I can remember a time back in my teenage days back in High School, being a 16 year old kid who was always blasting mostley west coast rap full blast before going to school every morning various rappers like “E-40”, “Too Short”, “C-Bo”, “Yukmouth”, “Mac Dre”, “Snoop Dogg”, “The Dogg pound” “Dj Quik” and etc. Also had a deep love for the south rap scene as well. But growing up it was all about the west for me, it was like a traditon passed down, my two older brothers and uncles and even my father who cant stand rap these days engraved it into my head. But east coast didnt get to much love. Some east coast rappers made it into the mix like “Nas”, “Rakim” “Wu-tang” “redman”. “DMX” and etc. Now we didnt hate east coast rap it was just the west was number 1 in my heart. But another East rap trio caught my attention a long time ago and and still blast their music to this day.
I was a big fan of these guys ever since I heard them on “Money power and respect” featuring “Lil Kim” and “Dmx”. “Sheek Louch”, Jadakiss” and Styles P” form the Lox. They had hits and each one was great on the mic and each one of them had good solo projects in my opinion. They convinced me in the late 90s to give east coast rappers more play in my to big to fit on my bookshelf cd player. As time went along and and going to highschool times and the rap scene somewhat changed. My fellow classmates started wearing pink which that hella caught me off guard. And then one faithful day after school I see “Camron” video “I really mean it” Camron comes out of the escalade wearing a pink coat and pink boots. Then i told myself “ohhh” when i figured it out.
Dipset was everywhere, hit after hit, every house party, every time you turned on “Rap city tha basement” or “106th and park”. They just kept coming out with the tracks. I wasnt feeling their music but I could not deny or hate on their impact. And they did keep the parties going. Their music videos were cool to watch and they were trend setters when it came to fashion. They had it all, the swag that early 2000s teens wanted, they were killing it.
Over years, over all the hits and transitions every artist went through in their respected careers and it leads to something, something that could be possibly be bigger then all their hits combined. Their “Versuz” battle maybe the biggest. Now over the past year we have had differnent music artist get in on the action. You had “Snoop Dogg” vs the late great “DMX” (RIP). You also had Teddy Riley vs Babyface. Keisha Cole vs Ashanti, “Earth Wind and Fire” vs “the isley brothers”. (Steve Harvey ruined that one for me). Keith Sweat vs Bobby Brown and of course the controversial “Jeezy” vs “Gucci Mane”. My favorite one of course was “E-40” vs “Too Short”.
Then it was announced “The Lox vs “Dipset” Madison Square Garden.
Leading up to the battle the set up was perfect and quite funny. The back and forths on social media were funny. I learned Styles P is hilarious as a internet Troll. The exchanges that him and Jim Jones had kept my attentions on a high alert. I mean this guy from thr bay area who didn’t bump much east coast rap but this battle, this build up kept my attention and the more i saw more anxious I was getting. Then the day finally comes.
The stage is set, Madison Square Garden is packed with fans, rappers, athletes, thugs, gangsters etc. Michael Buffer the Michael Buffer is front in the middle of the stage. The lox comes out first to DMX “Intro”. I had goosebumps, it was like watching 3 Mike Tysons storming the stage. These guys were hella ready.
Then it’s Dipset turn to come out and they came late. Camron arrives finally with a beach chair. One group was there to have fun while the other, well you saw what happened.
Jadakiss came for blood and Dipset did not have a answer for him. He took over while calling Dipset for “lip- synching” he was funny, he performed great along with his fellow members. It was fun and high energy and the catalog songs that they were bringing out was great. I am not from NY but for a minute watching the performance I felt I was from NY.
On the Dipset side they seemed off, low energy, forgetting lyrics, Jim Jones looks like he fell off stage, Juelz Santana prettt much throwing an Alley oop to the Lox with the “i dont think these dudes like girls” line and Freeky Zeaky looking like a Hype man dancer had me in tears. From multiple youtube channels i heard Camron almost left before the battle even started. Dipset chemistry was off. But overall I still enjoyed the their performances.
There was quite a bit of funny parts. The shit talking was funny as hell, Camron trying to kick off Styles P. Camron and zeeky mocking The lox during the D block song with thier marching had me cracking up. I know some people and and crtics had issues with the antics and some of the words said towarda each other buts its all love.
Overall this was so fun to watch and this is my favorite versuz battle out of them all. And i hope this series continues and grows bigger bigger and it was great to see the crowd enjoying the show. I hope musicans take full advantage of this and keep this thing going. Now for a wish list verzuz, here are some I would love to see.
“Dr Dre vs DJ Quik” “Tha Dogg pound” vs “Outkast. “Bone Thugs and Harmony” vs “Three-6 mafia”. And alot more.
If you are a hip hop fan i recommend watching it, its fun as hell, funny, and just exciting to watch and if this isn’t your type of show well thats okay but just let people enjoy the show and keep moving. Hope everybody has a great weekend and stay safe.
D.K.W 