Red Bull has teamed up with Eminem to find the best hip-hop freestylers in the nation. The Red Bull EmSee battle tournament made its way to Atlanta after holding events in New York, Philadelphia, Orlando, San Francisco, Greensboro and Houston. Hip-hop legend and UGK member Bun B performed a few of his classic hits and also served as a judge of the freestyle battle.
DJ Don Cannon of the Aphilliates and an emcee called Manchild also served as judges of the three round competition.
During the first two rounds, each emcee had to create rhymes from images and words that were flashed across a large screen. In the final round, the emcees stood face to face and battled.
Headkrack defeated Fattman in the final round and became a finalist for the final battle that will be held in Detroit. Eminem will be one of the judges at the event that will take place next week at St. Andrews Hall.
Following are five ways to become a great freestyle battle emcee. -a.r.
1) Start with the Basics – Understand that it takes wisdom, timeliness and awareness to win a freestyle battle. You should be proficient in all three before stepping on stage to grab the mic.
2) Read More – Great freestyle emcees have the ability to see a word or imagery and create a meaningful rhyme within seconds. Reading provides you with more lyrical ammunition once your opponent runs out of things to say.
3) Examine Your Opponent’s Body Language – Freestyle emcees can assess the flaws of their opponents and instantaneously reveal weaknesses.
4) Know your Audience – A lyrical champion understands how to relate to his or her audience by using cultural references for impact.
5) Stay on Topic – A freestyle battle can become emotional. But disregard the potential for an argument and stick to the issues. Remember, the freestyle battle is nothing more than a new age debate that measures true talent in hip-hop.
