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The Famous Battling Styles in FlipTop
Get to know more about these battle rap techniques which are commonly used in the league.
Jake Tan
October 06, 2023
For over 13 years now, FlipTop has been giving us rap battles that are both entertaining and enlightening. These matches taught us a lot about various figures of speech, the complexity of rhyming, and the beauty of language. The league continues to inspire up-and-coming emcees to be competitive and further elevate their craft. There were a few setbacks and controversies along the way but it never showed any signs of slowing down and has no plans to.
What made FlipTop so popular apart from the battles are of course the individual emcees. Without their respective techniques and creativity, we would probably get stuck with lowbrow humor and/or juvenile trash-talking. Let’s go take a closer look at some of the most beloved styles in Philippine battle rap. For the new supporters, this is a great opportunity for you to learn more about this unique artform.
Technical
This style utilizes a more scientific approach to writing. Instead of just a straightforward diss to the opponent, technical emcees aim to be more imaginative with their overall product. This is where they’ll showcase their extensive knowledge of figures of speech. Some of the favorites among battle emcees include metaphors, alliteration, hyperbole, double entendre, and similes. It has been proven many times to be an effective approach, as long as it’s done right.
Comedy
The name says it all. It’s a style of battling that focuses on jokes. There’s no specific rule in battle rap as to what kind of comedy you can showcase. You can do deadpan, self-deprecating, observational, slapstick, or even dark humor. It’s all up to the emcee on how they can make it work for the audience. It’s often criticized by fans of “serious lyricism” but if you look closely, making huge crowds laugh out loud is as difficult as making them say “ohh!” after a heavy line.
Gun bars
It’s where an emcee uses firearms as a reference for their verses. Obviously, it’s more than just mentioning certain guns and threatening opponents with them. You need to be as creative as possible, especially since this style is very common in the States, particularly in New York. Most of the time, rappers include technical elements to their gun bars to be more innovative.
Horrorcore
Just like comedy, you already know what’s in store just by the name alone. The horrorcore style features a bloodier, darker, and more ruthless method to battling. As with the other entries in this list, you need to be imaginative and convincing in order for it to work. Imagery is one of the most important aspects when it comes to horrorcore. The scenes in each verse must be vivid enough to make the audience believe, even if it’s just fantasy.
Leftfield / Unorthodox
While technical emcees aim to showcase pure lyricism, leftfield or unorthodox rappers are bent on elevating it further by going out of the box. It’s more than just being an intricate writer. A leftfield rapper challenges the usual trends and introduces concepts that haven’t been dabbled in battle rap before. It’s often a risky move but will certainly leave a lasting impression if it works.
Aggressive
These are the emcees who don’t care about how technical and/or funny they are. They just want to go in there and verbally destroy their opponents. Those who love dropping relentless personal bars are definitely included here. Apart from content, delivery is also very important for an aggressive battle rapper. Imagine spitting a cold verse in a very calm manner. It’s not effective at all. You need attitude whenever you’re unleashing your brutal side!
Flow
They won’t just demolish you with words but also with their rap ability. These rappers always make sure they sound good when they’re busting out vicious haymakers. They add a little melody to their bars, it’s like they’re rapping on a song. The biggest misconception about “flow” is that it’s all about speed rapping. That’s far from the truth. As mentioned above, it’s about having a melody. You can rap fast or slow, as long as there’s music to it, you’re showcasing your flow.
READ ALSO: Kahulugan Ng Mga Sikat Na Termino Sa FlipTop (Part 4)
So which style is your favorite? Don’t hesitate to share it in the comments section. Since battle rap is an unpredictable sport, expect to see new styles as well. Who knows? We might witness it at Bwelta Balentong 10. Let’s keep the culture strong by continuing to support the events and the emcees. FlipTop, make some noise!
