LTBR Award Recipients
Battle of the Night: #1 Snypa vs. Young Kannon | #2 Peachez vs D.I Da Hennyman
Performance Of The Night: Dolla Bill
Salute to Winged & Stizz for putting together The RBE vs. Battle Academy event, which was a themed clash that pitted rising talents from both leagues against each other in a gritty small-room environment. Both Battle Academy and The RBE Bricks showcased a mix of up-and-coming prospects and seasoned names representing their brands, creating a competitive atmosphere. No event is perfect, but we had heavy turbulence to start the flight. The PPV stream faced several issues, frequently cutting out at the start due to inclement weather in Virginia. The intermissions were a black screen between the battles, so getting a commentary team or some music videos in between waiting definitely could’ve been implemented. The event began on a rough note, with some opening battles falling disappointingly below par. To be as kind as I can be. While many of these early bouts left little impact, a few standout performances managed to breathe life into the card, and a few names left this weekend with massive upside. There are definitely some names that need a bigger push, some names that need further development & patience, and some names that may need to be cut.
I want to take some time to give a shout-out to a few names that had solid showings but didn’t make any of our main takeaways, like Shank Prezy, OG Prime, Zay, Marvilo$, Krush & Bakinsota battling on the spot, and Cino Savvy. Decent to Solid showings from these emcees that could certainly use more development.
JSmo Review
Dolla Bill Cashes In with a Stellar Performance
Dolla Bill shined brightly in a card that may have left much to be desired, delivering a performance that stood out amongst all of the others. His commanding presence and one-of-one skillset earned him not only the title of Performance of the Night but also secured a dominating victory, which I would mark as the Body of the Night as well. Although the Performance of the Night bar was relatively low, Dolla Bill’s unique style is a refreshing departure from the norm. In a genre where originality is paramount, and we are familiar with a templated sound, Dolla distinguishes himself with his unparalleled delivery, creative approaches, detailed movie schemes, and distinctive accent that enhances all of this, making for a striking presentation. When you hear him rap, he doesn’t sound like anyone but himself. We constantly throw the label of being ‘unorthodox’ loosely to anyone with an unpredictable rhyme pattern or a Swiss army knife skillset. Still, Dolla is much more fitting of the term because he doesn’t conform to the traditional mode of battle rapping. He challenges the conventional wisdom of what most battle rap ears are used to retaining.
Dolla Bill’s performance has all the key traits to entertain an audience. His timing is pristine, he implements humor, and he makes sure to get bar heavy when he gets into a scheme so that while he is slowly cooking up to his punches, you get hit with a level of excitement once it registers. This ability to command the room and dominate his competition speaks volumes about his potential to succeed and rise to the next level in battle rap.
However, while Dolla Bill undoubtedly has the makings of a star, I think it’s fair to pump the brakes a little before we prematurely bestow that title on him. I don’t think a win over someone like Top Floor Marz grants you that moniker. He still needs to check off a few more prerequisites before I can fully embrace him with the mantle of being a battle rap star. And it will start with how he handles higher levels of competition and bigger stages. RBE has an extensive talent pool, and if Dolla wasn’t at the top of the list to be a priority before this weekend, he definitely should be after this. For him, the next battle RBE books will have all eyes on it, so it’s pivotal that their next move is their best move. I would love to see Dolla against solid mid-tier competition to put him to an actual test. Nevertheless, please make no mistake: he is checking off the boxes you need to reach a special level. He has a massive fanbase online, and that vocal following helps you grow as a brand, gets you booked, and makes you a fan favorite, but most importantly, his ceiling is sky-high and undefined.
Dolla Bill is a breath of fresh air 🔥 💵
— Let’s Talk Battle Rap (@LTBRpodcast) July 21, 2024
The point guard is so original and witty with his game.😤🔥🔥 #Bashmoney pic.twitter.com/1OcJRbUjZM
Snypa & Young Kannon Have The Best Back and Forth of The Night
I can confidently say that Snypa and Young Kannon hold the bar for the battle of the night and both of them had some of the best rounds of the event. Snypa’s first round stands out as one of the best of the night. Snypa fired on all cylinders, effectively tackling the angles often used against Young Kannon (if you know, you know). Snypa brought an intensity that resonated throughout his performance in all three rounds, which is the best part of it; he was able to sustain that output; he did have some dips in his 2nd round, but overall, his energy and delivery were on point.
However, Young Kannon rose to the challenge, responding well to Snypa’s explosive first round. He wrote uphill, progressively improving with each round, which is a keynote to how much of a savvy veteran Kannon is. YK delivered a particularly impactful third round, focusing on Snypa’s status as a talent on the RBE roster and an angle about how the roster is filled with rejects that can’t make it on other leagues. It’s been a narrative that’s always been used as a method of attack when it came to some rising names on RBE, but Kannon delivered it with great conviction and reference points to strengthen his angle. This direct angle hit home, leaving the battle open to interpretation and debate about the winner. Good showing from both emcees; Snypa is definitely one of the names that the league should continue to build around.
Peachez & Hennyman Both Showout
Peachez and Hennyman delivered one of the better back-and-forth battles of the night. It was a match filled with grit, disrespect, dope rhyme pockets, and fierce competitiveness. Both battlers brought their raw energy and skill.
D.I Hennyman, is the truest definition of a battle rap mogul you can find. His multifaceted contributions span from media coverage to hosting events, doing PPV commentary, being a league owner, and, most importantly, being an active battler. Over the past few years, Hennyman has significantly increased his battle activity, consistently delivering good performances across the country on multiple different leagues and mostly on his opponent’s turf. His experience shows every time he steps into the ring, and this battle is a good showcase of it. With the exception of his 3rd round, he was in complete control of the tempo of this battle and delivered a good 2 rounds to put himself in a key position to walk away the victor. He set the bar just high enough that Peachez had to catch up to him, and Hennyman was clipped up with bars.
On the other hand, Peachez, one of the newer names emerging from the RBE roster, seized this opportunity to further establish herself as a rising talent in female battle rap. Despite her relative newcomer status, she showed great poise and rapping pockets, matching Hennyman’s intensity with her approach. Some of her rounds were a bit shorter than Hennys, and her third round was the clearest round she won, so it may come down to preference if you enjoy Peachez’s performance and technical rapping skills. Her ability to hold her own against a seasoned veteran like Hennyman is a good check mark about her potential, and she is a name you will continue to keep an eye out for.
Top Floor Lut With The Clear Win In His First PPV Headliner
Top Floor Lut, the headliner of this card, secured a clear win over Gwitty, whose pedestrian performance was marred by his inability to deliver his rounds cleanly, which fundamentally takes Gwitty out of the battle. Lut’s performance could have been better, I was more impressed with his previous performance against Suge than this one. There are still levels for him to reach to improve his game as a battler and as a performer to bring in more entertainment, but a win is a win, especially for a theme-based card of League vs. League like this one. It is a good representation that Battle Academy can always include and count on Lut when it’s time to go to war. He was able to remain poised while delivering three solid and aggressive rounds.
Beating Gwitty, whose lackluster performances rarely impress, is hardly a stat worth bragging about. it’s more of a mundane task than a notable achievement. However, what is worth noting is that his first time headlining a PPV event for Battle Academy resulted in a victorious outcome, and regardless of the opponent, I genuinely believe that’s a net positive. Lut’s ability to capitalize when the lights are on him is a solid step forward for his potential, and this will be a checkpoint for his growth as a battler.
