Audio By Carbonatix
Independent Journalism in Miami Needs You
We need to raise $10,000 by August 9 to support the reporting our community depends on. Reader support keeps us independent and is playing a larger role in funding local journalism and shaping what comes next. If you believe independent local journalism matters, make a contribution today.
Coming hot on the heels of Fort Lauderdale’s last successful battle, Grind Time’s Broward Beatdown, is Street Wars 5, a Miami-based competition sponsored by the good folks at Vice City Cypher and hosted by longtime MC and battle vet H2O.
It takes place Saturday, at the Jamyard, Fort Lauderdale’s pay-to-paint graffiti warehouse. The big names slated to appear are South Florida favorites LMS, Protoman and Wrekonize, but there will be loads of talented locals on the scene for eight-plus one-on-one battles (all for cash prizes) scheduled for the day
It’s 2010, and between BET, MTV, YouTube and as much as it pains me to reference 8 Mile, everybody’s seen an emcee battle or two at this point. In fact, popular culture is aggravatingly comfortable with battle rapping and hip-hop in general. Where once rappers were making the top of FBI watch lists and getting banned from award shows, they’re now slanging Big Mac’s and making impactful contributions to presidential campaigns.
The new generation of emcee battling, spearheaded by leagues like Grind Time, Fight Klub, Jump Off, Smack, and Canada’s King Of The Dot, its done for battling what MMA Leagues like UFC and Pride did for the world of professional fighting when boxing was at an all time low in popularity.
Sat., May 22, 7 p.m., 2010
