The State Of Online Battling

[Shodan]

I'll tell you why battling is such a small scene, at least in part. It's because of the cultural stigma. A talented young chess master or math whiz is encouraged by everyone around him and respected, but a talented young rap battler isn't going to be respected by his family and friends unless he happens to be from the hood, and he's certainly not going to appear on a talk show or get product endorsement deals. They will just post on sites like this, and perhaps get some YouTube views and a cult following if they go to KOTD or such.

Someone like me, a nerdy autistic white kid who just likes the skill and creativity required, is going to get laughed at and mocked. There are lots of them on here, and you know who you are. That's why the scene is so small, relatively speaking, not from a lack of interest among existing hobbyists, but from the fact it's marginalized by mainstream culture and doesn't reach out to potential new battlers. Look at how many people started playing chess during the Fischer-Spassky match. USCF membership doubled almost overnight, and if you ask an old person why and when they started playing chess, chances are, they'll mention that. Sure, many of them stopped playing early into their chess life while they were still beginners, but many of them found a nice new hobby. We can still feel the effects of the "Fischer boom" today, resonating in our senior players and their descendants.

The problem is that rap battling is so associated (perhaps rightfully so, but not to the extent people seem to think) with Scary Black People, and that association is so strongly ingrained in the collective cultural consciousness of so many ignorant people, that the stigma cannot really be removed. Chess, on the other hand, is associated with intelligence, childhood cognitive development, and a whole host of other things that make the helicopter parents push it down their kid's throats, have it taught in schools, and make it a popular pastime amongst children. Not to mention that people are (perhaps rightfully so) scared of going to live events for fear of violence breaking out.

What battling needs isn't more live battle leagues, websites, or competitions. We have more than enough of those already. What we need is to break into the mainstream with our art form, but I simply have no clue how that could be accomplished.

[Shodan]

I'll tell you why battling is such a small scene, at least in part. It's because of the cultural stigma. A talented young chess master or math whiz is encouraged by everyone around him and respected, but a talented young rap battler isn't going to be respected by his family and friends unless he happens to be from the hood, and he's certainly not going to appear on a talk show or get product endorsement deals. They will just post on sites like this, and perhaps get some YouTube views and a cult following if they go to KOTD or such.

Someone like me, a nerdy autistic white kid who just likes the skill and creativity required, is going to get laughed at and mocked. There are lots of them on here, and you know who you are. That's why the scene is so small, relatively speaking, not from a lack of interest among existing hobbyists, but from the fact it's marginalized by mainstream culture and doesn't reach out to potential new battlers. Look at how many people started playing chess during the Fischer-Spassky match. USCF membership doubled almost overnight, and if you ask an old person why and when they started playing chess, chances are, they'll mention that. Sure, many of them stopped playing early into their chess life while they were still beginners, but many of them found a nice new hobby. We can still feel the effects of the "Fischer boom" today, resonating in our senior players and their descendants.

The problem is that rap battling is so associated (perhaps rightfully so, but not to the extent people seem to think) with Scary Black People, and that association is so strongly ingrained in the collective cultural consciousness of so many ignorant people, that the stigma cannot really be removed. Chess, on the other hand, is associated with intelligence, childhood cognitive development, and a whole host of other things that make the helicopter parents push it down their kid's throats, have it taught in schools, and make it a popular pastime amongst children. Not to mention that people are (perhaps rightfully so) scared of going to live events for fear of violence breaking out.

What battling needs isn't more live battle leagues, websites, or competitions. We have more than enough of those already. What we need is to break into the mainstream with our art form, but I simply have no clue how that could be accomplished.

[Pugz]

We have something valuable that these leagues dont have.. which is a home with history and tools for you to perfect your craft.. That to me is marketable getting into the live circuit.. And I believe LetsBeef even though its in the handful of battle sites.. It is the best.. and probably the most well known.. I just came across a clip of Daylyt the other day talking bout how he found conceited on LetsBeef.com.. lol ... We have more pull than youd think.. + Im connected like freight trains.. ive just been waiting on the right time to pull those triggers..

[Pugz]

We have something valuable that these leagues dont have.. which is a home with history and tools for you to perfect your craft.. That to me is marketable getting into the live circuit.. And I believe LetsBeef even though its in the handful of battle sites.. It is the best.. and probably the most well known.. I just came across a clip of Daylyt the other day talking bout how he found conceited on LetsBeef.com.. lol ... We have more pull than youd think.. + Im connected like freight trains.. ive just been waiting on the right time to pull those triggers..

[Pugz]

A lot of you surprisingly dont follow us on facebook/twitter which is odd... get on that.. stay in the loop on shit.. we posting stuff daily.. thats one of the best way i can reach target audience right now.. social media..

[Pugz]

A lot of you surprisingly dont follow us on facebook/twitter which is odd... get on that.. stay in the loop on shit.. we posting stuff daily.. thats one of the best way i can reach target audience right now.. social media..

[Pugz]

yall missing all the hilarious godbody memes lol www.facebook.com/letsbeef like that shit so i can target all your friends!

[Pugz]

yall missing all the hilarious godbody memes lol www.facebook.com/letsbeef like that shit so i can target all your friends!

LB would be like a brand new website if one thing happened...


8 Mile 2.

LB would be like a brand new website if one thing happened...


8 Mile 2.

[Saxx]

Its not that great because the vets aint teaching and the young uns and getting learned or think they are the best anyway....

[Saxx]

Its not that great because the vets aint teaching and the young uns and getting learned or think they are the best anyway....

[Obey]

Originally Posted by Saxx

Its not that great because the vets aint teaching and the young uns and getting learned or think they are the best anyway....

It's no one's responsibility but yourself to be better.

[Obey]

Originally Posted by Saxx

Its not that great because the vets aint teaching and the young uns and getting learned or think they are the best anyway....

It's no one's responsibility but yourself to be better.

[Saxx]

No one becomes the karate kid without the mr myogi and no one becomes Rocky without....etc

[Saxx]

No one becomes the karate kid without the mr myogi and no one becomes Rocky without....etc

[Pugz]

Imo.. battle rap is on the rise because of big leagues... its true after 8 mile came out poeple were buzzin about battle rap.. but look at a lot of these mainstream artists now starting leagues... they recognize people want something other than the shake yo ass music on the radio..

[Pugz]

Imo.. battle rap is on the rise because of big leagues... its true after 8 mile came out poeple were buzzin about battle rap.. but look at a lot of these mainstream artists now starting leagues... they recognize people want something other than the shake yo ass music on the radio..

@Jason there was no bad comment directed at you bro bro ..

tbh .. I think that LB will be more established outside of the internet in 2 years ..

@Jason there was no bad comment directed at you bro bro ..

tbh .. I think that LB will be more established outside of the internet in 2 years ..