| When we hear the term "battle" most of us revert to | | | | Whether it were a dance club or an afternoon hang |
| thoughts of grueling life or death wars that were | | | | out spot, most dance crews were known to be |
| fought between two countries. Figuratively that's not to | | | | regulars at their respective designated areas. What |
| far off of what a hip hop battle really encompasses. Is | | | | would happen if someone wanted your spot is they |
| it literally life or death? Well, of course not, but as a | | | | would challenge you to a break dancing competition? |
| freestyle rapper, DJ or break dancer your reputation is | | | | These competitions would consist of two different |
| won or lost on the hip hop battlefield.Hip hop battles | | | | dance crews showing their best moves and tricks and |
| originated in the late 70s when different gangs or | | | | much like the DJ competitions were based off of the |
| crews needed a way to settle their differences | | | | audience's applause. The winners would now own the |
| without having to resort to violence. Something as | | | | territory while the losers would have to find a new |
| simple as a DJ or sound battle was definitely a sight to | | | | spot to hang out.Hip hop rap battles were the most |
| behold. A DJ battle at that time consisted of two DJs | | | | personal and shaming of all the battles. In these battles |
| bringing their own sound systems to a party and | | | | you could either record a song in which you would |
| having the party goers decide on which they | | | | insult a rival rapper and this song would play in all the |
| preferred. In its infancy the winner usually just came | | | | local house parties and dance clubs where both |
| down to the person who had more money and could | | | | rappers would frequently attend. The other method |
| afford the better sound system as they would just | | | | and most entertaining is where a live microphone |
| drown out their opponent with the power of their | | | | would be at a party and the two rappers would be |
| system. As technology progressed and good sound | | | | given a set amount of time to come up with insults to |
| systems became more common, DJ's had to find a | | | | defame their counterparts. If you were to lose a live |
| way to differentiate themselves from their opponents. | | | | rap battle you would not only ever be able to show |
| The new form of DJ battles consisted of not only who | | | | your face around there anymore but your career as a |
| had the better musical selection but also on who knew | | | | rapper would be in extreme jeopardy as well.Hip hop |
| how to mix and perform the better tricks known as | | | | battles, although serious in nature are often a fun event |
| scratching. Most DJs would have their own signature | | | | for all those involved as well as the bystanders. They |
| scratch and they would go back and fourth performing | | | | are often comical and are a great way to settle a |
| these scratches while the amount of applause would | | | | score without any one getting hurt. In a world where |
| determine the winner.Break dancing battles usually | | | | people are dying over the most trivial of things it is |
| stemmed from turf wars. Not your traditional Mafia or | | | | great to know that some kids can still find a civil way |
| gang type turf wars but more of hang out spots. | | | | of dealing with their problems. |