RESPECT. The Preview: Smack and Beasley in Vol. 5, Issue 1

Once an underground, bootleg DVD empire, battle rap is more mainstream than ever. With each URL contest uploaded to YouTube garnering hundreds of thousands of views and the battle rap legend himself, Eminem, getting into the mix with Total Slaughter next month, people flock to these contests like a new pair of Jordans is being released.

While one of the most anticipated battles of the year, DNA vs. Ill Will, was abut to take place, RESPECT. caught up with Smack and Beasley to discuss the competition, their battlers and Night of the Main Events 4. You can read all about it in our upcoming issue but, prior to watching DNA and Ill Will go at it for three rounds tomorrow, we’re giving you a preview of Smack and Beasley’s mindset on the event and their “imitators.” Read on below.

RESPECT.: With all the competition going on right now, how do y’all feel? Are you the leaders in the battle league space?

Beasley: I still think that URL is the leader in the space. All of the major talent that attracts viewership at MC battles online, they come from our platform. Even if they weren’t a big name, they were established here and we broadened their profile to enable them to go out and battle. Any other league that’s out here, they are trying to secure views, they are using our talent pool to do so. Whether they are small leagues, major corporations that are now trying to come in, labels… I’ll say it’s good on one end when you have them imitating what you are doing, ’cause it shows that you are making an impact. But it’s also frustrating because in addition to us being businessmen and entrepreneurs we are also true to hip-hop.We always believed in being original.

Night of Main Events is coming up, but your marquee event is the annual Summer Madness show. What do y’all expect from both high-powered battles?

Beasley: Energy. I expect energy, performance, excitement, and elevation of MC battle culture to another level. People have to remember that we were able to do something that few thought was even possible. People laughed at us, thought we were jokes, clowns… “There’s no money in this.” Now we are selling out venues. One of the owners of [famous New York venue] Webster Hall told us the only people to sell out Webster Hall were The Killers and The Rolling Stones. They said no one else ever in hip-hop was able to haul out to that level with the ticket price point that we had. [Editor’s note: Tickets can reach up into the $200 range.] They said it was insane. We are providing jobs, opportunity for these guys to make money. They are actually making a living off of battle rap now. They can pay their bills, travel the world, have opportunities to go to other leagues overseas. You see guys in other countries acting like they are Smack. So even if we don’t get any bigger, it just feels good to know we did something that contributed to hip-hop culture that will be around forever and that’s documented that people will always refer to.

The full issue hits newsstands soon.