From A Fan's Perspective
From A Fan’s Perspective: What Makes an Exciting Isabuhay
So how can an Isabuhay Tournament be unforgettable? This fan shares their thoughts.
Anonymous Battle Fan
March 08, 2025
There’s no official announcement yet, but I feel that the reveal of the Isabuhay 2025 lineup is just around the corner. Since 2013, Isabuhay has been elevating the competition in FlipTop, thus giving us some of the best battles in the league. It cemented legacies and turned up-and-comers into top-tier rappers. Last year’s tournament was one for the books, so obviously, expectations are high for the 2025 edition. So what exactly makes an unforgettable Isabuhay Tournament? How can it leave a lasting impression? Let me share my thoughts. Please be reminded that this is MY OPINION. No violent reactions, please, if you disagree.
Of course, you need to have the perfect lineup. Some of you might think that all you need to do is put in as many “old gods” as you can, but that’s far from the truth. What made Isabuhay so special is that it’s strictly for the “best of the best, " meaning that even the new generation and underrated names are welcome to join. The only requirement is that you should be capable of giving memorable performances and stepping your pen game up every match. We’ve seen plenty of unpredictable moments in the previous years and that’s because of the diversity of the roster. There should be a representative for each generation in this kind of competition.
Bracketing is also a huge factor in a tournament like this. Anygma and co. should keep in mind (and I’m sure they do) that things need to be interesting from start to finish. If I’m the one handling the bracketing, I’ll make sure I do a mix of potentially classic matches and battles that may look random but make sense. I can maybe put one much-awaited match in the first round to start off with a bang. Whatever FlipTop does with the 2025 brackets, I’m sure it will be masterful. As a longtime fan, I trust their process.
I think this is the most important of all: every emcee in the lineup should be a game-changer. The 2024 Isabuhay is such a historic contest because the majority of the competitors not only brought their A-game but also brought something new to their respective styles. It quickly became an unpredictable affair because almost everyone has the potential to become the champion. Now, if the emcees in the next edition match or exceed the 2024 batch, we’ll surely have another all-timer tournament. So, to everyone competing this year, surprise us! Don’t just join to win. Join to make a lasting impact in the battle rap scene.
How about you? What makes a great Isabuhay? Don’t hesitate to share it in the comments section. For now, we’ll just have to wait for Anygma’s announcement regarding the lineup and the next event. I have a feeling 2025 will be historic. After all, it’s the league’s 15th anniversary. We might even get another Dos Por Dos Tournament. My fingers are crossed for that one. Thank you, FlipTop, for giving me an opportunity to talk about Isabuhay on their website. Looking forward to the next event!
