Event: Soldiers March [Renegade Battle League]
Location: Nashville, TN [Club Premium]
Host: AyeVerb
Synopsis: The soul of the cities harmony always seems pre-destined to capture many moments of artistic inspiration amongst the creative ethos a welcoming environment like our city has always embraced in the past as well as the ever-growing boom the city presently experiences now. Nashville, TN. I know it well. Thus this event would be one I hope helped leave a lasting impression on this town and that in particular the collective aesthetic of HipHop far and wide all over the World would culminate together here in Nashville for Rap’s artful display as eager and vibrant as the music city has always embodied it’s affinity for another well-known genre synonymous with the Ville. And whether it’s Barz Major’s Harding Place roots or my own North Nashville ties to the Bordeaux area and college alma mater Tennessee State, one thing is clear- we appreciate and love the art of Rap around these parts. Soldiers March- the latest curation of that cultural fabric I speak of as I arrive in the building to take part in the latest avenue of poetry in motion Nashville’s imprint has to offer. And the experience could not have been more authentic and true to form. As it’s tatted canvas of worldwide reach expands, the sport of Battle Rap continues to ink it’s influence into every space opportunity presents itself and as it made it’s way to my backyard once again I sought to reach out to Barz as to do my due diligence and this time around contribute my small part towards the greater ambitions of the evening’s festivities. And just as expected, the authenticity and spirit of the man matched the aura and tone of the presence felt in the building. Salute to him and his team. The assignment- Battle Rap at its small room finest. The gritty yet inviting scenery. The heart of the people. The close knit community comfort of both commonalities and differences all copacetic and all present to hear something new and innovative. The appreciation for being in the moment. And perhaps most importantly, the skilled performance art craft of the artist in competition. No matter how many times one can grace the versatile venue placement of battle cards with different weight, expectations, and attendance margins the simplistic beauty of taking in the breath of fresh air that is 2-6 rounds of newly minted artwork will always be a refreshing sight to see as viewership. This day was no different. Respect to Barz Major and Co. for a successful night of lyrical fights and professional entertainment while promoting positive vibes and solidarity.
Salute to you all!
Now let’s recap and score the card=
Barz Major v. A Ward
Sanction= 3 Round Headline
Note Summary: Barz Major levies the tactical resolve of a human machine as the balancing act between the show on stage and the flow of the program as the card progresses through the night. In other words, the energy is Barz. All throughout the evening’s progressions I find at the center of every procedure is Mr. Harding Place himself. Readying both the climatic build-up of a co-starring headlining bout with the routine assurances issued from a hospitable good host, Barz Major represents a class act on behalf of the sport and we should all be glad to have him. The tall task awaiting him to close the event though- Knoxville, TN native Aaron Ward. And with the opportunity to etch, sketch, and elevate across from one of the peak opponents he could ever find who represents the highest form of the craft; Barz would have to amount to much more than the visceral southern charm and twang so well received from the passion of southern artists. In order to get over the steep hill of charisma & rebuttals awaiting him in a Ward bout, who exudes similar Southern qualities, Barz would have to bring the fight to Ward.
The Verdict= The fight was brought to A Ward. Barz stepped forward all night and threw his lyrical jabs in the pocket. Landed some healthy straight punches within the substance of his 3rd round in particular. A game tap bar review round without question. In the end, 1st Team All-Defense rebuttal game is indeed crazy. And when up against a neutralizer like Ward who can clamp angles with a sudden flurry of retorts while pointing on writtens of his own material with solid to great moments of consistent output; well that’s hard to defeat on any given night. Like the Phoenix Suns. Ward is that. A Chris Paul steal that leads to a Bridges 3 in transition. Repeatedly. How to overcome a complete game-plan and execution? A question many A Ward opponents must confront and solve to win. Overall, this battle is well worth a playback or three at the least and that alone is a win in itself. Below you will find the initial scorecard tally for the bout in real-time. Respect to both artist for putting on a show and representing the sport well.
Round 1- Ward (28)
Round 2- Split (22)
Round 3- Barz (23)
Total- Ward 70 / Barz 68
Decision= Split Decision (Ward)
Primetime v. Quban
Sanction= 1 Round Exhibition
Round 1- Split (17)
Total- Primetime 17/ Quban 17
Decision= Unanimous Draw (Even)
Trotter v. KD
Sanction= 3 Round Official
Round 1- KD (13)
Round 2- Trotter (15)
Round 3- Trotter (16)
Total- Trotter 43/ KD 30
Decision= Majority Decision (Trotter)
Polo v. Krooger
Sanction= 1 Round Exhibition
Round 1- Krooger (25)
Total- Krooger 25/ Polo 22
Decision= Majority Decision (Krooger)
Tracks v. Sire
Sanction= 1 Round Exhibition
Round 1- Tracks (33)
Total- Tracks 33/ Sire 24
Decision= Majority Decision (Tracks)
Skully G v. Slick (Debut)
Sanction= 3 Round Official
Round 1- Slick (11)
Round 2- Slick (7)
Round 3- Slick (8)
Total- Slick 26/ Skully G 13
Decision= Unanimous (Slick)
P.ess- Photos by: Daryl Rice
End.
Respect to all the artist who performed and shared their talents. Dope card.
Thank you Nashville.
Til next time,
TwoCent
1/1