So I'm listening to Backspin (old school rap) on SIRIUS...

[Hammerhead]

So I'm listening to Backspin (old school rap) on SIRIUS.
Why does everyone want to battle?
It seems like every song has a line talking about battling.

 

[tweakmm]

Street cred.
Word to your mother.

 

[AStar617]

Rap (and hiphop as a culture) was largely born thanks to DJs at live parties and gatherings in the basements and parks of NYC during the mid-late 70s. The DJ would have someone get on the mic during/between sets and tell the crowd how good they (the DJ) were; this is why very early rap records have lots of references to the DJ's prowess. This soon turn into the person on the mic telling how good he himself was, and thus evolved the emcee. The natural progression turned toward one emcee telling how much better he was than another emcee, with the crowd appeal as the judge. Battling is at the very heart of the art form.

 

[Hammerhead]

Originally posted by: AStar617
Rap (and hiphop as a culture) was largely born thanks to DJs at live parties and gatherings in the basements and parks of NYC during the mid-late 70s. The DJ would have someone get on the mic during/between sets and tell the crowd how good they (the DJ) were; this is why very early rap records have lots of references to the DJ's prowess. This soon turn into the person on the mic telling how good he himself was, and thus evolved the emcee. The natural progression turned toward one emcee telling how much better he was than another emcee, with the crowd appeal as the judge. Battling is at the very heart of the art form.

Wow! Great info...Thanks!