KOTD's Fresh Coast "Back To Basics" event is finally almost here. The no-frills and small-scale event is set to take place April 18 in a stripped-down warehouse venue space in downtown Los Angeles.
KOTD staffer and renowned camerman/editor Kyle "Avocado" Gray spoke to BattleRap.com recently about the league's plans for the event and detailed why "Back To Basics" will feature no stage and no hosts in a pit format.
"We're going back to basics as a result of huge events not pleasing the fans and battles ultimately suffering because of it," Gray says. "The disconnect that the stage creates between the fans and the battles takes away the raw energy that we all grew up loving with battle rap. Me, J-Pro and Kingfly came up with this solution and we've been working on this concept, I personally think that this is the only way I want to do battles out West from now on."
The match-ups for the event are available below but read up on the background to the full "Back To Basics" card (and details about a surprise, yet-to-be-announced "main event" battle) on BattleRap.com here.
- John John Da Don vs. Kid Twist
- Rone vs. The Saurus
- KG The Poet vs. Head I.C.E
- Fredo vs. Anygma
- RemyD vs. Psycoses
- PNut vs. Xcel
- Sketch Menace vs. Reverse Live
- Danny Myers vs. Cali Smoov
- Megadef vs. Madflex
Watch the trailer here:
Check out what the battlers are saying about the event below and listen to a full Bishop Brigante-hosted "B2B" press conference at the bottom of this page.
LA this weekend for #BACK2BASICS
— Organik - KOTD - #LLPS🕊️ (@OrganikHipHop) April 13, 2015
Soooo many good battles.... Cant wait for this shithttp://t.co/0G5OTFSVAd
@OrganikHipHop i can't wait man, gonna be great to catch people by surprise again
— Alex Larsen (also Twist) (@alexktwist) April 13, 2015
otw to this stupid ass ATL AIRPORT smh.... LA ill see yall in a few hours
— ALL OF THEE ABOVE (@JohnJohnDaDon) April 17, 2015
ok yall... time for take off ✈️
— ALL OF THEE ABOVE (@JohnJohnDaDon) April 17, 2015
LAX here i come
This is crazy! You can get the PPV for my next two battles vs @TheSaurus831 & @TheRealGoodz for a one time price at http://t.co/yfrz4ueUhh!
— rone’s gamblin corner (@rone) April 16, 2015
Just popped my shoulder out going over rounds for @TheSaurus831. I was PG steppin too hard. Same thing happened prepping for @DanjaZone16.
— rone’s gamblin corner (@rone) April 16, 2015
No poker from now til Sunday. All my focus & energy is going into the battle this weekend. Rehearse/Revise/Repeat
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) April 16, 2015
Feeling extra motivated
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) April 17, 2015
Another all nighter ahead of me. Crunch time. craftsmanship hours
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) April 17, 2015
@TheSaurus831 but anyway Rone is abouta 3-0 u & u cant do anything about it lol
— ALL OF THEE ABOVE (@JohnJohnDaDon) April 16, 2015
@JohnJohnDaDon lmaoooooooo 250 battles & 12 years in this shit and Rone is gonna be the one guy who can 3-0 me? hahahaha safe travels bro
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) April 16, 2015
@JohnJohnDaDon I dunno man, I didnt wimble then & I dont think I will this time either lol
— The Saurus (@TheSaurus831) April 16, 2015
"The fans gonna win with this battle!" @Headice http://t.co/jjvDwPWYke
— TalkBackKOTD (@TalkBackKOTD) April 17, 2015
"I had a whole round talking about that bump on your nose!" @Headice to @kgthepoet http://t.co/jjvDwPWYke
— TalkBackKOTD (@TalkBackKOTD) April 17, 2015
"I'm not coming with personals against KG. This might be one of the best punchline rappers besides Daylyt" @Headice on @kgthepoet
— TalkBackKOTD (@TalkBackKOTD) April 17, 2015
"We both probably cut from the same cloth from different parts of the land." @Headice on his battle with @kgthepoet http://t.co/jjvDwPWYke
— TalkBackKOTD (@TalkBackKOTD) April 17, 2015
"We aiming for battle of the night. Our bars are going to be the most memorable." @MolotovMyers on his upcoming battle with @CaliBoySmoov
— TalkBackKOTD (@TalkBackKOTD) April 17, 2015
Had a Dope Press Conference On @TalkBackKOTD With @MolotovMyers The Message Was Clear, EXPECT GREATNESS! #B2B SATURDAY #LIVE PPV #LA
— JP Calismoov (@JPCaliSmoov) April 17, 2015
"He's one of my favs. He ain't fucking with me though!" - @CaliBoySmoov on his battle with @MolotovMyers http://t.co/jjvDwPWYke
— TalkBackKOTD (@TalkBackKOTD) April 17, 2015
LA this weekend! #BackToBasics #KOTD
— ZachMenace™ (@SketchMenace) April 14, 2015
Listen to KOTD's "Back To Basics" press conference, which features appearances from Rone, The Saurus, John John Da Don, Kid Twist, and more, below. (Or visit the link here to download the show.)
Buy the "Back to Basics" pay-per-view (hosted by Caustic and BattleRap.com's Chris Mitchell) here.
And check out our full event coverage (including live updates from the front row) here.
Let us know what you think of the card and KOTD's throwback format for "Back To Basics" in the comment section below.
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