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Red Bull Brought The Knockturnal to Miami to Explore the World’s Largest Freestyle Competition – and it did not disappoint

by Catherina Gioino
written by Catherina Gioino

Attendees during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all know Red Bull gives you wings, but did you know that it can also help people spit out fire? 

That was the case in Miami this weekend when the top Spanish-language lyricists from all over the country delivered some brutal and precise lines at the Red Bull Batalla Regional Qualifier. 

Now celebrating its 16th year, the Red Bull Batalla boasts the largest freestyle competition in the world, and the talent that flocked to Miami for the Regional Qualifier had The Knockturnal questioning if we were at the National Final instead. 

Sixteen rappers, freestylers, dancers, and artists all around compete in three different regional qualifiers–with the previous qualifiers taking place in Los Angeles in July and Houston in August–to test their quick-witted rhyming strengths and prove why they should advance to the National Final in Dallas in November. The winner of the National Final will test their chops with top MCs from all over the world in the Red Bull Batalla World Final, taking place in Bogotá, Colombia, on December 2. 

Sara Socas performs during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool

Ahead of the Miami Qualifier, Red Bull welcomed several journalists from across the country to stay in the art mecca neighborhood of Wynwood in Miami. This year’s contestants stayed at the Arlo Wynwood, a hotel with killer views of Wynwood Walls murals, and a gorgeous rooftop pool complete with occasional guest DJ parties. With the surrounding area of Wynwood full of art, culture, and great food, and with the influx of murals, graffiti, dancing, and Spanish-speaking hip-hop heavyweights intersecting at every corner, the stage was certainly set for the world’s largest freestyle competition.

In between graffiti workshop classes and Asian-Latin fusion dinners, the stage was also certainly set at an unsurprising venue where often these subcultures intersect: a skatepark. That’s right: the Red Bull Batalla Miami Regional Qualifier was set right in the middle of a half-pipe ramp, letting the crowd there certainly match the energy of the contestants freestyling for the Red Bull red, yellow, and blue-colored Batalla trophy, featuring a recording mic. 

Apache performs during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool

The weekend started with a graffiti workshop class at the Miami Art Society, which detailed how the Wynwood neighborhood came to be, artists works in the gallery, and how graffiti often intertwined with hip-hop and freestyling. This was then followed by a graffiti lesson by Entes, a Peruvian-born graffiti artist who not only enlisted in the help of Red Bull staff and reporters to ultimately make a freestyling avian he cheekily called “Rooster,” but also created a spot-on Red Bull logo just by using his naked eye. 

The night concluded with an Asian-Latin fusion dinner at El Chinito, just down the block from both Arlo Wynwood and the Miami Art Society. The dinner consisted of mixed fusion dishes such as carnitas shumai and watermelon “tuna” pizza; and Red Bull-inspired drinks such as the Chinito Summer (Red Bull Red Edition– watermelon – Tanqueray Gin, Peach Schnapps, lime juice, and simple syrup) and Buru Loko (Red Bull Coconut Berry, Tequila Blanco, Peychaud’s Bitters), as well as the standard Red Bull Vodka. 

Before the show started on Saturday evening, several emcees chatted about their upbringings and how they got into freestyle, as well as what they had on their minds ahead of the competition. The scene was set once the show began: Red Bull brought out the Secret Walls crew to enter a real-time live painting battle during the qualifier. Artists Ruth Burotte Tamfee (@rutamfi) and Marlon Pruz (@marlonpruz) battled it out against artists @chnkfondue and @zoegen, unveiling an emcee-inspired work of art.

Judges for the qualifier included MC Snow, Chester, and Sara Socas, with co-hosts Racso White Lion and Sonja La Makina

Sourius competes against VNZ during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool

Leading the show and accompanied by DJ Cesar’s mixing abilities at the turntable. After the emcee was crowned the winner of the Miami Regional Qualifier–with a special guest appearance by El Misionero right before the final round–a Venezuelan rapper Apache gave the crowd a closing performance. 

The fantastic weekend truly showcased the opportunity for young emcees to hone in their craft at the Red Bull Batalla and unite emcees from not only all over the country but around the world as young emcees in the United States make their way to the global stage. 

Read our interviews with AdonysX, JD, and Crown here.

And our interview with Jay_Co “El Leon” and linked here.

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EntertainmentMusic

Bronx Artist to Watch: Gudda Babby

by Lenique Vincent
written by Lenique Vincent

With household names such as Cardi B, J Lo, French Montana, Swizz Beats and the legendary Notorious B.I.G; it’s safe to say the Bronx, New York is responsible for some of the most influential musical artists. Sharing the same birthplace as Hip-Hop may have greatly shaped the many musical talents that continuously emerge from the “boogie down” Bronx; which is the case of up and coming rapper GuddaBabby who credits the nitty gritty borough for fueling his craft.

Taking influences from Notorious B.I.G, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Drake and more; GuddaBaby released his first studio record “Mhtl” on December 22,2020. Since, the Bronx native locked into the studio to record his latest project, “Life is Beautiful.” The Knocktural was able to conduct an interview via email with GuddaBabby, to get some insight to the story behind the artist.

Q: What’s the story behind your stage name?

A: GuddaBabyy steams from the slang, “Gutter Child.” Growing up I spent a lot of time in the streets, or in slum areas. Growing up in a low economic station I kind of adapted to the lifestyle that came with it. However, as I got older, I started to lean towards the more positive things in life. I could never forget where I Came from . I’ll forever be a GuddaBabyy.

Q: When did you start making music?

A: I started making music around 2015 during high school, however, I never took it as seriously as I do now until around late 2019. Once my first studio recorded track “Mhtl” hit all platforms, I just kind of took off from there .

Q: Tell me about your latest project? How did it come about? What’s the main message behind it?

A: “Life is beautiful,” my first studio project released on March 20, 2023. It was inspired by the events that took place within the three months of me actually focusing on my craft.I took about three months to actually focus, plan and execute the mission no matter what was going on in my life. Three months of dedication opened doors for me I never thought I’d walk into. This project was everything I felt, went through and did within that time span and I just wanted to share it with everyone.

Q: Drill is so popular right now, how do you keep your sound and image unique?

A: With the drill scene taking over mass majority of the industry, I do my best to stay versatile and have unique schemes, punchlines, metaphors, and sounds. As far as my image goes, I like to keep it calm, clean and not too extra.

Q: How do you hope your music will contribute to the NYC music scene?

A: I wouldn’t consider myself a Drill artist, however, I hope my music can contribute to the NYC drill scene to inspire, uplift, motivate and relate to my supporters. I pursue music to let everyone know: no matter who you are, you can do whatever you want. You just have apply the pressure and don’t ever quit!

Supporters can stream Gudda Babby on Apple Music and YouTube! He will also be releasing a single titled, “Don’t Know,” on his birthday July 6.

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MusicThe Latest

Exclusive Interview: Roc Nation’s HDBeenDope

by Payton Wilson
written by Payton Wilson

Brooklyn rapper HDBeenDope has unveiled his latest single “Locked In” with multi-platinum producer Dizzy Banko. With the rapper’s signature high-energy style over booming beats and a lyric video to pair with it, the highly anticipated single arrives on the heels of its impressive viral explosion on Tik Tok which continues to amass millions of views.  

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EntertainmentMusicThe LatestVideo

Grammy-nominated Producer Jetsonmade Launches BoyMeetSpace Academy

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

Jetsonmade recently announced the launch of BoyMeetSpace – a music education program inspired by his label. BoyMeetSpace Academy takes aspiring producers through a six-week course where they’ll learn about the beat making process, as well as be provided with the resources and tools to establish a successfully career in music while receiving one-on-one feedback from music industry playmakers.

Notable names that will join Jetson at his academy are Tay Keith, Pooh Beatz and WondaGurl. Artists from Jetson’s label including 1st Class and Neeko Baby will also help guide students as they get up close and personal with the inner workings of the music industry.

Those who enroll could also receive college accreditation for the program as soon as next year. Jetson plans to team up with universities across the country in the near future.

We got to sit down with Jetsonmade to talk more about the creation of BoyMeetSpace Academy, his thoughts on higher education, what truly makes an artist and producer’s sound unique and what it’s like producing for some of the biggest stars of today.

You can find out more about Jetsonmade and how to join BoyMeetSpace Academy here.

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EntertainmentEvents

Busta Rhymes Celebrates EP Release “The Fuse Is Lit” at The Ned

by Staff
written by Staff
On Saturday, November 19, 2022, at The Ned NoMad, Busta Rhymes hosted a private EP Album Release party taking over the entire Jazz Club level of Akiva’s Members Club and hotel, a popular New York hotspot. The party, of which guests entered through The Library Room which was filled floor to ceiling with red and black balloons, went from Midnight to 4:00am, with an exclusive guest list of Busta‘s personal invitees celebrating all evening. The party was to honor his new album, “The Fuse Is Lit,” as he toasted with guests into the late night hours. 
 
Other music artists and industry notables at the bash included Dave East, DJ Suss One, Rowdy Rebel, Spliff Star, Giggs, Badius, Capella Grey, Tr Trizzy, Hustle Hard Herbie, Eric The Jeweler (Eric Mavani), Murda Mook, DJ Scratchator, Nicole Mitchell Murphy, Stacie J, Gianni Credle-Harrell, and more. 
 
“The Fuse Is Lit” EP has been trending on the charts, released on November 18th. The album includes a collaboration with Swizz Beatz as producer, and special guests Conway The Machine, Capella Grey, Big Daddy Kane & more. 

Busta, all smiles all night, was draped in a powder blue custom Chanel suit and matching puffer jacket ensemble highlighted by red Chanel stitching, a red turtleneck and gold button details. The rap mogul was draped in gold jewelry, his hands donning oversized gold, diamond and ruby rings, for a show-stopping look.  
 
Busta took to the mic once the room was full, noting “I didn’t have a DJ until 8:00pm, shout out to Blends, and a venue until 72 hours ago, okay..ok… let’s be straight, 48 hours ago.., I called my brother Richie Akiva and he pulled off a lot for me, not going to sugarcoat it, love that man.” Guests continued to cheer and shout out their pal Busta, everyone so excited for his EP. He also went on to give additional speeches, and noted “Now I am going to say a few things. First, I AM HAPPY.  I have been working on final touches of this EP release for the last 48 hours, and right now I am super in love with being an artist first and when it comes to the creative space especially. When you have real friends and real love and relationships in your life, that just makes all things next level.”
 
A special DJ set was performed by Busta‘s pal DJ True Blends.
 
The Ned NoMad continues to have an endless flow of VIPs through its doors, with Dave Chappelle hosting his SNL party the weekend prior, of which Busta and Miguel were both present and performed. 
 
Richie Akiva has been at the forefront of New York hospitality since he opened Butter, followed by Up&Down, The Darby and 1OAK. The Ned NoMad is his latest chapter of an evolved career, bringing New York his latest vision of curated hospitality and nightlife, through the doors of the exclusive Members Club, Hotel, and private lounge.
 
Exclusive Images from Busta’s EP Release Party. Photo credit: Johnny Nunez  

 

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Film

Why ‘8 Mile’ is the best Rap Movie

by Richard Schertzer
written by Richard Schertzer

It has been 20 years since the phenomenal release of Eminem’s semi-biographical feature 8 mile and it has only grown in relevance with the forthcoming years.

I, for one, have always been a huge fan of Eminem. I appreciated his lyricism and artistry as a rapper and his body of work has only grown exponentially since the release of the film. 

The film takes place in Detroit where a young man named Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith (Eminem) attempts to break out into the rap scene. It becomes difficult for him as he is the only white man to attempt to compete in the 90s to early 2000s zeitgeist. 

This film had the muster and energy that you would expect from any high-octane Eminem single off of one of his fire albums. 

 

This film proves to be a gritty and raw look at the life of a young man making his way through a strange and dangerous world in Detroit. Its realism is what contributes to its artistry and makes it a thing of beauty that other hip-hop movies like Get Rich or Die Tryin’ failed to achieve. 

8 Mile is a feat in, not only the film genre, but also in songwriting, as Eminem became the first rapper to win an Oscar for Best Original Song. “Lose Yourself” is easily one of the greatest rap songs of the decade if not the century. It is played in every gym and almost every motivational video for a reason. 

The song has a unique quality that has remained ubiquitous in its use wherever it is played. The song, much like the film, deals with struggle and perseverance with a message of never giving up no matter what happens. 

That is what everyone needs to keep the drive and spark inside of them burning. It’s the only thing that gives up hope for a better tomorrow. That’s what keeps me up and running throughout the day. 

 

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EntertainmentMusicThe Latest

Kalan.FrFr Drops “Light Breeze” Music Video, Talks His Album 222 And Giving Back To His Community

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

The West Coast is experiencing what some would define as a musical renaissance. For the past few years, there’s been a huge emergence of talent hailing from the city of Los Angeles and taking the nation by storm, including Roddy Richh, rap duo BlueBucksClan, 1TakeJay and Blxst just to name a few.

And joining that list is L.A. bred newcomer Kalan.FrFr.

But rap wasn’t always on his radar. After establishing a pretty solid football career at San Diego State University, a then 21-year old Kalan had to unexpectedly end his time on the field and shifted his focus to pursuing music full time.

His biggest song “Never Lose You” has over 5 million views on YouTube and his infectious discography has gained him 628,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

So, it came as no surprise when he caught the eye of Roc Nation and signed on the dotted line officially to be a part of the company founded by Jay-Z. He even made his Made In America Festival debut this year as a Roc Nation artist.

We caught up with the rap star to talk about his new album 222, his appreciation for fashion and his outlook on the music industry as a business.

We get deep and touch on his deep connection with his spirituality and how it’s impacted his career, as well as his dedication to fighting the negative stigmas surrounding special needs – an issue the rapper holds near to his heart.

Last month, the rapper hosted his TwoFr Day annual charity event, where he donates clothes, school supplies and more to his former community and high school in Compton, CA. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Compton Unified School District Special Needs Program.

On a lighter note, he also speaks about his genuine love for his job and making music, and how he’s determined to not let the pressures of life and work stop him from enjoying the fruits of his labor.

“I’m not gonna say I’m not having fun because it’s fun. This is fun, my job is fun. But, it’s still my job at the end of the day. So, I treat it like work. I feel like this next stage I’m at in my life, I’m gonna have a lot more fun with the perks of being a rapper” says Kalan.FrFr.

As for what’s next for Kalan.FrFr?

“The video ‘Light Breeze‘ finna drop. So, just get ready for the video, it’s gonna be fire” he said.

Fire would be an understatement. The new music video for the melodic trap bop off his 222 album follows the rapper around his city of L.A.

Kalan.FrFr may be a rookie in the rap game but he carries his self like a veteran. The lifestyle comes easy to him and it shows.

In the video for “Light Breeze,” released yesterday, he raps “All you can see is a light breeze, Sunroof back, A/C riding through the light, light speed” as he rides past palm trees in foreign cars from sun up to sun down.

Watch out interview with Kalan.FrFr below.

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EntertainmentMusicThe Latest

Rising L.A. musician LOU.M talks growth, creative process and more

by JaJuan Malachi
written by JaJuan Malachi

Ever since the advent of his music career back in 2019, L.A. rap crooner Louis Murray, better known as, LOU.M has embraced a ground-up, “quality over quantity” approach to delivering high-level music. 

Instead of aimlessly spewing out a plethora of content like most newcomers, LOU.M has been a bit more methodical in his approach.

With an eclectic skill set of adept vocal ability mixed with a hard hitting rap prowess, LOU.M illustrates that being a multi-hyphenate is not the exception but a core requirement within today’s intertwined landscape of Hip-Hop and R&B. 

Gleaning salient influence from idiosyncratic Hip-Hop heavy hitters like Smino and André 3000, LOU M.’s sound can be described as serene, atmospheric and supremely chill. 

In a modern-day soundscape replete with monotonous flows and distasteful imitation, LOU.M’s evades this trend as he’s able to espouse his own refreshing, “out of the norm” sense of originality.  

Considering the release of his latest single: Outside, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal chopped it up with the rising star to discuss a number of pertinent matters including his background, inspirations and aspirations for his career. 

Here is how the conversation played out: 

JaJuan: For those who don’t know much about LOU.M just yet, tell us about your background and how you got your start in music? 

LOU M.: Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA all the way through my high school years. After that I went to college at Stony Brook University out in Long Island, NY. Played football all four years on scholarship. Felt like it was necessary for me to go somewhere else and experience the culture there. Dove into it and at the same time I continued to write even more. I started off writing poetry when I was in High School, I kept writing and also started performing live at events while I was in college. That foundation kept me confident and built a strong base of people that were actually keeping up with my poetry. In 2019, I performed at an event and I met a woman that invited me to recite a poem for her album in the studio. February 2019 was my first time ever hearing myself after being recorded and I never stopped. It felt natural and made so much sense to me so I really decided to begin writing in song. 

JaJuan: What does your creative process entail? 

LOU M.:My creative process really comes from drawing out my own personal experiences or those that I’ve encountered in life. That’s where I draw inspiration from. I’m a writer so I really just like to sit and take the time to let the thoughts pour out in the best way I see fit for whatever beat I’m working with. Sometimes I can finish a whole song in a day, other times it can take weeks or even a month but that’s simply because of whatever the content of the song is. I believe I hit pockets of time where I may feel stuck with a song and to me that means I just have to keep living. The story will fill itself in. 

JaJuan: What motivates you to pursue a career in music?

LOU.M:What motivates me to pursue this career in music is my family and also the simple fact that writing these songs is a great outlet for me. Whether it is joy or sorrow, it has become important for me to write and speak my mind.

JaJuan: Who are some of your biggest inspirations and some artists that are on your radar at the moment?

LOU.M: Some of my biggest inspirations come from paying attention to those who came before me and really had an impact in this industry just by being themselves. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Andre 3000, even groups like Wu-Tang. I listen to a wide variety of music, old and new. So it varies who’s really on my radar, sometimes I really focus on production, other times I can be really into hearing lyricists or people who are more focused on just creating an overall vibe. 

JaJuan: Outside of music, do you have any other creative outlets that you enjoy? 

LOU.M: Outside of music I really enjoy snowboarding. Got the season pass so I’ve been going pretty frequently and it’s a positive way to use my energy. It’s easy to misuse your time and energy in this world so finding another outlet to keep myself focused is a blessing. 

JaJuan: As far as your career trajectory goes, are you striving for a traditional record deal or are you a proponent of independence and creating and promoting your own art without the “machine” behind it? 

LOU M.: I think the concept of being an independent artist is important, especially the way the business has changed over the years. I feel like I came into the game at the right time to grow. With that being said, I’m still open to partnering with the “machine”. It’s a matter of balance and everyone’s situation is different from what I understand. Paying attention to detail with whomever you deal with seems to be the most important part when it comes to doing business in this industry. 

JaJuan: If you could do a collab with anyone in the industry right now, who would it be and why? 

LOU. M: If I could collab with anyone in the game right now it’d be between Smino, Andre 3000, Tyler The Creator, and Kendrick Lamar (more specifically, PG Lang). 

JaJuan: What was the inspiration behind the concept of your latest single: Outside? 

LOU. M: I wrote OUTSIDE towards the end of the summer of ‘21. The inspiration was from my point of view of what I was seeing while I was “outside”. Still in a pandemic but people wanted to be outside. They wanted interaction even though it seemed unattainable at one point. 

JaJuan: What can we expect from LOU.M in 2022? 

LOU.M: What you can expect from me in 2022 is consistency.

To keep up with LOU.M, follow him on Instagram

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