Battle of the Sexes?

Charlie Clips, Chayna Ashley, & Debo joke about possibly putting together the next card as Battle of the Sexes. I personally think it's a great idea and could be just as big and anticipated as NHB. Men vs. Women battles are often some of my favorites because it mixes both worlds. I mean battle rap is a culture within itself but the female leagues and the men leagues are their own little sub cultures. Even though often times a man and a woman stepping in the ring can lead to all sorts of disagreements between fans about who won, but these kinds of battles are often the most epic. For instance, one of the most recent infamous battle was between 40 B.A.R.R.S and Daylyt when he pulled his manhood out in the middle of a room full of people (which in my calm objective opinion he only did because he realized 40 was cookin his ass). Check out some classic male vs female battles below. 


O Red vs Ms Hustle (2012)

C3 Vs Lotta Zay (2014)

QB & Swave Sevah vs Gattas & DRect (2011)

40 B.A.R.R.S vs Daylyt (2014)

Trina Remixes Jhene Aiko's "The Worst"

The original "baddest bitch" is back in full effect. Trina hopped on the beat to Jhene Aiko's hit "The Worst" and seriously ripped it in one minute and twelve seconds. This snippet leaves me craving for more. It has been on repeat for the past four minutes (I'm trying to make it seem more like a full track in my head). She hit the nail on the head with this one. Go Trina!

Life Outside the Bedroom

Newark's own King Braize has done it again. His new single, Life Outside the Bedroom, like the rest of his music is a reminder of how hip hop once was. Not only does his track tell a story but the video that accompanies it does as well. Braize's music is like a breath of fresh air in the midst of the thick smoke of ratchetness that is clouding the hip hop culture more and more each day. Life Outside the Bedroom is just one of my favorites from Braize. Mainly because it is a realistic tale of what most of us humans go through on the daily basis. How many of us are dealing with someone on an intimate level we want so much more from but they're just not willing to give it? But I've already said too much. 

No Holds Barred

The battle of the century is a week away. Queen of the Ring (QOTR), the largest female battle rap league, is hosting its largest battle yet. No Holds Barred features some of the QOTR's top tier rappers. Battle rap fans, male and female alike, have been anticipating this event for the past couple months. We at T.R.U Ent. are ecstatic as well [even though it appears as if we will not be in attendance]. The QOTR team has put together a card where every is in fact a main event. 

40 B.A.R.R.S VS JAZ THE RAPPER

40, who is most known for her schemes, name flips, disrespect, and tight outfits is paired with Jaz the Rapper, who is also most known for name flips, schemes, and disrespect. This match up could be bittersweet because while the skill sets they both posses can catch a few ooh's and ahh's form the crowd, both ladies have somewhat of a boring delivery. Despite their lackadaisical delivery, this battle is still a main event because both ladies bars hit when they are signed and sealed. I'm interested to see what schemes Jaz, who is a student, has come up with. Not saying 40 isn't scheming as well, but Jaz's schemes come with a more educated feel and less street themed. Jaz has a way of completely mind fucking the shit out of her opponent and the audience alike. But to play devil's advocate, I'm also waiting to see the way 40 flips Jaz's name and what schemes she brings to the table. Because quite frankly, Jaz's name has been flipped in every which way possible almost. You know Jaz and boring ass jazz music, Jazzy Jeff, I mean the list can go on. But I know 40 is going to come with something off the wall crazy. I'm also excited to see their choices in hair styles.  Even though I am a fan, in my calm objective opinion, these women have stepped into the ring with some questionable weave jobs. I hope they do better this time around. 

E HART VS YOUNG GATTAS

These two vets are back and they have some shit to say. Young Gattas, who hopped back into the swing of things with her June 7th battle on the URL stage VS Ms Hustle, is returning to QOTR against E Hart at NHB. Gattas is best known for her jokes and delivery. Although, if you ask her, she feels as if she is the complete package. She feels she has the jokes, the image, the delivery, schemes, and, that's right you guessed it COMEDY! Gattas is pitted against the Queen of Harts, Miss E Hart, who is most known for her gangster schemes, bars that hit, and unfortunately looking like a crack head. I think Debo, Babs, and Vagues did this one on purpose because while E Hart will most likely spit some I'll shoot ya whole block up type shit, Gattas is more than likely to chop her down at her knee caps for her age and appearance. While we're talking about appearance though, I hope Gattas does not come in some crazy get up with an even more crazy hairstyle. I'm just saying, because in her battle against Chayna Ashley, I could definitely tell the difference in her weave and her natural hair. One was puffy and one wasn't. I digress, I personally respect E Hart for her grown woman bars and her I'll still beat you the fuck up attitude because at the end of the day to stand up in front of a crowd and do your thing when all the odds are already against you, takes an enormous set of balls. I personally don't have too much respect for Gattas because when she first started she was a complete butch and now I don't know who she is. I think she's the Tomb Raider this week. But if that's who she feels comfortable being today, that is fine by me. 

COUTURE VS O'FFICIAL

Couture, who gained fame in an over night frenzy, is most known for exposing bitches. From her debut on QOTR, where she made a poor young lady cry after exposing her filthy living situations and donating a box of Monistat 7 for her lady problems, Couture has been one of the coldest to step into the ring. This battle is going to be very interesting because O'fficial prides herself on having not a damn thing to hide. It seems as if Couture will have to depend solely on her bars, which is not a bad thing because she definitely has those. But O'fficial does have some wild, crazy bars as well. This battle is rare because O'fficial doesn't really battle feminine women. She usually takes men and studs. Recently, O'fficial did take a battle with Ms Miami, so I guess one could say she is executing her master plan, which she revealed in her battle against C3. She said she was going to use the men and the studs kind of like practice so when she felt ready, she'd step in the ring with a femme. To some that may seem like a cop out and in my calm objective opinion, I would have personally flipped it the other way. While the feminine rappers do come hard in the ring, I find the studs have more aggression, word play, and freestyles. But I could see why she worked the way she did because when it comes down to it, O'fficial's overall image would not hold up in the ring when compared to the more feminine emcees. Regardless of who's prettier, I'm dying to see these two go bar for bar in the ring. 

MS FIT VS BONNIE GODIVA

Ms Fit, the little Latina lit match, is paired with none other than Miss Bonnie Godiva. I'm not quite sure how this battle will end up. Ms Fit has bars, freestyles, schemes, jokes, and the aggressive delivery and Bonnie has most of those things except the aggressive delivery. While Bonnie has the image, the bars, schemes, and the jokes, the fact still remains that a blow won't land without that power behind it. I am a little biased about this battle, in all honesty despite Bonnie's skill, I honestly think this will be an easy W for Ms Fit. I'm sure we'll hear a couple bars about how Cortez wrote her bars and all that. And of course Bonnie's fans are going to have her back [as they should] but I really don't have too much more to say about this battle because y'all already know my thoughts. 

C3 VS TORI DOE

Tori Doe has been gone for a minute [2 years if I'm not mistaken] and now they've thrown her back into the ring with a beast. I'm not going to lie, I'm biased about this battle from rip. C3 is literally the total package. You name it, she has it, freestyles, metaphors, jokes, bars, schemes, name flips, similies, I mean I could go on but we'd be here forever. I'm not going to knock Tori Doe, she has skill too but she is simply NOT fucking with my girl C3. I'm sorry Tori. 

QB BLACK DIAMOND VS PHARA FUNERAL 

This battle breaks my heart for two reasons: 1. This is Phara's last battle and 2. They're both my favorites so I don't know which side to be on. They're both aggressive as fuck, they both have bars for days, they're both fan favorites, they're both veterans. While they are both two of my favorite top tier ladies, I am beyond excited to see this battle take place because it's just going to be so good. QB is known for disrespect and exposing, but really, everything that can be said about Phara has been said. QB is going to have to come with some new, new dirt in order to keep up with her disrespectful, exposing self. Same goes for Phara. Many a times people have tried to find dirt on QB in order to get that low blow off but it doesn't ever really work because QB prides herself on being "a bitch who ain't got shit to hide". These ladies seriously have no choice but to go bar for bar with each other. That means both of them have to come with their best shit and that, my friends, is what I'm excited to see. 

It's all going down June 28th, 2014 from 12 noon to 6 pm. Brooklyn NY 17 Irving Pl. If you haven't bought a ticket yet, you seriously have no clue what you are about to miss out on! This whole card is a set of classics. 

Tickets to NHB

August Alsina Says Sh**t & The World Looses Their Minds

Yesterday August Alsina was on 106th promoting his new album Testimony (which is available on iTunes right now) when hostess Keshia Chante decided that she would ask Mr. Alsina a question which apparently before the interview he politely asked her and her co-host Bow Wow not to ask. His reaction, in my calm objective opinion, was very calm for one who is A: Young and new to having to deal with hard headed journalists as Miss Chante and B: A man from hood surroundings. The Nola native calmly responded to Miss Chante, "I just told y'all not to ask me that shit when I got up in here." His use of the word SHIT sent the media into a frenzy. Every non fan and fan alike has an opinion on this matter and to me, I think people are blowing it out of proportion. August is a young man and faced with a question he did not what to answer, he answered in the calmest way he possibly could. He did not snap nor did Miss Chante get "cussed out." And for those who don't know, getting cussed out involves anger and more than one curse word. Alsina used one curse word and his tone was far from angry. Journalist and hostess such as Rocsi Diaz (former 106th hostess)

and Necole Bitchie (of NecoleBitchie.com) took to twitter saying that instead of applauding August for his reaction, we should applaud Chante for asking the hard question. I disagree. What journalist and hosts alike need to get through their heads is that celebrities are human just like us. If you're promoting an album (which involves a lot of hard work and dedication to create) the LAST thing anyone wants to be asked about is the current "beef" they have brewing. What journalists and hosts also need to understand is that just like any other human being celebrities want their wishes to be respected. What could Miss Chante expect? To disrespect someone and it just slide over on them like it's nothing? August was their to promote his work. Not to give Trey Songz any more free publicity than he already has. So why was that question even brought up? And why did she feel she had the right to ask that question after August specifically asked her not to? I'll tell you why. She wanted to be the THAT journalist. You know the one who asks the hard questions and get up in the star's business. She wanted to be the one that he would answer for. But her little plan back fired on her. I don't think it was the fact that he cursed at her that made her walk off the stage. I think she was embarrassed because she really thought he wasn't serious when he asked her not to ask the question. Before you judge August, put yourself in his shoes. I know if it were me, I don't think I wouldn't have been able to remain so calm. There's nothing more disrespectful to me than doing something I just asked you NOT to do. But all in all, at the end of the day Keshia Chante lives to host another 106th and the word shit may just cause

August's album fly off the virtual shelves. From now on people, stop asking August about Trey please? He obviously doesn't like it! Now go get your copy of Tesitmony off iTunes right now!

August's Twitter

Rocsi's Twitter

Keshia Chante's Twitter

Bow Wow's Twitter

106th's Twitter

Necole Bitchie's Twitter

Who Run the World: Women

The life long debate on who runs the world is now over. Females have proven time and time again that we are the rulers of this planet. Now my men, not saying y'all don't do y'all thing, but I am saying that most of the things y'all do is because of us or for our benefit. I said that to say this: Females are proving again and again that we can do everything men can do and most times better. Battle rap is no different. With the release of Queen of the Ring, the female equivalent to URL & UW battle leagues, which is hosted by Babs (Da Band) and her co-host Vague. New York has given women the recognition we deserve in the rap game. Queen of the Ring is a refreshing break from mainstream rap's boogie divas. But for me as a fan of true rap and all things involving female empowerment, the ladies of Queen of the Ring have given this hip hop fan a sense of hope. My personal favorites lyrically are Don Ladyii, QB Black Diamond, Phara Funeral, and let's not forget Ms Hustle. The list can go on for days but these are simply my top four. Now, let's take a moment so I can explain why these ladies are my favorites. 

Ms. Hustle

Hustle caught my eye when in the battle between herself and O Red [Yes the man] and she definitely held her ground. O Red came with bars that were chauvinistic. He spoke about how we lived in a man's world and that we women were the original cause of sin. Hustle spat back letting Red know that men should have known we ran the world from the beginning since Eve was able to coax Adam into joining her in sin. That comeback alone, and the fact that in a one round battle, she let that grown man know he couldn't step in her ring and not leave feeling a little bit of a way about his manhood put Ms Hustle as one of my favorite female rappers. 

Twitter: MsHustle127

IG: MsHustle127

Don Ladyii 

Don Ladyii had me with her quick quips and utter realness. Her hood demeanor makes her easy to relate to. Not to mention, keeping it hood allows her to have the best comebacks against her opponents. Don's lyrics and her realness wasn't the only things that made me love her. Her confidence and cockiness is what really drew me to her. It is a known fact that when you love yourself, you're more likely to attract people that will love you as well.  Don Ladyii makes it clear that she not a single f***k can be given if someone else does not like her because she loves her. And who wouldn't love that? 

Twitter: Louboutindon_

IG: DonLadyii

QB Black Diamond

QB, one of the most controversial QOTR rappers, has some of the hottest bars out. She credits herself for having nothing to hide [which in battle rap, secrets are never a good thing] which makes it hard for her opponents to touch her. This time it is strictly QB's lyrics that attracted me to her. Although, I do not appreciate her overly confident demeanor, I do respect her as a rapper. 

Twitter: QB_BlackDiamond

IG: QB_BlackDiamond

Phara Funeral 

Mz Funeral caught my attention in QOTR's first tag team battle between herself Shoony the Rapper vs Don Ladyii & Tori Doe. Her aggressive style attracted me the most [being the aggressive female I am]. Not to mention she has bars for days. Although, as a woman I do not agree with the super sexual way she promotes herself, I once again, do respect her as one of the hottest females around. 

Twitter: MzFuneral

IG:MzFuneral

GIVE IT UP FOR THE LADIES [in my best Babbs voice]

QOTR Youtube

QOTR Rep The Brand 

A Piece of Our His-Story [History]

Garvyism or better known as Pan Africanism, a movement started in the early 1920's by Marcus Garvey and his organization UNIA [Universal Negro Improvement Association]. Together they established over 700 chapters nationwide in the main ethnic cities including but not limited to: Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. The Pan-African Movement prided itself on teaching the African-American to fight for the same rights as the white man. Garvey, a Jamaican immigrant, was inspired by Booker T. Washington's infamous book Up From Slavery. In the book, Washington, writes of his belief that political involvement would not benefit the African-American as a people. Washington believed that the only way to truly free themselves of the control of the white man was to train themselves to work and work for said equal rights. This book helped pen UNIA's slogan: "One God! One Aim! One Destiny!". Garvey is known as one of Black History's most radical leaders but he didn't start out that way. In the beginning, Garvey, complied with the law and tried to work to begin his legacy. He went along with the ideal that good manners and good morals would eventually free him of his ties to corporate America. But the combination of the rapid approach of Jim Crow Laws, which threatened to snatch any optimism Black America had, and the return of the Black soldiers from WWI who were not being treated much different than when they left brought the revolutionist out of Garvey. He began giving speeches that the only way the Black American would succeed is to be concerned with  themselves first and everyone else last. Garvey encouraged buying goods from Black owned stores and providing services to Blacks given by Blacks. He also strongly encouraged Black unity and pride. In fact it is said that Garvey coined the term "Black Is Beautiful" before it was made popular in the 60s. His

goal was to get Blacks to see that they were born to race that was more powerful and honorable than the white man made it seem. He wanted them to know they were not in no way shape or form inferior to anyone. So he created the UNIA as an organized legion which organized marches where male members dressed in military attire. In 1920, UNIA member dressed in full military attire with Garvey at the head dressed as a general, held their first convention on the streets of Harlem,NY. Black civilians flooded the streets to watch. This sparked the rumors of Garvey's radical ways and caused many mainstream Black activist of the time to back bite Garvey, stating that his radical ways was not the answer. But the Harlem Convention sparked an influx on interest in UNIA Nationwide. Blacks were shocked

to see a Negro do something so bold in the white man's country. Garvey's demise began when the companies he owned were taken down by the law for corruption. Although, Garvey's ways were not the most ethical; it makes me wonder if with all the turmoil in the Black community today if we could use bits and pieces of Garvey's philosophy in order to bring us all reunite us all and shake the dreaded curse of the abominable Willie Lynch. 

Sound off: Do you think Black America needs a modern day Marcus Garvey?


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Man Of the Year

Schoolboy Q is taking over the rap game. One track at a time. Oxymoron has hit the streets and everyone who's anyone has tuned in to what Mr. Q has got to say. I personally fell in love with Schoolboy in 2012 when Habits & Contridictions hit the airwaves. Even though that was a great album, it did not get the recognition it deserved. This time around Schoolboy is back with a vengeance. Schoolboy takes you through a walk in his shoes with each track. He even threw in the time when his uncle stole his cereal and Gramma couldn't do anything about it. In my calm objective opinion: This is what real rap sounds like. I could damn near see what he was describing as if I was watching a movie. Yeah he has his moments where he talks about bitches and hoes, but let's be real. What hood nigga don't have bitches and hoes? Exactly. But besides that, Q talks about things regular people can relate to: drug addiction, hustlin' to feed his family, and trying to get his life right before hustlin' leaves him with no family. Real life issues. Not to mention he has features from some of the best in the game right now: 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and we cannot forget his sweet daughter, Joy, who starts off the album saying: "Fuck rap. My daddy's a gangsta." Between Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar, the era of music that speaks about things that us regular folks cannot obtain nor know anything about will, hopefully, soon  be a phase of the past. We love you Q and may you always remain a real nigga. 



Sound off: What's your favorite Schoolboy track? 


Oxymoron Tracklist

Habits & Contradictions Tracklist