“Stop my time” was the prevailing soundbite during the first ever Total Slaughter battle rap pay-per view. What we should have heard instead was, “stop the show.”

Over the course of three hours, fans were treated to a series of production blunders including live stream failures, sound issues, microphone snafus, a lackadaisical crowd and uninspired performances from the battlers themselves.

There’s a certain feeling that is synonymous with battle rap: It’s grimey, rough, and dangerous. Seeing two battlers backed by their entire crew (and a couple of disinterested women) on stage is compelling. It anchors the moment in reality and also makes for an entertaining watch as we observe reactions. Clearing the stage, Total Slaughter attempted to make it all about the two participants which, while very admirable, hindered the performances. There were no hype men, no people off whom to play lines, and simply no energy.

Arsonal and Big T kicked off the show and Big T proved that his loss against T-Rex was not a fluke, as Arsonal proceeded to pick him apart for three rounds. However, this battle quickly became an afterthought once T-Rex and Daylyt hit the stage. Rex delivered as he had in all previous rounds, but it was Daylyt who stole the show – for all the wrong reasons.

Reverting back to his cartoonish ways, Daylyt showed up to the battle in full Spawn cosplay, and was thoroughly beaten for the first two rounds. In the third and final exchange, Daylyt spit one line: “To come up with this third round, it took a lot of dedication/ See this? This is prescription for my schizophrenia, and as you can see I’m all out of medication.” Daylyt proceeded to crush an empty pill bottle, and tear apart his costume, while screaming inarticulately. The round ended with him stripped down to his boxers, laying on the floor as co-commentator Ebro pleaded for him to, “get the fuck up.” It was more than disappointing to see Daylyt squander such a huge platform with childish antics.

Following that debacle, the crowd was more out of it than ever, and Loaded Lux did not do very much to buoy their spirits. After a promising first round, the crowd sided with Murda Mook and essentially booed Lux out of the venue. It is worth noting, though, that Murda Mook was the (perhaps only) highlight of the event. Three ferocious rounds of bars proved that the old veteran was still a force with which to be reckoned.

The most anticipated battle of the night followed with Joe Budden taking on Hollow Da Don in the main event. The production of the show fell apart at the seams around this time, as the crowd sat through what felt like an eternity of technical delays. The wireless microphones were not even affixed to either competitor prior to them coming to the stage and when they were attached, they did not work properly. In between rounds, Budden and Hollow were in constant discussion of whose sound was working, who should use the handheld mic and more. Host Sway did his best to entertain the crowd during the endless lulls, but to no avail.

Technical difficulties aside, Budden and Hollow delivered a very admirable opening two rounds, with the majority of people awarding both to the underdog, Budden. things fell apart once and for all by the third rounds, though, as Hollow delved into tired Tahiry jokes and tasteless jabs at the Slaughterhouse member’s mother. The crowd was not feeling the direction Hollow went, and the energy evaporated at the Highline Ballroom. Joe Budden, perhaps already feeling the victory, delivered an uninspired and boring round before stumbling and enduring boos from the crowd. Clearly out of his element, the reaction got to Budden and he put the mic down and walked off stage before attempting to come back and finish – but by then it was too late. The judges awarded what felt like a default victory to Hollow and the show ended as awkwardly as it had begun.

There are rumblings of a Total Slaughter 2 and, should that take place, one can only hope it feels less amateurish and disorganized. Live streaming issues are to be expected as it seems no one has that technology down pact, but to fail at mic’ing up emcees is laughably sad. Battle rap needs energy and we felt none of that on Saturday. Next time, bring the crews and bring the bars.

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