Kaboom, Reed Dollaz, Eness and Eazy Da Block Captain have shown their unique styles can with stand any legend or up and coming battle rapper. Before we get upset or want to argue this list is made in light of my personal analysis and opinion. There are many candidates but I insure you this list will be hard to match up against.
Kaboom has yet to fail when it comes to delivering a show. With Kabooms freestyle ability he is easily the most comfortable in the room under pressure. He can keep it calm and allow you to listen to the word play or turn up on you with the hype after a tote from the vape pin. Either way Kaboom is a sure top 5 from the city of Philadelphia and makes my Big 4 list. his skillful rebuttals tend to leave you laughing at his opponent. Already having experience with battling big names and vets he will walk any rookie with a easy 3-0.
Reed Dollaz, with a monumental battle against Murda Mook on the horizon I feel Reed is highly motivated and ready to reclaim his title at the top. Reed has always had the full package and as much as we say we are over the gun lines, he finds new ways to keep us in tune with what’s next. Plus you always need someone on the team with anger issues to keep the intimidation factor on deck. take battle rap to another level as he did before and I think he has the people around him to help do so.
Eness, undeniably one of the best to ever touch a mic from the city a a pioneer in the Philadelphia music scene. With a recent spur of wins Eness is on a hot streak that I don’t see him falling off of anytime soon. Always being in touch with the people Ness finds a way to put together verses so relatable you feel like you said it yourself. Staying on top of what the young generation is inclined to like, as he holds his true to essence of lyricism if Eness wants to win he is unstoppable.
And last but not least Eazy Da Block Captain, the new beast looking to take home the rookie of the year crown. Already tearing down the best of the best in the game his pure tenacity and delivery alone can silence an opponent and make you forget your at a battle. Eazy has mixed love with in the battle world but that comes with the pure energy he brings that forces you to choose sides right away. The fans love him and would be a great starter along side these other top tier battle rappers.
Amongst the beef OT The Real continues to make music and drop visuals which may give him a slight edge in the long run against his opponents. Jim Jones the Harlem legend lays a solid verse to match the vibes of OT’s record with a solid visual. Work ethic and connections make it all work and he is taking advantage of that in a prime time in his career. With all eyes on him for reasons good and bad lets see what’s next for OT The Real, another diss track or another dope record. After recently dropping his album “The Irishman” OT seems to have time today.
Santos fires back wit “Spin The Block” and its not looking good for his opposition. OT The Real dropped “Murder Rate” and carried it well, including the timely clip of AR-AB cosigning his artistry. OT also put a few others in the cross hairs mentioning Baby DJ on record about a very touchy subject. Both artist are delivering great records and making it harder to judge. Not only does OT The Real have Shelliano, Kaboom and Santos firing back, we have yet to know if Reed Dollaz & Joey Jihad will respond. At this point OT The Real is either a marketing genius or wanted the challenge his pen game against the best forreal. Lets see if he makes it through this first mirage of heat.
Santos drops some heavy rebuttals in this record on top of a little extra insight on some of the things in question from OT’s last diss track. Hard to say what the score is so I’ll leave that up to the people for now. I cant wait for round 3. I’m also anticipating a response to Kaboom and Shelliano directly as he addressed Santos. All in the name of Hip-hop this is gearing up to be one of the most epic back in fourths since the good ol’ days of the DVD era.
Verdell Smith better known as Dell-P, recently hosted a listening party for his latest release “We Owe The World”. 17 undeniable records that are playable at anytime of the day and of course for any age group. Due to his top tier vocabulary Dell-P is able to refrain from using profanity and still deliver the pain and feeling. Most underground artist struggle to project their message and reach the masses due algorithms and music bans outside of the country. As American artist we often are not in tune with the rules and regulations other countries apply to music where the true emcee Dell-P has no fault. The humbled spitta’ has not only continued to deliver new stories, instill more morals and paint more pictures, he was able to collaborate with some like minded souls to deliver classics.
“Here For It” featuring Wil Guice has the award winning sound Philadelphia is known for. Incorporating the soul and Hip-hop with a message to uplift, you can’t be more Brotherly Love than that. Then following with a vibe that takes me back to Wu-Tang, Mos Def, Talib Kweli vibes with “Get Busy on Em” featuring Teef. The simple but catchy instrumental that puts you on a New York Subway, then the bars that blend that make you feel like you got off on some hundred and Lennox ave. Dell-P hands down has Hip-hop mastered and if the fore fathers were looking to pass the torch bring it back to Philly.
“Karma” one of my favorite records on the project for sure. The story telling ability he has is unflawed and has me anticipating the visual production. I see this being one of the stand out records that really capture the mind, ears and hearts of the people. With features from Trazsh Man, Wil Guice, Teef, Tracey Lee, MC Knowledge, Jay Reezy, Zone Boy Mir, 4evertaylormade and Wise intelligent made for a great collective of outstanding music.
PhiladelphiaWeekly.com mentioned Dell-P as one of “Hip-hop’s best kept secrets” and I think it’s time to tell all. Already, Dell-P is the 2017 Philly Hip Hop Awards Album of the Year Award winner, the 2017 PHL Live Hip Hop Artist Of The Year, a 2017 Black Gala Award winner, a 2017 Black Power Music Award nominee, a 2018 dual Spiral Award winner (Album Of The Year and Artist Of The Year), the 2020 Spiral Award winner (Artist Of The Year), and 2020 Indie Music Award winner for Album Of The Year and Single Of The Year. He’s also been named one of hip-hop’s Hottest Independent Artists of 2020 by Source Magazine. In addition, he’s been co-signed by hip-hop legends such as Chuck D, Black Thought, Wise Intelligent, Arrested Development, EPMD, Wyclef Jean, David Banner, Jay Electronica and more.
He’s been considered seven times for a Grammy – including three for Best Rap Album and once for Best Rap and Song Performance. Don’t sleep on the future of Hip-hop support Dell-P.
In a touching response to his oldest son’s high school graduation, The Game pays tribute to him.
Harlem Caron Taylor, Game’s oldest son, graduated from Calabasas High School with a high school diploma.
It was fascinating to me when your mother @___aleska told me she was pregnant with you, and me and my girlfriend had no idea what to do or how to proceed…,” he wrote. At the time, I told her I would be a millionaire by the time you were born. The cap was 100% at the time.
Watching Shyne on “106 & Park” made Game decide to learn to rap. “It was the time that I decided to do it,” he said. He became better with practice and Harlem on his side, so he was signed to Dr. Dre before his first child was born.
“I have no idea how I was able to move as fast as I did to secure that deal but I did it,” he wrote to Harlem. From your birth to your graduation from 8th grade to now, I have given you all I have and even shedding tears would not be worthy of the deepest joys I feel for you.
As I have always supported you, you have been more than I could ever have imagined. Your mother and I see you as a true champion for graduating from CALABAS HIGH-SCHOOL CLASS OF 2021. I am incredibly proud of you. Thank you for everything & I love you more than life,” he added.
Game has credited Harlem, who appears on the album cover of Documentary, as the reason he left Compton and changed his life.
A bullet hole was discovered in his car seat as he was preparing to leave the house with his son, he once told NME. “I moved from Compton to Beverly Hills the next day and bought a condo.”
As well as being an acclaimed rapper, The Game has a son and a daughter, one of whom he congratulated for graduating in subsequent posts.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
RECENT COMMENTS