Profound talks to Grind Time's Kenny Smooth Alijah (Shamrocka) about Battle Rap. He covers what goes through a mind of a battle rapper and also the parts battle rap play in the hip hop culture.
For the people who don't know, how would you exactly describe battle rap?
To me, rap battling is when two hip hop minds come together and compete against each other without rigorous lines to get into the challenger's head enough that he loses his edge, while at the same time your moving the crowd. It takes a lot of courage and its a very mental game.
What is GRIND TIME?
GRIND-TIME is a rap battle community that's just about based all over the US as far as I know but they are expanding and they get ya name out there. They're growth is excellent and I just want shoutout Drect and the rest of the GRIND-TIME fam with all there hard work and success in the future. Meet you at the top!
What is GRIND TIME?
GRIND-TIME is a rap battle community that's just about based all over the US as far as I know but they are expanding and they get ya name out there. They're growth is excellent and I just want shoutout Drect and the rest of the GRIND-TIME fam with all there hard work and success in the future. Meet you at the top!
Definitely a very mental game. How long have you been battling and who are some of your influences?
I've been battling since about the 8th grade so I can say I was around 13-14 so its been about 7 yrs,its crazy it feels like longer than that because of the experience. As far as battling goes my influences are Murder Mook, Loaded Lux, Jay-Z, DMX, and Jae Mills before He signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money.
What are the types of things that go through your mind and what sparks those quick thoughts and punch lines?
What's crazy is this is a question I get a lot. The only thing that goes through my mind is that I have to kill my opponent before he kills me. I have to embarrass him in every way because its do or die. Lines come to my head once I'm hype n excited enough to really feel that adrenaline that brings verses to me that I wouldn't think of on a regular day. I feel like whoever I'm battling that I can raise my level of skill depending on how good that person is.
How important is the connection with the crowd?
The connection with the crowd is very important, because most of the time the crowd is what sways the judges to swing the battle in your direction. The crowd is also what your going to feed off. It's kind of like home court advantage in the NBA playoffs because when you feel them pulling for what your saying you tend to go harder than the regular.
What would you say is important to master to win a battle- Punchlines, Content, Humor, Flow, Crowd Relationship?
I think its important to not only have content but to also be consistent in whatever it is your doing. If your going to come at your opponent with punchlines then you got to keep coming with them. My favorite part I master is the flow, before anything women are going to play a large part in any musical success and if you keep a great flow with what your saying women and all will fall in-love with what your saying. Its also important to have that crowd relationship because just like in everyday life everybody wants to be included and wen you say a hot line and then give a reference to the crowd they will go crazy. It will help you win tremendously.
How important is the connection with the crowd?
The connection with the crowd is very important, because most of the time the crowd is what sways the judges to swing the battle in your direction. The crowd is also what your going to feed off. It's kind of like home court advantage in the NBA playoffs because when you feel them pulling for what your saying you tend to go harder than the regular.
What would you say is important to master to win a battle- Punchlines, Content, Humor, Flow, Crowd Relationship?
I think its important to not only have content but to also be consistent in whatever it is your doing. If your going to come at your opponent with punchlines then you got to keep coming with them. My favorite part I master is the flow, before anything women are going to play a large part in any musical success and if you keep a great flow with what your saying women and all will fall in-love with what your saying. Its also important to have that crowd relationship because just like in everyday life everybody wants to be included and wen you say a hot line and then give a reference to the crowd they will go crazy. It will help you win tremendously.
What part does battle rap take in the hip hop culture?
I think battle rap gives hip hop culture the drive for success, the drive to push yourself harder when necessary and just make you an all around musician hopefully. I can still rap battle myself but I feel now more than ever that I'm a better songwriter than ever. A lot of battlers cant make good songs because in rap battling there is really no topic where as in hip hop you have to be versatile and depending on how each person uses battling, it can teach you how to do so.
Do you remember your first battle? What was your most memorable battle?
My first battle was against my long time best friend,which also became my group member, Mike a.k.a P-89. It was on Sept.11,2002, I remember it like it was yesterday. We never got to finish that battle and we probably never will. we have that understanding. My most memorable battle probably was when I battled Brooklyn upcoming artist Pryme. It was the first battle I've done in a while but they had a group called KNOWN THREATS and the night before I had came from a win off one of there group members. The battle with Pryme was a great pound for pound battle it was real back and forth, some say he won, some say I won. I went hard and I was proud of that.
What are you working on right now as a hip hop artist?
Right now, I'm getting beats together, hopefully trying to get Nabil to produce some tracks for me real soon like old times and I'm working on a mixtape called "The Beginning Of The Smooth Era" which is a movement I've been working on of just true hip hop in which I feel it should be. I sound like something that reminds you of "Cant Knock The Hustle" by Jay-Z which the smoothness of the Isley brothers a sound your parents probably grew up to. I am very happy about it and I've spoken to local DJ's about it and they are also loving the concept I'm trying to push. I also have a show in Downtown Orlando Florida at a Club Limelite coming up in this month so stay tuned.
What is your favorite profound tee?
My favorite profound tee is the weapons of Mass Destruction and the Malcolm X tee. Those shirts have so much creativity and they say a lot.
WATCH THE GRIND TIME BATTLES! Click Here Now
follow him on twitter-
WATCH THE GRIND TIME BATTLES! Click Here Now
follow him on twitter-
@SmoothALiiJAH16
crack
ReplyDelete