Rap superstar Eminem crowned an 18-year-old rapper from his home town the winner of Red Bull EmSee: The Road to 8 Mile which reached its climax last night.
Judged by Eminem, D12’s Mr Porter and DJ The Alchemist, the explosive competition brought eight of the best aspiring rappers from all over the USA together on stage in Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit. Each MC was the winner of a qualifying round held in New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Orlando, Greensboro, Houston, Atlanta and, of course, Detroit.
By night’s end, the youngest competitor 18-year-old FowL, aka Saffal Tall, won the title of Red Bull EmSee National Champion and with it the chance to record with top producers in the Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, California.
Modelled on the freestyle rap battles immortalised in Eminem’s 2002 film 8 Mile, the contest saw the young MCs fight it out for the respect of the judge and crowd. It had a unique format: the MCs faced three rounds in which they had to impress the judges and win over a tough Detroit crowd by improvising 60-second raps.
'A rap battle in Detroit is no laughing matter' – Eminem
In round one they had to refer to a series of random images – politicians, actors, monster trucks projected on to a big screen. When the dust settled, Killa Chris, Phranchyze, D.N.A. and FowL were advanced to the next round.
In round two, the stakes were raised as the emcees were challenged to rap about themes that the judges and live audience texted to the screens on stage.
FowL, by day a student at Michigan State University, began the night by appealing directly to the judge: "F*** this battle/Eminem, I need a deal!" but it was this line in round two that dealt the killer blow: "Who would you rather listen to?/Someone who spits the truth/or a n**** with a missing tooth?"
That took him to the final round and a showdown with D.N.A. In the final battle, the emcees lit the place on fire as they hurled non-stop lyrical blows. In the end, FowL brought the house down. His performance earned him the undisputed title of Red Bull EmSee National Champion.
"A rap battle in Detroit is no laughing matter,” said Eminem. “And it seems that FowL took it the most seriously tonight."
“To be classified as the best in the nation...I’m pretty sure right now, I don’t fully understand it,” said FowL. “But I always told everybody in my neighbourhood, I’m gonna’ be the best one day... to actually say I am the best right now, at 18, feels pretty good.”
The charismatic D.R.E.S tha Beatnik served as master of ceremonies while special guests included Xzibit, plus DJ Jazzy Jeff and Bun B.
In between battles, the crowd was treated to DJ sets by The Alchemist and DJ Dez. Rap super group Slaughterhouse, whose members include Royce Da 5”9’, Crooked I, Joe Budden, and Joel Ortiz, sent the crowd home happy with a riveting performance to close the show.
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