LTBR Summary Report of Q3 2024

We are back with another Summary report for the 2nd quarter of 2024. We are halfway done with the year; time sure does fly. We have seen about 15+ other events between various leagues. The year is starting to shape up all of the following things media should be paying attention to, like who your front-runners for COTY/WOTY are, who’s had some of the best, memorial, and most impactful battles, who’s been under the radar,  and who is having—a breakout year. Also, some not-so-great highlights, like who is declining or struggling this year. We’re going to highlight as many significant transactions as we can track!

Read until the last transaction; you’ll get a treat for some of the issues we address, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

Transactions ranging from 7/1/2024 – 9/30/2024

Writers: Francel Brito, Justin Smolenski, 

JJDD: MASTER STRATEGIST

Undeniably one of the most talked about and impressive runs of the year, John John really took his 2024 to the next level. Across 3 very different matchups and circumstances, most have JJ walking away 3-0 with performances vs: Serius Jones on the Trenches (3 days prep!!!), Frak on Mass 6 in one of the best battles on the current event of the year front runner, and Coffee Brown on KvQ/SM. Hes providing some of his best material maybe ever, standing out as a POTN contender on nearly every card he’s touched this year.

And while the results should tell a good portion of the story on their own, the obvious level up in material is just as important. While of course his ability as an angler and staretgist has and will always be the backbone of his style, he has written some of his more creative bars strictly from a wordplay perspective. With a talent that was already elite for how tailored he was, the quality of his pen almost matching that at some points leads to one of the most dangerous current battlers out. We’ll see how he closes the year with a Cassidy mega match on the horizon to possibly be the closer to one of the best years of JJDD’s career.

THE BAT VS THE DAWG

2024 has been filled with quite a few immediate history altering matchups, whether it be God Tiers, return/debut battles, or grudge matches finally lining up. This battle contains a few of these characteristics and then some, with K and Roc being a grudge with over a decade of buildup, the debut of one of the all-time greats on KOTD, and a battle between arguably the best RBE and URL battlers of all time. With such dramatic stakes you’d figure that importance and energy would show in the battle and that’s exactly what it did. From the pure quality to the moments, scuffle, and multiple elements of battling displayed this one plays out like the epic clash it was envisioned to be.

Battle has become one of the most heavily debated in recent memory and even sparked debates within debates from the difference in round length, the effectiveness of Bigg K’s instant classic moments, and the optics of the crowd. While this it all causes “controversy” and often a divide between different fan bases, that is quite literally battle rap at it’s best. Some of our favorite battles of all time aren’t always necessarily 10/10s or without flaw or debate on what’s fair, what really makes battle rap special is the lifelong debates that get developed when 2 guys give 100% effort a point to prove. Whether you have K or Roc winning, they both walk away as being half of an all-time main event that lived up to the hype and but the bow on an all time great KOTD card. One of the milestone moments of the quarter and year, Bigg K vs Tay Roc is one that instantly gets cemented into the history books.

EAZY GIVES WILL WINGS

Eazy The Block Captain didn’t have the easiest start to the year, in or out the ring. Starting the year with his Clips battle which resulted in a clear L, dealing with the loss of his mother through the booking and performing process. When his next opponent was announced to be Ill Will, many were a bit nervous as it was one of Eazy’s toughest matchups on paper up to that point and was booked in a period where many had Eazy losing his last few. However when the battles time finally came, main event for the Trenches Anniversary, all worries went away expeditiously.

Eazy absolutely smoked Will from the 1st sentence to last with one of the best 3 round performances of the year. Angling, punches, haymakers, counter writing, performance, drug talk, you name it and Eazy was doing it at an elite level. It was a bodybag in every sense of the term and instantly became one of Eazy best showings of his career as well as one of Will’s most dominant L’s in his own career. With a 10/10 showing to rebuild momentum off of, Eazy 1 showing this 3rd quarter shows why he is still a valid candidate in the best in the world convos and set ups him up perfect to carry momentum into what is foreshadowed to be a major 2025 for Eazy.

The Emergence of Froze & Broze

There’s many different ways leagues go about filling out time during intermissions but with commentary becoming more and more of a standard as the product of Battle Rap has evolved. While this isn’t at all taken into account of why someone might purchase a PPV or ticket, the difference between good and bad commentary can completely reshape the patience and satisfaction level of fans who watch events from front to back through the hours and very often possibly delays that these events often go through. While the standard for years has simply been Jay Blac and (insert anyone else), the emergence of Froze and Broze as a commentary team gives us another equally fantastic dynamic that adds to the product rather than just be part of it. 

The insight and analysis of a battler, the effort to be up to date with everyone on the cards current stock/situation, and while still having the same quip and joke heavy dialogue that most Battle Rap fans have when talking about the sport. That’s really the key to it; them treating Battle Rap like the sport it is.

Jaz The Rapper secures The Biggest Win Of The Year

KvQ/SM was an event that had tons of skepticism going in, with a concept that many weren’t a fan of added to all types of messiness regarding the venue and date the event ended up going down on. However, when the battles themselves played out there was some high level showings on the night, but none higher than that of Jaz The Rapper in the main event vs Tay Roc.

After a year of heavy dialogue around many fans not being the biggest fan of Jaz performance rate vs the men compared to women, she gives one of her most complete showings across 3 rounds and a 10/10 type of showing vs a very good Tay Roc and getting what most called a clear win vs possibly the best active battler of 2024. Unlike her battles vs Nitty, Twork, Geechi and more where the 1st stands out as the best round by tails off, she simply starts with an elite 1st and carries that energy across the battle. It an instant career highlight that files in as one of Jaz best wins and along with Eazy’s 3 rounds vs Will, will enter the conversation for Performance Of The Year in 2024.

Charron Carries The Reign

In a year that’s fully of elite battlers giving top shelf work, Charron’s stands out as one of the most dominant yet least publicized compared to some of his peers, or at least it was till he did what he did to Illmac. As the main event of the Nova Scotia event, honoring the late great Pat Stay in his hometown. In a matchups vs another all time legend in Illmac, Charron was coming into the battle already with a flawless record on the year after facing the likes of Danny Myers and 40 BARRs, along with many others.

However, this Illmac performance is his best work yet in 2024 and like many other elites have done in 2024, also one of the best performances of his career. This was an explosive, surgical, and dominant showing from Charron who gets a clear 3-0 victory vs KOTD royalty, a category of matchup that had given Charron some issues through his career. Not only did he accomplish his mission with a perfect execution of angles, punches, and jokes but ended with an all time classic on the spot moment, freestyling off a roof in the venues ceiling saying it was Pat telling him to “carry on his reign (rain)”. One of the coldest moments of the year and maybe the best freestyle/rebuttal as well, it capped off a perfect Charron performance and opened many eyes to just how amazing the legend has been performing this year. 

T-Rex is Back

Listen: T-Rex is back to being fire consistently and everyone is thrilled. Going back to his showings vs. Bigg K and Chess last year, these good showings gave people hope in a legend who had looked out of it for QUITE some time. With his matchup vs Chilla announced, some wondered if this form would carry over to 2024, especially taking on a respected pen like Chilla on the road. What Rex decided to do with this challenge is electrocute it, stealing the show on Mass 6 Day 1 with a signature Rex showing. The drug talk, the delivery and iconic rapping ability. This performance was the of epitome “Grown Man Bars” as even vs what was probably a more well written Chilla showing, he drowned it out with performance, aggression, and substance-based content (no pun intended).

Now, with 3 more battles announced in the 4th Q of the year, Rex looks to close with his most active and best year in at least a decade. After saying he plans on making a run for COTY in 2025, he’s a bit ahead of schedule with enough battles to qualify in 2024 and momentum going into these battles. 

A K1NG Is Crowned

K1NG has been one of the many Trenches standout development stories over the last couple of years, but he now will also be known as the man who won the tourney they were all in. In an era with a surplus of punchers and battlers who growl at the end of their bars, K1NG is just as explosive a puncher but with a unique style: the perfect combo to get some traction in modern battle rap. Going through fellow Trenches standouts MuuWop and JMorr to reach the final, K1NG’s best showing yet was in the final vs Z Da Dropout, where he had one of the best performances of the night on a card with Eazy, Ave, Hollow, JJDD, and more.

Ave With a Power 3rd Quarter

Ave vs Hollow was an overdue battle, finally getting Ave vs one of the legendary opponents fans have been waiting to see for quite some time. While far from Aves 1st fight vs a legend, this battle acted as the legacy plate that once upon a time it looked like Verb would be for Ave (before he ducked him). Going down on The Trenches in a pit sitting, this battle gave Hollow the best setting to compete, but this battle was still all about Ave. After a close but good 1st from both, Ave took off writing uphill each round and making the separation more apparent as the battle went on. 

He then goes on to make his his Return on URL with a headliner against Chef Trez which ended up being Battle Of The Night and one of the better battles we seen this year, and closes off the quarter with another headliner on Babs Bunny Prom Night 2, and gets a Judged WIn over 40 BARRS. 

Ave just continues to add to what is at the very least a top 5 year of any battler in 2024 with a good argument to be at almost any place in the 5. 

Chef Trez: The Work Never Stops

As per usual, Chef Trez is rapping often and rapping well. While complimentary wins like his battle vs XCel on KOTD make up a good portion of his resume this year, Trez big contribution in Q3 has to be his headliner battle vs Ave on URL’s 2nd Nexus card. In a great and contested 3 round affair, Trez and Ave had BOTN and the toughest fight Ave has faced during his run in 2024. Trez clearly got the 1st, and put up a fight in the 2nd as well where some argue he won the 1st 2 rounds of the battle. It was a classic bar fest between 2 pro’s pros who have tons of respect for each other, and the battle stands as testament to how in form both have been for quite some time now.

Viixen Is Rising As A WOTY Contender

Viixen has been making a strong case in 2024 as a serious WOTY contender, delivering standout performances every quarter. Her battle against O’fficial during NOME Weekend is considered one of the best female battles of the year, followed by a debatable upset win over Rum Nitty at Kings vs Queens Summer Madness. She continued her momentum with a clear victory over 40 BARRS at the start of the fourth quarter. With nearly a flawless track record, Viixen’s “quality over quantity” approach has kept her bulletproof in this small sample size, and one more battle at this level could secure her a top ranking or possibly her second WOTY title. 

Yunus/Klutz: Next Generation of Pens

URL Top 12 (mix of both top 6) classes has a range of talent with different styles all trying to climb their way up the URL ranks. While many have struggled to catch consistent momentum or standout in the biggest moments, 2 pens have had breakout performances and added on with BOTN/POTN level showing vs vets on streamed cards. The 2 battlers I’m referring to are Yunus and Klutz. While they both battled last year and it appeared Yunus had put a dent in Klutz momentum, both have still been cooking since with different pathways to success. Yunus has had a few more style clashes, which earlier in the year gave him trouble in matches vs Franchise and Holmzie, but his recent headliner performance vs JC in Q3 has put an end to good amount of the worry and critique that was building up post that harsh back to back pair of battles. It was fight with a JC in rare form himself and for many will standout as the best Yunus showing so far whether you have him winning or losing.

Klutz replicated a similar level of performance vs Danny Myers on URL, although a non headline it was a much more clear victory. While both pens, Yunus at times can be perceived as more of a power puncher while Klutz always commits to an abstract style and more traditional pen that takes chances and tries to approach wordplay differently than anyone else. While both writing heavy, the real strength is their originality that allows fans to watch and feel like they’re getting something different from the talent around them. So far, they standout as URL’s 2 best prospects from the current crop of talent and fans await to see what their next step into possible stardom could be.

Cheyraq: Yo She Doing Good Again, Kind Of

Cheyraq was one of the best stories in women’s battle rap coming out of 2023 with her #6 placement on the WOTY list. However, after starting with multiple unclean losses in 2024, there was some worry about her heading into a plate in a big moment vs Yoshi G on Mass 6. She silenced any doubts (momentarily) when she had a high-level and powerful showing vs a good version of Yoshi G. Channeling her confidence in a home game, Cheyraq claimed a clear 2-1 Win vs a name that was exactly what she needed to get back on track. Following this was the announcement she will be facing Jaz The Rapper on Bullpen’s Endgame card in October, a HUGE step up in competition and a legacy fight.

However, before then, she still had matchups vs Jerry Wess to close out Q3 and possibly build more momentum heading into her Jaz battle. The problem is she reverted back to her choke-prone ways and ended the battle very rough vs Jerry after a promising start material-wise in the 1st 2. This is another worrisome sign going into the Jaz battle, not just for being unclean but for seeing the clear difference in delivery and rapping ability between her and Jerry, with an even stricter matchup in those exact aspects on the horizon. Q3 has brought Cheyraq great opportunity, but with that comes expectations, and with now being skyrocketed to the endgame plate for women’s BR, the pressure has never been higher. 

Tru Foe Puts Dollaz In The Dirt

Tru Foe year may be under most radar but anyone that has watched knows it’s a very needed improvement after a couple tough years for Foe. In 2024 it’s been a very productive bounce back year, with battles like XFactor and Snake Eyez being some solid contributions early in the year. In Q3, he had his most important battle of the year so far when he battled Reed Dollaz at home in front of the Chicago crowd and caught his most dominant win of the year.

A clear 30, Foe gets another legend win to add to his active year as he shows a new level of consistency. Foe seems to slowly building the stock and profile back up and if he continues to show the ability to keep clearing out name value competition there’s a chance we see him climb back to the potential many envisioned for him back after his UM5 win over Geechi. Good work from a battler who many had fully counted out. 

Prom Queen Shooney

Shooney Da Rapper had a standout showing at Prom Night 2, delivering the best performance of the Queens. She secured a unanimous decision and a judged win over Danny Myers, showcasing a stellar and dominating performance. Her ability to control the battle and outshine a formidable opp like Danny made her one of the top performers of the event.

NoCal Got a Goodie

NXT and Pass delivered a dope back-and-forth battle that showcased the talents of two Northern California battlers. This under-the-radar matchup was a unique style clash, highlighting the distinctiveness of two different generations in battle rap. Their contrasting approaches and exchanges made for a dope battle with replay value. 

The Family Feuds

There is no way to fully summarize the depth of this heated feud that has been secretly boiling between Hitman & Aye Verb behind curtains that finally became public. But just know, it was one of the biggest storylines from this quarter for all of the wrong reasons and if you want to read the full back story to how this became a thing 

You are more than welcomed to click right here. 

Muu Wop Takes a Leap

The Trenches Anniversary card showcased a lot of the best that the Trenches home grown talent has to offer. K1NG and Tex built on already established momentum, while the matchup of Muu vs Morr gave an interclass fight to determine who fits that current 3rd spot in the top 3. Not only did go on to win this battle 3-0 but did it as a large underdog to a JMorr who many would put in the conversation for top Trenches talent. Muu has shown his strength as purely a rapper from the jump, but the most important takeaway from this battle was the improvements in directness and punch quality.

Another big takeaway was the uphill writing, with his 3rd ending up being his best round of the battle. Showing clear growth in the skillset and gaining a dominant win, it couldn’t have been a better outing for him and is a win he can build momentum off going forward. Lot of work to be done for all the Trenches talents but after The Trenches Anniversary card, Muu is one of those who’ stock is on the rise post event.

Kapo Is The Rising Star NOLA Needs

Kapo, long known for his strong branding and marketing, has seen his performances and material elevate to match his off-stage production in the latter half of the year. Although his surprise battle with Rocqlee at the Summer Madness Kings vs. Queens weekend was derailed by a storm, he still managed to successfully host a card from his league, Let’s Be Real Battle League. The event featured rising talents in battle rap, and Kapo’s main event battle with Oppa was a standout, with both delivering a strong back-and-forth. His performance marked a major improvement from his last headline in his city against Arsonal.

Dolla Bill: Sole Survivor of The Brick Demolition

Although battle rap has it’s never-ending headlines, in and out the ring, none was more bizarre and reoccurring in Q3 then the disbandment and fall out of the RBE Brick Process. Ghostwriting claims, betrayal, and business aired out; it was a textbook Battle Rap soap opera. However, if there is one positive to take, it’s the standout showing we got from Dolla Bill on the Bricks vs Battle Academy card. Dolla took off vs Top Floor Marz, with easily the POTN.

Dolla take an entirely new approach to Battle Rap. Mix of comedy, a unique sound/accent, and a sneaky pen that leaves you with haymakers throughout. Originality will always find its way to get noticed, and on a card that was mired with production and quality issues, Dolla walked away as the talent everyone who watched remembered and wanted to see more of. With the Brick Process being done, it looks like Dolla will have to travel around leagues to further build his profile which he already started by battling Hansel on Lets Be Real Battle League, with a solid and competitive showing. The demand is there, and as long as he stays active and consistent, he can take another step up in his career.

You can also read the full story here regarding The RBE Bricks. 

A.Ward Adds To His Resume

A. Ward closed out 2024 with another career-defining year, solidifying his place at the top of battle rap. His dominant performance against The Saurus at Mass 6 was a standout moment, capping off a stellar year where he faced major opponents like Tay Roc, Hollow Da Don, and an upcoming battle with Ave. With three significant battles added to his resume, A. Ward continues to showcase his versatility and skill at the highest level. 

Swervoo: Material Living Up To The Name

Out of all of URL’s mid-tier division of talent, one of the most major pushes has gone to Swervoo, battling 3 times and all 3 being on live streamed events. While his battle vs Franchise on NOME was a disastrous L and performance, he quickly appeared again twice in Q3 vs ORed and Lu Castro. While the ORed battle is solid quality wise and a debatable win for Swerv, the stumbles and pace issues from the Franchise battled returned although not in full out choking fashion. A step in the right direction, but worrisome to see cleanliness be an issue after dropping the ball so majorly the previous battle.

Then the appeared on the 2nd Nexus card after calling out Lu Castro to battle none other than Lu himself. This battle unfortunately leans more into the direction of the Franchise battle then the ORed one. Even in a battle you can debate he won, it stood out as easily the worst battle of the night and another battle Swervoo simply wasn’t clean in. Unlike the Franchise battle, Lu didn’t take advantage and had a bad showing of his own, but one could argue that makes the result even worse for both. Swerv has had some great outings, his Cortez and Chess performance showing the potential to be not just good but great when it matters. However with a handful of streamed, high exposure opportunities to follow he has not replicated that same explosiveness and leaves the question to how many opportunities of value will he continue to get, if any. 

40 BARRS In A Gauntlet

The third quarter has been particularly grueling for 40 BARRS as she embarked on a mission to secure the WOTY accolade, one of, if not the only title missing from her impressive collection. During this challenging stretch, she faced off against formidable opponents like First Lady Flamez, Charron, Nu Jerzey Twork, Ave, and, just days into the new quarter, Viixen The Assassin. This demanding schedule is arguably one of the toughest seen all year for a reason. While there were highlights, many of her performances were riddled with inconsistencies. As a result, she suffered a clear loss to Viixen, a clear loss to Charron, and a judged loss to Ave, making it increasingly difficult to see her achieving the goals she set for herself during this challenging run.

Welcome C Bri To The Trenches

C-Bri’s addition to the Trenches roster marks a pivotal moment in her career, following a stellar debut. She’s found a solid platform to continue her growth and establish herself in the battle rap scene. Her standout performance against Zan on a major card was a key test, and she rose to the occasion, proving she can thrive under pressure when the spotlight is at its brightest.

The Power in K-Shine's Return

K Shine has officially announced his highly anticipated return to the battle rap stage, set to take place on New Year’s Eve, 12/31/24. Fans can look forward to his showdown against Shotty Horroh, promising an electrifying matchup to ring in the new year. This battle marks K Shine’s comeback and is sure to be a highlight in the battle rap calendar.

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