New Experiences

When a friend invited me to see rap battle last Friday night, I agreed but had no idea what to expect. What I witnessed was battle of quick wits that entertained a large audience of over 50 on Stankowski field.

The hosts of the event were a group known as No Coast raps 5 guys with interesting named (pardon me for forgetting) and even more interesting looks. They have a blog on Google and even though I watched someone film the entire event, it has not been posted on this blog. In fact they have posted nothing since April. However, they endorse their competitors and allow fans to download a mix tape containing raps from many of the rappers who battled Friday night.

The contestants themselves were surprising in appearance to. They were mostly white college kids who seemed to idolize Eminem. They had the sideways tilted baseball cap, saggy pants, and ear rings. The organizers structured the event effectively. Two rappers entered a circle of enthusiasts. A coin toss decided which one would throw out the first insult. The duo of rappers took turns insulting each other in rhyme and rythym. Each contestant getting 5 minutes to exploit the others short comings. There were three rounds and the No Coast heads judged the competition by democratic vote.

There is no denying the talent of the people in this competition.It takes a particular skill set to excel in the unique venture of battle rapping, including a quick wit, creativity, public speaking skills, humor, and the ability to command a crowd. The ability to remove the censor that tells us not to say that about people is also crucial in rap battle along with the security in the self to brush off the insults flying rapidly.

This illustrates the importance of being open to new experiences. This is something I have tried to live my life by. I love trying new foods like yak steak, and ostrich burgers, as well as new events like skydiving. Making life an adventure is the best way to live.

I went into this rap battle excited to experience a new performance culture, but I left with a new appreciation for the skills and entertainment value of the new competition and art form that is battle rapping.