General
The Famous Battling Styles in FlipTop (Part 5)
We have reached part 5! Here are more rapping styles you often see in the league.
Jake Tan
July 25, 2024
Since its inception, FlipTop has introduced various rapping techniques to a wider audience. Some made an impact while others faded into obscurity. Today, we’re going to talk about the former. It’s part 5 of the most beloved styles in the league. If you haven’t read the previous editions, here are parts one, two, three, and four. Let’s begin!
Dark comedy
It’s finding humor in the grimmest of situations. In a battle rap setting, the emcee usually brings up sensitive and often tragic issues related to the opponent while maintaining the wit in each bar. As with other styles, creativity is very important here. It’s more challenging for dark humor because your aim is to lighten up the crowd with morbid concepts. Fans often consider EJ Power and Shehyee to be the best in this technique.
Presence
The punchlines may not be as hard-hitting or technical as the others but the emcee makes up for it with their projection and confidence. A rapper with a strong stage presence usually has an advantage over a lyrical but lifeless opponent. Keep in mind that in a battle, especially live, you should focus not only on your competition but also on the crowd. You need to make sure you have their attention. Yes, you could do that with great bars, but you should be convincing as well.
Rap ability
While other emcees focus on destroying their opponent directly, there are some who choose just to showcase their complex rhymes and flow. Battle rap is not just about straight insulting your competition. It can also be about being the overall better emcee, which means representing your biggest strengths in rhyming. Your verses must be both well-written and well-structured plus you need to have the utmost confidence for this to work.
Punchline-based
These are the emcees that go straight for the jugular. Instead of the typical four bars set up, they prefer spitting as many haymakers as possible to the opponent. It can be a difficult task because there’s very little breathing time in your verses and you need to keep the audience engaged. As always, this is where your creativity will be tested.
Villain
Forget about being humble! They’re here to battle with no mercy. The name says it all. Apart from beating their opponents, their goal is to be the most hated. It often involves giving unpopular opinions and showing arrogance and aggression in each round. Batas is arguably the first official villain in FlipTop, causing controversy with his win against Dello at the first Second Sight event. Being a great bad guy in battle rap requires a commanding presence and of course, the proper skills!
So which style is your favorite? Please let us know in the comments section. You can also inform us if we missed something. We’ll make sure to include it in part six. For the new fans, we hope this gave you a deeper admiration for the art form. Let’s keep the movement alive by continuing to support the battles, the emcees, and the events. Follow the league’s official Facebook page to stay updated on the next plans. FlipTop, make some noise!
