Battle rap - Definition and Overview

Battle raps are raps written about the idea of freestyle battles. They often incorporate self-glorification, insulting language, and violent metaphors as if a real freestyle battle was afoot. Battles can be directed toward specific individuals or anonymous targets. The purpose of writing these raps (which for some groups are very popular) is to romantise real freestyle battles, express machismo and/or disgust with other rappers (sometimes referred to as wack MCs), or to just have fun and exercise lyrical skill. Battle raps differ from freestyle rhyming in that they are written beforehand, allowing the rapper to create much more complex, wittier verses then he or she would be able to in a freestyle battle.

Battle raps are closer to the original form of MCing than concept raps, which are more essayic or narrative in form. This is because they feature 'shout outs' and insulting language, which are actually an evolved form of the roasting that was part of the original MC's craft (or toasting as it was called in Jamaica by Raga and other dub artists).

See also

• Freestyle battle
• Freestyle rap