eyedea vs brother ali

http://youtube.com/watch?v=obZj6nEWdj8

Eyedea vs Brother Ali Battle @ Scribble Jam

 

Eyedea

The sound and picture quality is poor, but it is viewable.  Eyedea, begins with “eh oi” to quickly gather his rhythm and flow, but also the drop of the beat.  Opening up the battle with “so what your in my crew but still you be the whackest (worst), yesterday he was like come on Eyedea lets practice” is humorous and lets the audience know the position of both Emcee’s, it also shows wit, assertion. 

When he begins his body is moving with the rhythm of the music and words.  He stoops down and shimmies his shoulders, important as you must have attitude and charisma in front of an audience but the intensity of the event is heightened when before an audience which surrounds you and in a verbal battle where you have a set amount of time to deliver extemporised lyrics which are being analysed by both judges and the audience.  His body language towards Ali is straightforward and confrontational, assured Eyedea strides towards him till he is an arms length away before then turning to the crowd when saying the ending of that lyric.  This is important, as it helps the crowds reaction, which is exactly what one wants, it would have been good to see his facial expression as that may have prompted more of a reaction from the crowd.  He then turns and walks away to keep the energy he has flowing, it also allows him to come up with another punch line before addressing him with it.  When saying, “you’re my friend and all but the only way you’ll be me is if you pretend with your dick” he does the hand motions, but his voice, goes higher before deeper and a little more drawn out to emphasises the ending of the line. 

 

Eyedea says, “fuck your rhymes” with power and bass in his voice, but again he turns to the audience and uses his hand by pushing down before Ali – emphasising the lyric, but also it emphasises it to the audience, which is why they may have had that reaction. 

“You need a new testament” hear he waggles his finger before Ali’s face, lecturing and professing to him what he needs.  While saying this Ali is rubbing his face, possibly tactics and or nerves.  Tactics implying you are boring me, you are not doing very well.  

“You’re only dope cause Slug let you in the crew” got a good crowd reaction, and is good awareness of those surrounding him as well – but is a play on the truth, as Slug a member of The Rhyme Sayers Collective (there crew) was the first to be introduced and tour with Ali.  It is a little unclear and shaky as Eyedea stumbles over some words.  At that point he keeps eye contact and himself facing Ali, keeping the tension of the battle and the audience can see into.  Turning and pointing when referring to Slug, was a little difficult and clumsy to get around but there was at least an idea of who or where Slug was if anyone was unsure – though who Slug was is not important.  And the expression on Ali’s face is a smile, which on his part shows humour and he is relaxed enough to enjoy the humour and moment. 

 

“You only sold two copies of your new tape” another punch line, straight after the other, the first was possibly a build up to the second.  He first goes to Ali and point to his face showing two fingers referring to the selling of the tape then turns to the crowd with his fingers, and there is greater emphasis put on the “two copies”. 

 

Eyedea goes back to where h was standing and stoops down saying, and “still I just brake” referring to before the punch line, he finds a way of breaking up each blow, so the rhythm and the flow is not consistent and the lyrics are not consistent but the punch lines have a massive effect on the crowd, especially since the parts in between are complete fillers the crowd and possibly Eyedea are simply waiting for the next punch line.

His finish was not strong, he was in the middle of a delivery, but that is what happens in battles, you can’t be completely sure of the timing of your rhymes. 

The crowd, react to it the most they have all recording, and by Eyedea’s reaction and the way he ended it, with “but wait wait” it was not a good ending.  His expression is what, it happened and I am going to hold my position or ground now – arms folded ready to receive.    

 

Brother Ali

“Rhyme Sayers for life” asserting how he feels about his crew.  Beginning with what do you say to Eyedea, advocates there is respect and possibly nerves.  Coming in strong and quick is important, as he is able to pick up momentum and asserts himself into the battle.  “So what, I am an albino that just grabs the stupid ones while I murder you with rhyme flow” uses weaker points of Eyedea’s lyrics to start his.  His shoulders tense up slightly as if to show there is tension inside of himself surrounding that topic, but then he finishes it of with assurance, to then state

“Thought you would have known

When we drive into Ohio,

That you’d be on the ride home

Knowing that you’re my hoe”    

When broken up as above it is easier to see the rhyme pattern, you can ear it when said, but it is not very clear and is said quite quickly.  He stamps his authority down with that statement, and uses the lyrics Eyedea opened up with to his advantage (Eyedea’s lyrics about practising), he is naturally big with a powerful voice, and through this creates more of a presence, this comes across in his emphasis of “my hoe” and his, body language is brazen, aggressive and confronting.  He shakes his arms quite furiously, which helps emphasis the emotions, but also is in tandem with his flow – and is probably because of his flow.  This gives him the lift he needs as the crowd erupt. 

Eyedea has a great deal of energy and a high voice, and uses this by moving around a great deal, but also by making emphasis on every gesticulation he does.  But Ali’s is gripping due to his power, which you only have to emphasis a limited amount of times.  He mixes the rhymes with suggesting he has fallen of as he did not battle the last person very well, but he says “I can’t tell” and shrugs his shoulders, and is stepping back as he says it, as if to say you have never been that good, that’s why I can’t tell. 

He uses the tape scenario to his advantage, but the build up and delivery was a major influence of the impact.  “At least I got a tape” was emphasised as if at least I am good enough to have one, and he leans in with his upper body when saying this. 

The ending was weak, but at the same time shows awareness and sensitivity to the surroundings.  As host was saying times up, and Ali noticed this addressed him, with “I am sorry” and a hand up.  This is also good as he was really smashing Eyedea and he broke it with a soft, harm and sensitive apology, which if anything only adds and shows more of his character.

The hug at the end shows it is all friendly banter.