LTBR Award Recipients
Battle of the Night: Tay Roc vs E Ness
Performance Of The Night: #1 Tay Roc | #2 E ness | #3 Rum Nitty | #4 Snake Eyez
Staff Writers: France
Preamble by France: Welcome T-Top To The World Of Being A League Owner
T-Top’s first event with his new league, Straight Drop, was a fun weekend and debut that established him as a new player in the market of battle rap leagues and matchmaking. While no first-time operation runs perfectly, the weekend was overall successful, bringing together fans and battlers in a setting that felt like a true battle rap family reunion. Music blasting, Ice cold drinks being served by Shooney Da Rapper, food available at the event, smoke in the air, and some good battles. Top had many of his closest relationships helping him run the show, and it helped with running everything. There was definitely a vibe in attendance. It was a packed-out house! T-Top’s ability to book compelling matches and curate an engaging atmosphere is a highlight of being in the building, and despite some hiccups, the vibes showed great promise for the league’s future. However, as he steps into the role of a league owner, he quickly learns that all logistical issues—whether in or out of his control—ultimately fall on his shoulders. You get all the credit when things go great and all of the blame when things don’t go according to plan.
The most significant criticism of the event was the long runtime on Day 2, which led to rushed battles and a loss of energy among fans and performers. Due to time constraints, Goodz, DNA, and DI Da Hennyman, who was brought in for commentary, couldn’t do their jobs, and the broadcast suffered from a lack of engagement for viewers at home. Additionally, scheduling conflicts arose when battlers were reluctant to open the event, leading to a slow start. It sucks for league owners to always be at the mercy of battlers arriving late because it affects the whole show. This card was star-stuttered and jam-packed, and I can see how no one on the card wants to be the opener. This is the Gift and the Curse of having such a top-heavy lineup for your first event. Securing reliable talent—particularly hungry mid-tier battlers willing to seize the opportunity and probably be a little more professional- could be a good play. T-Top can bring a great vibe, but at the end of the day, the battles are what matter the most.
It was also a little disheartening to see some of T-Top’s peers openly mention in their rounds that they took the battle as a favor or for a lower-than-usual fee, which showed in their performances. This lack of professionalism and the already delayed schedule created an obstacle to maintaining event momentum. Also, a slight touch, for me personally, I noticed T-Top was not on stage to host or introduce some of his battles, possibly due to managing behind the scenes. While understandable, his presence as the league owner could add a personal touch and further boost some of the energy. He has a ton of Charisma and is also a selling point of the league, event, and battles. It’s good to see his presence in those moments; he will also age well for the content. This was something Bags and Bodies also had, it wasn’t a host for Power moves, and it was a subtle feature, but it feels incomplete as a viewer (Just my 2 cents).
Despite these challenges, the event showed that T-Top can generate excitement and build an inviting battle rap environment. He had good marketing and rollout leading up to the event, and he went and got JB, the Director of URL, to shoot this event. Top went about everything right away leading into it, but the day of, there are always going to be things you can’t prepare for, and you don’t know what’s coming until you experience it. The foundation is strong—he just needs to fine-tune the execution, ensuring battles run smoothly so that the talent can deliver at a high level. With adjustments to production, scheduling, and securing more committed battlers, Straight Drop has the potential to become a respected platform. T-Top can’t control the quality of performances he receives from the battlers he books; that’s part of the risk of being a league owner and booking matches. But he can put himself and his card in the best position to succeed with small logistic details being tightened up. We aren’t strangers to delays in battle rap, and it’s almost baked into our brains to expect a delay at some point, but a 1.5-hour delay is very different than 2.5-3 hours, and it makes all the difference in the world. Overall, it was a successful first outing, and the future looks bright for T-Top and his team. I can’t wait to see as they refine their approach. I know, I know, we, as a culture, are fed up with some of the aspects we deal with when it comes to being at events or watching them from home. Our feet hurt after standing for the day shift, and we dislike being at our laptop for 6-8 hours. I think all of the vocal complaints about their time being respected are more than valid. Lack of time management prevents us from reaching higher heights, but we should still provide grace and support T-Top. I’m sure after seeing the feedback and having this first event under his belt, he will improve in all areas.
Charlie Clips vs Casey Jay
2.25 ☆ Rating Recapped by France
Charlie Clips and Casey Jay kicked off the night with Casey starting her first round, delivering some solid punches that connected well with the crowd early on. Her Anthony Davis bar is a memorable signature line. However, Clips had a first round that almost set the bar and made me believe he was fully prepared for the battle. He opened with a freestyle about having to be the card’s opener and taking some shots at T-Top and other battlers on the card, and he was rolling in his 1st round. Clips was on fire with all his key attributes shining and we were headed to the promised land. Despite this good start, his performance quickly became an episode of The Bear in the Big Blue House. Clips in later rounds were Jokes, chuckles, and freestyles. Opening the door for Casey J to have her second and third rounds carry the battle with more firepower, even if some of her material didn’t fully resonate with the audience. On playback, though, her content stood out as well-crafted. The crowd not being fully engaged in the battles is a theme we are going to see for a lot of these recaps, so get ready for that.
When Charlie Clips gets in his freestyle for a whole round bag, it makes for an entertaining live experience. I won’t even lie about it; as someone who has witnessed many Clips battles over the past 15 years, he has so much charisma and an uncanny ability to engage the crowd. But viewers watching from home on the PPV are likely to feel mixed reviews about this type of approach—his freestyles are fun but can also seem like a sign of a lack of preparation. It isn’t as enjoyable without receiving the energy and watching it from your screen.
For Casey Jay, this marked her return to battle rap after over a year away, and while her performance showed some flashes, and I’m sure on camera, her material will be more appreciated, there was a bit more to be desired from her returning battle. Nevertheless, this is a win on the books for Casey; her rounds still had some good material, and there was room for her to sharpen her sword for the next battle coming up with Jay Love on TBL’s Apollo card.
https://twitter.com/LTBRpodcast/status/1898869939945304243
Geechi Gotti vs Marqoo Mazi
1.50☆ Rating Recapped by France
Geechi Gotti vs. Marqoo Mazi was an unserious battle, with Gotti coasting at about 40% of his usual effort and still securing the win. Initially scheduled for day one, the battle was moved to day two, giving Marqoo a bigger stage and the chance to make an impression on the pay-per-view stream. While he had some solid material, his delivery exposed the gap between a seasoned professional and an up-and-coming talent. This was a significant opportunity for Marco to take advantge, but he struggled to capitalize on the moment fully.
Despite the underwhelming performance, Marqoo still has potential. His delivery needs massive work, but his bars are decent, and this showing shouldn’t deter T-Top from giving him more opportunities to develop. The battle quickly became the hub of jokes across the timeline. You can’t help but shake your head and laugh at how it unfolded. While it wasn’t the most competitive or serious matchup, it served as a reminder of the levels in battle rap.
https://twitter.com/LTBRpodcast/status/1865927827717300419
Rum Nitty vs Snake Eyez
3.00 ☆ Rating Recapped by France
Snake Eyez and Rum Nitty hit the stage at a point in the night when the event desperately needed a jolt of energy and a high-quality battle. Snake Eyez set the tone with his aggressive delivery, towering over Rum Nitty and rapping directly at him, while Nitty, despite his shorter rounds, stuck to his signature punch-heavy approach. The first round was highly competitive, with Nitty edging it on some of his creative lines like the Wheel of Fortune scheme he used, but Snake Eyes made it close enough to spark debate. His intensity and presence were undeniable, making for an engaging battle after 1 round in.
The second round was Snake Eyez standout moment, and one could argue the best round of the battle. Snake found his stride and delivered a flurry of tough bars! like his “I Promise my W’s ain’t cap, im not Wario.” or his “Flip my Pillow twice, just to capture a Dream”. The first half of his round was powerful, hitting the crowd with a high-energy burst that landed cleanly. Though the latter half of the round lost a bit of steam, it was still fire, and it’s a round I would definitely have him winning. This set up a decisive third round, where Nitty’s efficiency and consistently creative punches allowed him to take control. While Snake Eyez fought hard, Nitty did enough to still keep him in a position to close out the battle strong.
Ultimately, the debate over this battle likely comes down to the first round, as Snake Eyez won the second and Nitty took the third. Snake Eyez came in as a heavy underdog but left with a net positive performance, bringing intensity and competitiveness that made the battle closer than expected. I do edge the battle to Rum Nitty, taking two out of the three rounds in an entertaining battle that this event needed. You’ll see a lot of Snake Eyez 2-1 as well, and I do think those are valid opinions, Snake did enough to feel vindicated as the victor in a spot where he was doubted heavily.
https://twitter.com/LTBRpodcast/status/1865927827717300419
Tay Roc vs E ness
3.25 ☆ Rating Recapped by France
Tay Roc vs. E Ness delivered the battle of the night, exceeding expectations as Ness, a heavy underdog, rose to the occasion and made the matchup highly competitive. It is a battle of two emcees who have mastered the art of flows, and both of them brought entertainment to this match. Many anticipated Roc to dominate, but Ness came prepared with rapid-fire flows, dope mulits, and relentless energy that kept him in the fight. It was like Ness was back into a corner and forced to fight for his life, and he poured it all on the floor. He set the tone early, making a strong case for getting the first round clear, and by the halfway mark of Ness’s 2nd round, we realized this wasn’t going to be a stepping stone. This performance gave Ness the well-deserved respect he should receive for still being in this game for 20 years and being able to compete at this level for his performance.
However, Tay Roc, known for his ability to turn up as a battle progresses, had a signature and explosive second round that shifted the momentum in his favor, and I gotta say, IT WAS NEEDED! The prediction polls of this battle as so lopsided and after Ness’s 2nd round, it was looking like we were on upset alert and Roc needed to snatch that round back in his favor with back-to-back haymakers and his powerful delivery. Roc got control of the battle and carried that energy into the third round to close out and win the last two rounds. Whenever Roc gets punched in the mouth in an early round, it does enough to wake Tay Roc up, and he turns up. Roc deserves a ton of credit for having to run his own event Saturday night and bring the energy to an uphill victory. The battle was a classic case of an underdog overperforming and pushing a top-tier name to its limits, making it the most entertaining and best battle of the night.
Swamp vs Coffee
1.50 ☆ Rating Recapped by France
Swamp and Coffee Brown faced off in a battle that many in the media anticipated to be the best of the night. However, the overall event was plagued by the three-hour delay, which left the crowd disengaged and drained by the time this battle took place. While it’s easy to criticize the crowd for lacking energy, the reality is that extended delays on a Sunday event make it difficult to maintain enthusiasm. Despite this, battlers must push through and deliver, as their performances will live on in footage. Coffee Brown did just that, while Swamp visibly struggled with the lack of reaction, even cutting some of his rounds short.
Coffee’s first and third rounds were particularly clipped up with solid material spread throughout her performance. However, even she showed frustration with the crowd’s lack of energy. It wasn’t until the third round that Coffee found her rhythm, delivering a dope pocket and finally getting some reaction from the audience. At that moment, voices from Murda Mook and other Dot Mob members behind Coffee encouraged her to keep rapping, emphasizing the importance of simply pushing through. Coffee stayed locked in and finished her material, securing a clear win despite the circumstances.
Overall, the battle may not have much replay value due to the low energy in the room, but it was a clear 3-0 victory for Coffee Brown. Now she’s coming off one of the best battles of the year against Pristavia and a decisive win over Swamp. As for Swamp, There is a looming narrative about his performances in these intergender battles. Now that he’s battled Casey Jay, Ms.Hustle 40 BARRS & Coffee, we have enough sample size to unpack this.
Swamp’s performance vs. Coffee was a hybrid of his showing vs. Casey Jay & 40 BARRS. Against Casey Jay, he had effort and energy but took the wrong approach to his material. Against 40 BARRS, he had solid material, but once 40 choked every round, Swamp didn’t commit to delivering with full intensity or energy. Against Coffee, he had some solid lines but was marred completely by the crowd. So now it looks like Ms. Hustle’s performance is an outlier compared to Swamp’s battles against women. This probably isn’t the performance you expect to see after coming off a career year in 2024, but I would expect to see Swamp be better and tighten up for the remainder of the year.
Ave vs Bad Newz
1.75 ☆ Rating Recapped by France
The battle between Ave and Bad Newz was one of the most anticipated matchups of the night for all of the wrong reasons. Bad Newz having an anticipated battle on a card is almost unheard of. All of this stemmed from longstanding suspicions surrounding paperwork of Bad Newz Snitching, which had been hinted at in previous battles. In 2020 when Newz battled Ace Amin, and even more recently, in 2023, in his battle against Geechi Gotti. However, the major difference in this situation was that the paperwork didn’t surface in the middle of the battle but was released four days before, allowing the conversation to build and take the event by storm. This turned the battle into a must-watch spectacle, not just to see how Ave would address the angle but also to see how Bad Newz would defend himself.
With the paperwork already being exposed by battlers in the culture, the expectations for Ave’s performance skyrocketed, but some fans felt his approach left much room to be desired. While Ave did address the angle in his first round, there was criticism that he took too long to get into it or that they wanted more from him. Given that this was the primary reason the battle had so much attention, many expected him to attack the subject immediately rather than ease into it. Ave revealed in his post-battle interview on PSA Reloaded that he wasn’t looking just to rewrite all of his material, and he only had 4 days of prep to even incorporate the angle. Still, Ave controlled the battle and convincingly won every round, leaving no debate over the outcome. Ave won 3-0; that isn’t why we’re here, but there’s still so much to discuss. Despite this clear victory, the conversation afterward wasn’t as focused on Ave’s dominance but rather on whether Bad Newz had somehow survived the controversy unscathed, which, to me is completely insane.
Bad Newz openly admitted to telling in his first round by saying, “I told! But the N**ga’s charges got acquitted.” BATTLE OVER, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, BATTLE OVER. But then Bad Newz, who has never been recognized as an angler, followed up with one of the most bizarre angles in battle rap history—accusing Ave of being a pedophile without any supporting evidence. His justification for this approach, citing Aye Verb as a reference, only added to the strangeness of the moment. The irony of someone with actual paperwork on their name attempting to deflect attention by fabricating an accusation. This is unreal. This moment highlighted an ongoing battle rap issue, where no one stands on business. So many say that battle rap is where street codes are supposed to be enforced. Still, there are never any real consequences for violations despite the culture priding itself on authenticity and integrity.
Ave acknowledged in that same post-battle interview, saying that Bad Newz would still get booked despite the allegations, and the so-called ‘Street rappers” Would still accept the opportunity to battle him. While that may be true, the damage to Bad Newz’s reputation is unrepairable. His credibility as a battle rapper has taken a massive hit, and his brand turned into a 400 credit score that can’t be salvaged. In a culture as street-oriented as battle rap, the nature of his content moving forward will always be questioned, making it difficult for him to be taken seriously. Even if he continues to be booked for battles, the stain of this controversy will follow him indefinitely. Don’t expect him to get much respect from both fans and his peers. Ave may not have had the posterized highlight everyone was waiting for, and maybe he could’ve delivered in a way that was a little more resounding, but not even the crickets were cheering for Bad Newz in this battle, that’s how quiet the crowd was when he rapped. I personally wanted to see more from Ave, but the results are the results, and we know who Bad Newz is now. Just because Ave laid the ball up instead of dunking it doesn’t make the 2 points count any less, and just because you weren’t happy with the fashion of how the battle ended doesn’t allow Bad Newz to now escape the new label, the culture will be assigned to his name.
Nu Jerzey Twork vs T-Rex
3 ☆ Rating Recapped by France
Due to a two-hour delay, the main event lost some of its momentum, and the full battle couldn’t be enjoyed to its fullest on its first watch for me. I do wanna say after a day of rest and watching back, it’s a solid battle that was marred by delays. I gotta give credit to Twork for his commitment—traveling from NOLA after hosting Tay Roc’s No Entourage event to going to NYC less than 24 hours later to perform—deserves recognition.
Both Twork and Rex delivered solid performances with 90-second to two-minute rounds, making the most of the crowd’s energy. Twork landed multiple clever haymakers, while Rex’s energy was not as rampant in previous showings he found strong pockets in his rounds, resulting in a solid back-and-forth battle. I think this is a battle that is going to come down to what you prefer and like to listen to in your battles. I could see a Rex fan being very satisfied with the content and pockets he brought in his 2nd round in particular, with his “Life-Jacket/ Right Package/ White Rabbit/ Life Flashing” Segment.
But for me, Twork’s haymakers in his first two rounds are just so impactful and powerful. And even his 3rd round when he opens up to tell Rex he can share stories about having pain in raps and starts his 3rd with the “Cinderella, we had a ball till 12 came” Bar was Incredible. when Twork shows the pain in his bars or talk about struggles/street shit, its some of my favorite segments that Twork gets into. You can see it in his Chess battle, his Real Sikh battle, and most recently his Bigg K Battle, and many others when he gets into this bag. I had Twork winning this battle, and it was a clear victory for me, but I enjoyed the content from both.
I thought it was interesting to hear Rex say in a post-battle interview on 15MOF that Twork was the hardest opponent he’s had to prepare for because they had become so close in their friendship recently, and it did show in the battle when both of them visibly showed admiration for each other’s material. Mook and Rex even joked in an interview after the battle that Twork is honorary Dot Mob. It was dope to see the respect they both had for each other.
