FlipTop Battle League
 | |
| Industry | Battle rap |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Philippines |
| Website | FlipTop Battle League on Facebook FlipTop Battle League's channel on YouTube |
FlipTop (full name: FlipTop Battle League) is the first and largest professional rap battle conference in the Philippines, founded by Alaric Riam Yuson (Known as Anygma) and Romeo Borrondia (known as RYME B. [1] in 2010. The league promotes Pinoy hip hop. FlipTop is heavily influenced by the original rap battle leagues in the West founded in 2008 – Grind Time Now, King of the Dot and Don't Flop, which inspired the creation of FlipTop and other battle leagues around the world.[2]
Format
In general, the contest consists of three rounds with a time limit for each contender set by the referee. Overtime is applied if the battle is a draw. The first turn is determined by a toss coin. Scripted or non-scripted bars is allowed. Cursing, bashing, mocking is not prohibited in the battle but the contenders must not take it seriously and personally.[3][4] Both sides can also bring props for the event. Filipino language is the primary medium although other languages or dialects can be used. The winner is determined by the decision of the judges. The criteria for judging are the usage of words, audience impact and rapping style.[2]
There are different variations of rap competition in FlipTop:
- Freestyle - The most common in all FlipTop tournaments, it has no background music. The bars have no measure but it has a rhyme.
- Old School - Commonly used on tryouts. It has background music.
- Dos por Dos - Tag-team freestyle rap contest.
- Five on Five - Five-member team freestyle rap contest.
- Femcee Battle - All-female freestyle rap battle.
- Intergender Battle - Male vs. Female freestyle rap battle.
- Royal Rumble - A rap battle consists of more than three emcees randomly attack or bash each other.
- Secret Battle - Same as freestyle battle but with limited audience.
Notable emcees
| Name | Personal Name | Hometown | Affiliations | Signature Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryme B | Rye Borrondia | Pasig | Alkab Records, Sozialistaz, Chupachups | Gay Bars, Sensitive Jokes, Famewhore |
| 2khelle | Olongapo City | Alpha Taktikah, G.R.S 047, G-Town, Singko Brothers, A-Syan Recordz | Freestyle | |
| Abra | Raymond Abracosa | Pasig City | Lyrically Deranged Poets, FlipMusic, Team Sunday, Artifice | Speed Rapping and Multi |
| Aklas | Philip Ching | Las Piñas/Woodstate M1 BC | MDK, Mulat Krew, Batch 1, Bomb Shelter, SOS | Shouting, Weird Bars (Intergalactic Hiphop) |
| Andy G | Andy Jamolin | Parañaque | DC Clan, Double Cross, The Real South Pride Production | Comedy |
| Apekz | Mark Anthony Cadiente | Valenzuela City | Rhym Minister, Deepflowmahgik, Hustlin Records | Comedy |
| Apoc | Pasig City | Raw, Dukes, Bilog Writer's Block, Sabertooth Academy | Bars and Wordplay | |
| Asser | Cebu City | NevaNevaNevaLand, 3GS, Outbox, Rapollo | Multi and Personals | |
| Badang | Darwin Ferianeza | Marikina | Tuesday Troop, Hahay Entertainment | Comedy, Freestyle |
| Bassilyo | Lordivino Ignacio | Marikina | CrazyAsPinoy, Crazy Family, Badboys | Comedy |
| Batang Rebelde | Marvin Arias | Tanza, Cavite | Baredibu, Ulikbangon, Zone 457, Exodus, AKZ | Serious bars |
| Batas | Mark Rodriguez | Tahanan, Paranaque | Wild Ones Tatttoo, Illustrado, Upsiring, Barangay Tibay, Sultan of Snap, Tha TVC Black | Serious, Unorthodox Rhythm |
| BLKD | Allan Enriquez | Naic, Cavite | The Pharm, Batch 1, 3LC | Heavy and Deep Bars, Wordplay |
| Cool Kidd | Davao City | K-Records, Karabineros | ||
| CrazyMix | Romarico Superable | Quezon City | Crazy Familym Blind Rhyme Productions | Speed Rapping, Part comedy |
| Damsa | Raymond Abrenica | San Pedro, Laguna | Via Records, MusicPharm, Black Cat Pro, Inked Hustlaz, S.N.S | |
| Dello | Wendell de Jesus Gatmaitan | Tondo, Manila | Skwaterhaws, Mongol Unit | Rebuttals, Part comedy |
| Dopee | Raymond Escurzon | Davao City | Speech, Kalawakan Crew | Comedy |
| Elbiz | John Elvis Narisma | Quezon City | The Green House | Comedy |
| EJ Power | EJ Florentino | Balanga, Bataan | Danger Zone, Outbox, Troop A | Poetic, Comedy |
| Flict-G | Reymond Rivera | Mandaluyong, Manila | Repablikan Syndicate, Shockra | Wordplay, Comedy |
| Fongger | Cebu City | 7Kings Production, Crazy Family, Shongkoi, 504 Records, Team Porkchop | Comedy | |
| Frooz | Binangonan, Rizal | Crazy Family Badboys, BlindRhyme Productions, Alyansa ng Tugmang Bulag, Puyat Records | Comedy | |
| Fuego | Paco, Manila | Mack-Town, Taft-Love | ||
| G-Clown | Tanay, Rizal | Lego Music, BTR Pro, KOK Clothing | Serious bars | |
| Harlem | Harlem Ty | Pasig City | Team Watawat, Schizophrenia, Street Team | |
| Hearty Tha Bomb | Irene Ciriaco | Baesa, Quezon City | Martial Camp Records, Tuesday Troop, Konektado, X-Deal Vigilantes, Rap Divas | |
| Icaruz | Michael Cania | Noveleta, Cavite | Themsent, El Grande Records | |
| J-King | Julius Cenon | Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija | Word War, 3GS, Nueva Ecija TV48, CMPRO, Devil Rhyme | Freestyle, Poetic, and Rebuttals |
| J-Skeelz | Jason Rodriguez | Tondo, Manila | 187 Mobstaz | Comedy,Freestyle |
| Japormz | Olongapo, Zambales | Kosa Familia | Offensive Bars, Comedy | |
| Jonas | Jonas Dichoso | Bulihan, Cavite | Breezy Music, Beats by Foe, Anak ng Madre, 3GS | Wordplay, Poetic, Comedy |
| Juan Lazy | Christian Quiapon | Paranaque/Makati City | Southern Villains/ Meks Familia | Comedy |
| Kahir | Quezon City | Them Sent, Batch-1, 3LC | Poetic, Comedy | |
| Kamandag | Olongapo City | Bloodline Productions, Suwail na Anak ng Gapo, A.Y.A.D | ||
| Lil Sisa | Jhayann Parreño | Antipolo City | Crazy Family | |
| Loonie | Marlon Peroramas | Cebu City | Stick Figgas, Konektado, Barangay Tibay, Watawat | Poetic, Multi, Comedy |
| M Zhayt | Christian Paolo Gabriola | Pasig City | 13 Rapskallion, 3GS, Allstar Poema, Cursebox | Freestyle, Rebuttals |
| Nikki | Digos City | Supreme Blood, Heneral Luna, Digos Rap Project, PSB Records, Slickboats Prodz | Comedy | |
| Nico | Olongapo City | Arma Letra, The Firing Squad, Bara Suwail, Rep The Hood Ent., Take Eat Out | Misdirecting bars | |
| Pricetagg | Jomari Espiritu | San Fernando, La Union/Sta. Mesa, Manila | Rep The Hood Ent., Shots Fired, Black Rose Tattoo | Serious Bars, Part Comedy, Heavy and Deep Bars, Speed Rapping |
| Pistolero | Christian Carlo Cañares | Tondo, Manila | Hush Musik, Jmekwar, Delubyong Anghel, 3GS, AllStar Production | Rebuttals |
| Rapido | Rosario, Cavite | Elements | Speed Rapping, Offensive Bars | |
| Romano | Romano Trinidad | Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija | Rappscab Music, 3GS, Cursebox Production, Mark Beats | Freestyle |
| Rudic | Quezon City | DC Clan, M.I, Simbagsik | ||
| Sak Maestro | Hansel Cabo | Davao City | Cot Crew, The Takeover, K-Records | Serious Bars |
| Sayadd | Anonas, Quezon City | Illustrado, Oyog International | ||
| Shehyee | Christopher John Ongkiko | Mandaluyong | BMG, Flipmusic, Flee Entertainment, Watawat | Part Comedy, Medium Bars |
| Shernan | Shernan Roy Gaite | Muntilupa City | Muntilupas Most Wanted, 3GS, Senyor Mafias, AllStar Production | Comedy |
| Silencer | Ric Laurino | Parañaque City | Familia De Calibre, DC Clan Music, The Real South Pride Production | Comedy |
| Sinio | Joseph Martin Cagasan | Mabalacat, Pampanga | Pampanga's Finest , 45 Batallion, Real Jokes, Copy Right | Comedy, Rebuttals |
| Skarm | Philip Pacheco | Pasig City | Ampon, Talksic Ways | |
| Smugglaz | Bryan Lao | Tondo | 187 Mobstaz, Blind Rhyme Productions | Speed Rapping, Part Comedy |
| Spade | Quezon City | Illustrado, Uprising | ||
| Righteous One | Joshua Berenguer | Meycauayan, Bulacan | Brown Radio, FMCC, Souljahs | Serious Bars |
| Target | Renie Boy Palma | Las Pinas City | Double Cross, DC Clan Music, The Real South Pride Production | Poetic, Deep Bars |
| Tipsy D | Mark Kevin Andrade | Balanga,Bataan | Bataan Hiphop Movement, Abakadaz | Simple Wordplays, Part Comedy |
| Tweng | Bohol / Cagayan De Oro | Six3Hundred Crew, Palma Doggz, Bohol Bee Farm, Leadership Frienship Service Zeta Beta Chapter | ||
| Zaito | Predo Canon Jr. | Las Pinas City / Cavite | Vigilante Family, South Radical Production, Uprising | Comedy, Freestyle |
Cultural impact and criticism
In its early days, FlipTop gained criticism for its usage of vulgar, profane, offensive words, and mocking and bullying. As a consequence, The City Government of Makati prohibited any rap battle events on their premises.[5] As time passed, it gained acceptance.[6] After it gained success and reputation via social media,[7] many amateur and minor rap battles arose such as Sunugan, Word War, Versus Verses, etc. Due to its freestyle and rhymed content, some academics considered it as modern-day "balagtasan" although some rap artists discourage the idea.[8][9] It caught media attention in that some emcees involved in FlipTop have gained commercial success.[10][11][12]
References
- ^ http://www.redbull.com/my/en/music/stories/1331710307582/uncovering-battle-rap-with-fliptops-anygma
- ^ a b ""Fliptop Mag-Ingay!": An Exploratory Study on Fliptop Battle". prezi.com. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
- ^ http://fliptop-battle.com/fliptop-battle-league-continues-grow/
- ^ http://news5.com.ph/top/9BDBFF288758411/1001/fliptop-rappers-nagkaka-pikunan-din-kaya
- ^ http://www.manilalink.com/2015/06/fliptop-rap-events-banned-in-makati.html
- ^ http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/70820/fliptop-the-modern-balagtasan
- ^ http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/158758/will-flip-hop-save-opm
- ^ http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/350760/lifestyle/artandculture/is-fliptop-the-modern-day-balagtasan
- ^ "Get to know your modern-day Balagtasan stars". filipinotimes.ae. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
- ^ http://www.philstar.com/young-star/601869/rhyme-and-lots-reason-fliptop
- ^ http://www.juice.ph/kultura/features/the-real-emcees-the-new-vanguards-in-filipino-hip-hop
- ^ "http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/FlipTop:_The_First_Filipino_Rap_Battle_League".
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