Freestyle Battle?

Not too long ago I received an email of a couple of "rap battles" on some website via an email group I am apart of, which happen to be young college and professional black men. I took a little time out of my day to watch the videos and started a discussion about what it is that people have come to know as rap/freestyle "battles". I just want to speak my mind and offer my perspective and observations.

First of all let's break down the category which it is referred as: RAP/FREESTYLE BATTLE. If it is memorized I would use RAP, and if it is more spontaneous and "off the brain", as some may say, I would use FREESTYLE. What gets me is why even use the word BATTLE? It makes it sound violent and why usually before or after the RAP/FREESTYLE BATTLE is over there is a fight of some sorts. This is important, for example, if you have an adopted SON and you always refer to him as your STEP-SON than there will always be that disconnect, rather if you correctly referred to him as your SON. Understand? I hope so, because even before any words are exchanged there is this atmosphere of negativity and violence.

From here on in I will refer to them as FREESTYLE COMPETITIONS, because that is what they really are and should be. The reason being is that FREESTYLE COMPETITIONS are an alternate form of debates, but to me they are on another level. FREESTYLE is a talent, a gift even. Many use their gifts and talents in the wrong way and not creating anything positive with it. Each competitor gathers "intel" and important information about each other. They apply this to their memory and when the competition is on they use metaphors and analogies saying why their competitor is not as good as they are themselves. It's a talent and if learned as a skill is hard in implementing. It takes time and a lot of practice, as do many other things. It's inception and birth was of a lot of positivity. What it has evolved into is a whole other beast. References are made of selling and dealing drugs, having sexual relations with numerous members of the opposite sex, violence in the form of guns, knives, nukes, etc...., and the sexual orientation of their competitor is often times questioned. Overall it's just a lot of negativity. All this anger and negativity is built up that the loser has nothing else but to have a problem. If there was a statistician for FREESTYLE COMPETITIONS the percentage of fights caused as a result would be at least around eighty percent or higher. All I can do is shake my head.

The question I posed was why can't competitors instead of trying to break their opponent down, rather build them up and note things they have to work on to become better. I know it sounds corny, but at the end of the day what you put into the battle or competition is exactly what you get out, which is anger and violence. You have to be someone with an iron will, thick hide, and set of balls that are solid steel. It is not for the timid and weak. Like I always say, "If what they say is false then it shouldn't even phase you at all." Understand? I hope so. If I had the talent, I would go against the grain to be different. God didn't give me the talent of being a freestyle competitor, hip hop artist, or even an R&B singer...lol...I equate this with how the younger generation make excuses and so-called reasons for the justification of using the "n-word". There's nothing you can say that can make any sense at all. The same can be said for anyone who will try to justify the violent and negative nature of RAP/FREESTYLE BATTLES/COMPETITIONS.

That's my opinion though...I have attached a link which is a satirical representation of what competitors are saying without the slang, etc etc...it's funny and some say kind of racist, but it's really not...it's funny. Enjoy and I hope you understand my perspective and opinion? I hope so. What's your opinion and perspective?