Okwerdz interview on URL Battle Rap Arena

[LSDemon]

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMZDOUW3c4

Good looking on that, I actually listened to the whole jawn. Calicoe is a real ass dude. You can tell when shit got real that Okwerdz was gettin real fuckin white like. He mentioned something that I hate about KOTD and alot of the rappers, they always talk about discussing shit on Twitter and posting pics and videos. That shit is so fucking corny and bitch made, then they go and cut him off in the interview, that's what I hate about this internet shit, you can't cut people out in the street. That's what people fail to realize, I'm not saying that people have the right to beat someone up because they lost a battle. But street cred goes a long way, only if you are in the street. Which is why I can only respect KOTD rappers for their minds and not their reputation. Intelligence is what I appreciate, Okwerds as neither intellgence, or street cred. These fucking west coast rappers forget where rap was originated. These lames talk about guns because that is what rap grew from, but that is not what they grew from. Let me just give one example, I honestly dislike Arsonal as defined as a "battle rapper" but when he versed Pat Stay and wanted to keep spittin Pat started bitching and he said "Naw fuck unlimited, we discussed this on Twitter already", wow that shit just symbolized the North Battle scene for me. Who says that, Ars called him a pussy right in his face and Pat just took it cause he had the hosts at his back. That is exactly why the battle scene thrives now though, no law breaking. I just accept the good with the bad, my point is that this is the main reason you will never see Chedda Cheese, Charrone, Step Easy, Arcane, Tricky P, Kid Twist, Okwerdz (I know I can name alot more) or even Dizaster battle with out some kind of security around, whether it be a stage or a gate. I'm not saying any of these rappers are bad rappers, just bad images of a battle rapper. After all is said and done, I highly respect and enjoy where KOTD has brought battle rap, it gives people the ability and comfortability to say what they truly feel with out the fear of a right hook coming from their pereferal. But as most have seen in the Arsonal vs Calicoe battle, when shit gets real, that's when most people get fake. Honestly, Okwerdz has Ok words, but his delivery and whole swag is just embarrassing. BTW: Fuck Fresh Coast, it's Beast Coast all fucking day!

Just noticed how off topic I went. I felt the need to express a few things though, expecting multipile responses.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Good looking on that, I actually listened to the whole jawn. Calicoe is a real ass dude. You can tell when shit got real that Okwerdz was gettin real fuckin white like. He mentioned something that I hate about KOTD and alot of the rappers, they always talk about discussing shit on Twitter and posting pics and videos.

I'm a big fan of Calicoe in terms of how he does his thing onstage and offstage. He only said what he said over the phone because Okwerdz said he wouldn't be at Summer Madness 2 where Calicoe would've said something to him in person. He was just mad about certain people joking around about real street stuff (people getting arrested or busted for whatever) through whichever social media outlet, though of course he knows that using it during a rap battle round is acceptable since you're actually going at that person, as he did that mentioning Tsu Surf's issues when he battled O-Red.

That shit is so fucking corny and bitch made, then they go and cut him off in the interview, that's what I hate about this internet shit, you can't cut people out in the street.

They only cut Calicoe off since it was an Okwerdz interview, and Calicoe was really cornering Okwerdz on something that wasn't entirely related to battle rap but also because Norbes probably sensed that Ok was getting uncomfortable. I don't doubt that he probably would side with Calicoe, but regardless of that, they don't want their guest ridiculed like that, especially if they don't have thick skin, or at least the kind for that type of response. If it were about the same thing but the other way around (Okwerdz calling in on a Calicoe interview) then I'm sure it would've been alright.

These fucking west coast rappers forget where rap was originated. These lames talk about guns because that is what rap grew from, but that is not what they grew from. Let me just give one example, I honestly dislike Arsonal as defined as a "battle rapper" but when he versed Pat Stay and wanted to keep spittin Pat started bitching and he said "Naw fuck unlimited, we discussed this on Twitter already", wow that shit just symbolized the North Battle scene for me. Who says that, Ars called him a pussy right in his face and Pat just took it cause he had the hosts at his back.

A couple things I have to address. First of all, West Coast rappers don't forget where rap originated, unless you're still stuck in 1995 or so when WSC made that "West Side Slaughterhouse" song. But I don't know what that really has to do with anything. Secondly, you're talking about West Coast rappers, then immediately talk about Arsonal, who isn't from the West Coast at all, though I'm not sure if you meant it that way or not. I agree that Arsonal was a bitch for that though. I'll always remember that one, especially with him trying to throw up his gang signs at a white guy in Canada... I didn't see any of that when he was in L.A.

After all is said and done, I highly respect and enjoy where KOTD has brought battle rap, it gives people the ability and comfortability to say what they truly feel with out the fear of a right hook coming from their pereferal. But as most have seen in the Arsonal vs Calicoe battle, when shit gets real, that's when most people get fake.

But that's not a guarantee. Even at that event where DNA and Dizaster battled, Thesaurus got into a little pushing match with his opponent during the two-on-two in the middle of his round. It's not really violent, but it just shows that even on KOTD, stuff isn't always friendly. Similarly, it's not the league, it's the rappers. The melee that broke out during Arsonal and T-Rex's crews could've happened anywhere. But Smack/URL already has the rappers sign contracts that supposedly say that you can't physically attack your opponent (likely to prevent another Math-Dose incident), and it's been referenced during some battles (i.e. Arsonal-Hitman, Math-Calicoe). Even on Grind Time after Dizaster battled Jerzy Swift, Jerzy Swift was trying to fight Vision after the battle. But part of why KOTD has been the way you describe it is because it's very much a neutral territory for a lot of American rappers, who are generally going to be not only out of their normal areas (giving neither person a homefield advantage) but also out of their normal crowds (minimizing the crowd immediately favoring a certain rapper or rapping style). I don't think that these kinds of situations should happen, but sometimes it just comes with the territory since it's so competitive, just like how different fans will get into arguments and brawls during whatever kind of sporting events.

Honestly, Okwerdz has Ok words, but his delivery and whole swag is just embarrassing. BTW: Fuck Fresh Coast, it's Beast Coast all fucking day!

Whatever man. I give it up to the East Coast right now since they always have a lot of people doing their thing, but the West Coast is on the low right now. Okwerdz is lame and has really only shined once or twice (both of which were at home while his opponents were in a different league and state). Dizaster does his thing and is still in peak form and will be going at some URL rappers soon enough. He's already shown that he isn't scared to go to NY. Swave may have been on Grind Time, but he's a street rapper and is all about URL now anyway. I never really followed Daylyt, but I dug his battle on KOTD against Rich. But other than that, I will admit that a lot of the battle rappers from here are lames, mostly the ones who roll with J Fox and that gay ass Jungle movement that he had (R.I.P. Tall T though). AB Hogish has bars but he doesn't have any energy or delivery. Heartless is just flamboyant but raps way too street to make it believable or even acceptable (as Diz talks about guns but it's obvious that he's just rapping about it and not really trying to pass him off as a murderous villain). QP has bars but he's shook anywhere outside of California.

[LSDemon]

Secondly, you're talking about West Coast rappers, then immediately talk about Arsonal, who isn't from the West Coast at all, though I'm not sure if you meant it that way or not. I agree that Arsonal was a bitch for that though. I'll always remember that one, especially with him trying to throw up his gang signs at a white guy in Canada... I didn't see any of that when he was in L.A.

True, I was trying to type as fast as I was thinking, my apologies for the confusion. I only mentioned that situation to describe what I disliked about the battle scene and how Pat handled it, but I did like how Ars was trying to please the fans. Why throw gang signs to someone who isn't offended, pretty pathetic.

All in all, I read your whole comment I can agree with all you have said. I don't hate all West Coast rappers, I just enjoy the East so much more in every way. But when I think of a West Coast battler I think of sunglasses and tank tops(QP), I like the street shit, but guns get boring I gotta admit. It's hard to find the medium sometimes, even harder trying to expain it. I understand the West Coast Connection and all that, but I knew that was gonna be brought up. It's more rare to see a rapper similar to the west to come from the east, instead of vice versa, in my opinion. Dizaster talks about gun play in the best way, always metaphorically, which is what majority of everything said in battles should be. It's just that alot of the rappers who spit in KOTD would cry if they got smacked, I mean look at Kid Twist, can you ever see him as being former champ in URL? Rhetorical question obviously. I know most people will say that URL will always be biased to "white rappers", but whatever. I guess I am guilty of being biased myself because I always look at the rapper as if they had to back up their words, could they? Majority couldn't, but that's why there is a non-violent waiver signed I suppose. Completely understood.

I appreciate your very well composed and detailed response. Nice debate. I was enlightened.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

True, I was trying to type as fast as I was thinking, my apologies for the confusion. I only mentioned that situation to describe what I disliked about the battle scene and how Pat handled it, but I did like how Ars was trying to please the fans.

No biggie. But I actually disagree with you on the latter. I can respect Arsonal wanting to keep going, but that's not what the battle was supposed to be... it was three rounds, and Arsonal was already trying to mess with the time limits. Would it have been awesome if Pat Stay did it? Absolutely, no one would complain if he did. But that wasn't what they had agreed upon, so I can't really fault Pat for not doing it since it's not something that he needed to obligate himself to. Maybe he's not so good at freestyling (who knows... I don't since I haven't watched much of his stuff), but that's okay, since it is a written battle league, after all. At the same time, Arsonal is pretty good at freestyling (even though it's rarely stuff that really involves personals and can pretty much be used toward anyone) so that's why he was really pushing for it while trying to make Pat look like a chump by talking about the "Sucka Free" stuff, trying to bully him into going another round. But Ars turned into a punk in the post-battle interview where he was talking shit and saying that Pat had "bitch-made tendencies" or whatever he said... lame shit.

All in all, I read your whole comment I can agree with all you have said. I don't hate all West Coast rappers, I just enjoy the East so much more in every way.

I agree. That's why I wasn't with your original comment but still gave the East Coast its props. They definitely have the most top-tier talent in the battle circuit at the moment.

But when I think of a West Coast battler I think of sunglasses and tank tops(QP), I like the street shit, but guns get boring I gotta admit. It's hard to find the medium sometimes, even harder trying to expain it.

Haha... luckily QP hasn't really been a West Coast heavy hitter but really just got known from battling Soul Khan and from getting bodied by Swave and shook in NY, as mentioned earlier. But I agree, I like street shit too, if it's solid and is creative or just straight up hard... or both. It carries more weight to me if the guy saying it is for real, but it depends. Obviously we don't want a street rapper talking about guns and really wanting to take it there with their opponent (because it IS just rap), but at the same time it's just cheesy when you have a cornball nerd rapper talking about guns but in a serious way (despite it still being just rap). But it's not just about being street or not, it's about being honest, or at least believable. Similarly, I think it's stupid when street rappers talk about having a lot of money and a Benzes or something.

Dizaster talks about gun play in the best way, always metaphorically, which is what majority of everything said in battles should be.

Yeah. I'll admit that sometimes Dizaster's gun bars can be corny, but he's obviously not trying to pass him off as being totally serious, and sometimes he can be pretty creative ("I'll put the metal to your head like Oroku Saki," "I'll leave shells everywhere like Italian pasta," etc.). But it's a tad more realistic when hearing it from someone else who is a bit more believable with that line, like when QP (from Smack/URL) had that line where he said something like, "My gun goes 'b-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r' like it's trying to say Smack's name." Either way, Dizaster usually doesn't take the gun bars too far.

It's just that alot of the rappers who spit in KOTD would cry if they got smacked, I mean look at Kid Twist, can you ever see him as being former champ in URL? Rhetorical question obviously.

Definitely not. I think the same thing about Dumbfoundead, who has said some of the most entertaining shit I have ever heard, but I couldn't see him doing well on URL, even if Soul Khan did.

I know most people will say that URL will always be biased to "white rappers", but whatever. I guess I am guilty of being biased myself because I always look at the rapper as if they had to back up their words, could they? Majority couldn't, but that's why there is a non-violent waiver signed I suppose. Completely understood.

The drawback is that it's the same way with industry rappers. But the key is to saying stuff that is a believable, or at least nothing that will be questionable unless it's clear that you're just kidding, usually if it's in a joking manner (like what Fresco says in his rhymes) or just so outlandish that it's unrealistic (like a lot of the stuff Dizaster used to say, mostly on Grind Time).

I appreciate your very well composed and detailed response. Nice debate. I was enlightened.

Likewise. Good to exchange thoughts with someone who knows how to respond without getting all upset at someone having varying viewpoints.

[LSDemon]

No biggie. But I actually disagree with you on the latter. I can respect Arsonal wanting to keep going, but that's not what the battle was supposed to be... it was three rounds, and Arsonal was already trying to mess with the time limits. Would it have been awesome if Pat Stay did it? Absolutely, no one would complain if he did. But that wasn't what they had agreed upon, so I can't really fault Pat for not doing it since it's not something that he needed to obligate himself to. Maybe he's not so good at freestyling (who knows... I don't since I haven't watched much of his stuff), but that's okay, since it is a written battle league, after all. At the same time, Arsonal is pretty good at freestyling (even though it's rarely stuff that really involves personals and can pretty much be used toward anyone) so that's why he was really pushing for it while trying to make Pat look like a chump by talking about the "Sucka Free" stuff, trying to bully him into going another round. But Ars turned into a punk in the post-battle interview where he was talking shit and saying that Pat had "bitch-made tendencies" or whatever he said... lame shit.

I'm not calling Pat a bitch, I just much rather have seen Pat just say fuck it and rip Arsonal then walk out. It would have been a much better finisher. Arsonal was riding Bishop's dick hard as shit, and yes the whole battle Arsonal was trying to force extra time, just cause you rap longer don't make your bars better.

The drawback is that it's the same way with industry rappers. But the key is to saying stuff that is a believable, or at least nothing that will be questionable unless it's clear that you're just kidding, usually if it's in a joking manner (like what Fresco says in his rhymes) or just so outlandish that it's unrealistic (like a lot of the stuff Dizaster used to say, mostly on Grind Time).

I know what you mean, there will always be pros and cons in the league. I accept it, I just hate having to do so sometimes.

Likewise. Good to exchange thoughts with someone who knows how to respond without getting all upset at someone having varying viewpoints.

Always, like a sir.