For D.C-based battle rapper Drugz, his career choice has changed the way he lives tremendously. Born Yusef Roy, Drugz said he decided to be a rapper because he was looking for a hobby. He signed up for his first battle, which was King of the Ring in 2011, and his friends thought he was a joke.
The closer it got to the day, the more they, and even he, realized that he had skill. Since that performance, Drugz has been battling for nine years. As a battle artist, he has gained celebrity status and he says the image he portrays is important.
“Even when I have a mask on, people recognize me from the top of my head,” Drugz. “Sometimes I even have to think about what I say to everybody because of my image.”
Drugz picks the words he says very carefully, especially on different platforms like Instagram Live and Youtube, and makes sure he is never intoxicated on them either.
He said he doesn’t believe he will keep battling for much longer because after a while, he believes that he will accumulate enough money from this profession to go into a quieter field, like hospitality. Battle rap is a very up-beat field, and a lot different from a regular profession because of the special requirements.
Battle rap is a category of hip hop that includes bragging and insults.People also tell stories. It was earliest recorded on the east coast in the 1980s. These paid events can be done in teams or solo, and nothing is off limits. The objective is to “win” the crowd over with insults, flow, and style.
Like other types of rap, battle rap can also be unsafe. People have to be very careful what they do, what they say, and who they insult. With a surge of artists recently getting killed, rappers have to think twice about sharing their opinions or the way they craft their lyrics.
DNA, a 29 year-old professional battle rapper, has a story similar to Drugz. Born Eric St. John, he’s been in the industry for 11 years. DNA said he has always wanted to be a battle rapper since he was a child growing up in Corona, Queens, New York. He knows the dangers of the rap industry and explained that when entertainers become serious about any type of entertainment and gain fame, it can become dangerous.
“I feel like it’s dangerous only because there’s no set rules,” DNA said. “Sometimes people don’t know what to do or what to say and what not to say.”
DNA said he stays safe by staying in small circles and not getting into “beefs.” He loves battle rap and believes that it is part of his lifestyle because of the therapy it provides to him.
“Rap is like an outlet for you to express how you feel or get your point across without being physical,” he added.
The rap industry is dangerous for a lot of reasons, but the frequent shootings discourage a lot of people. While some rappers are or were involved in back-handed activity, people think most of them get killed over silly stuff, like beefs. Take Pop Smoke, King Von, and Tre Koast. All three of these rappers were killed this year and none of them even made it to 30. This grim reality is the reason the rap industry is something very few people believe that they are ready for.
For Twork, who describes himself as the “best battle rapper,” battle rap is a big part of his everyday life and he says he is ready for the dangers.
Twork, known to his family as Raivon Anderson, is a 26-year-old Trenton, New Jersey native. He never knew he would perform in this way until his friend introduced him to the field. The farther roped in he got, the more he realized it was just like a regular job and he could make money from it.
“Because of the “anything goes” rule, you have to have tough skin to be a battler,” said Anderson, who doesn’t believe that there is much danger in this industry.
For all of these rappers, battle rap plays a big part in their lives: good and bad. Whether it’s therapy, pays the bills, or is just fun, this industry helps them with different aspects of their daily lives, despite the danger and downsides.
With the vicious industry and current pandemic, extra precautions are necessary but it is all worth it in the end with the satisfaction it gives these rappers. For all three of these rappers, battle rap is really important.
“Even with the dangers of rap in general, I really like what I do.” said Drugz.
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