I promise today i’ma a door/adore you enough to leave a peephole”
Showoff ✏️
Showoff had his moments. Room control carried much of this matchup for both sides which isn’t a bad thing but rather a veteran thing to do when necessary. “If i’m bothered by your choice of words, no voices heard/where ya Mother land won’t be hieroglyphics I draw a bird” doesn’t really mean anything of note but it’s complex enough to keep the room engaged which is sometimes the true assignment. Overall, the bout is a close call and should be relegated to a tale of the tape scorecard but won’t and instead enjoyed for what it was. A rollercoaster of mixed highs and lows that offer replay value of a different variety than bar for bar but rather gem hunting within the sands of content. There will be several quotables unearthed for both artists. That’ll work. Will be interested to see what is next for Showoff within the RBE chessboard after this one. A Calicoe bout? Not mad at it.
B Magic v. Arsonal 📦
“When I hear a opp gun lock, that’s my favorite jam”
Arsonal ✏️
Great matchup ARP. Short and sweet rounds that gave it a filler free surprise element viewers can only be grateful to add to the the turnout of this card. A bout like this heightens the anticipation of a billing no question but to just pop up out of the blue and deliver on its potential? Different level of appreciation attached. Arsonal did not waste any motion. And that Ars is the best Ars. This one goes to the scorecard to lay out the work so i’ll reserve much of the analysis for that.
Tale of The Tape= ✅
“If I need a lil hammer i’m just checking ya reflexes”
B Magic ✏️
One half of this matchup to be honest was expected. A St. Louis themed card without B Magic just ain’t right. Luckily, that wasn’t going to be the case and the show did in fact arrive. With all bias intended, there isn’t a personal Top 5 of mine that doesn’t include B Magic. The original architect of his own flow pattern, the oft forgotten innovator of curation that molded much of the style so easy to gravitate to today in what we see from his peer group, B Magic finding his footing and getting the opportunity to showcase the compound lyrical punch jab close space combination infamous for dazing his opponents into a punch drunk sway is what the sport sorely needs. The blueprint back in the ring providing tutorials in 2023 is a sight for sore eyes in my opinion. Was an experience to witness up close under the blue room aesthetic. And the showing itself- absolutely surgical A-Z.
On behalf of the appreciators, B Magic more often please. 💐
Goodz v. Calicoe 📀
“I tell cats you can spot a liar if they a cheater~cheetah/
we double park n**gas, you gon pay a fine but it ain’t the meter/
Goodz ✏️
Goodz delivered. To the scorecard for this one. Great performance from him.
Film Review coming soon.
““In here talking credit to n**gas is pitiful/
knowing he had a 850 when they cut his umbilical”
Calicoe ✏️
Calicoe set a tone and found a stance of pocket he liked and stayed there. This one is a classic and an automatic transcript breakdown film review. On the way.
Tale of The Tape= ✅
Yung Ill v. Bigg K 🗳
“I’m the product of getting slept on”
Bigg K ✏️
Not anymore Bigg K. Not anymore. Scorecard. The transcript of this one will be as punishing on the breakdown as it was live. K is a dangerous puncher. Film time.
“da tension~detention in this room ain’t from a late dismissal”
Yung Ill ✏️
Icepak! Salute him for taking this bout and knocking the rust off in deep waters.
Tale of The Tape= ✅
A Ward v. Aye Verb 🎬
“I only came here to come and get this casket/
so it’s up in yo head, you hear me like a telepathic”
Aye Verb ✏️
“I’m chasing after a dream in front of the best, like Sam Bowie”
A Ward ✏️
Classic. Mission accomplished. Too much to discuss between the lines. Film soon.
Tale of The Tape= ✅
Also,
🔓 A. Ward unlocks the RBE chant badge for the nite. +++
Ill Will v. Hitman Holla 🏀🥇🎟
“it’ll take 52 losses in a row for me to have a losing record”
Holla ✏️
I think what we will find within the lines is that Hitman Holla may have just done the unfathomable for many and added a new milestone to his Mike Jordan esque treasure chest of benchmarks. And if he in fact did, well…as loud as the critique.
Film Review/Scorecard goes this classic bout. Was this Kobe’s 55pt nite? Torch?
Or Jordan flu game? 🌡
“Everything that popped out that b**ch did something, it’s the Wayans mother”
Ill Will ✏️
Ill Will is a performative genius. Looking forward to rolling out the scroll for this one. The terror of the blue rooms cinematic look and appeal is textbook Ill Will.
Tale of The Tape= ✅
Grand opening. Grand closing.
As always, much gratitude to the readers like yourself and much respect to the artists whom provide their rarified talents for praise, critique, analysis, etc.
Up next: Tale of the Tape, Max Out 3 Edition Pt. 1-5 🔜
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