BATTLE RECAPS
Punches, wordplay, and setups–Breaking down the bars from EffeX’s latest battles.
RECENT PERFORMANCES
Energy, lyrics, and stage presence—Recapping EffeX’s latest performances and the music that moves the crowd.
TheJourneyThrough theNextTopBull Tournament
On August 13, 2023, I attended GTX Battles: Battle of the Bay alongside DomGuda, where I had the chance to watchsomeofmyfavoriteemceesgoto war DNA, Charlie Clips, O-Solo, T-Rex, Bigg K, and more Seeing these legends battle in person reminded me of why I lovethisculture (Facebookpost:Link)
During a break, I told DomGuda about John John Da Don’s “Next Top Bull” TournamentTour acompetitionheldin Tampa, Yonkers, Atlanta, and now coming to Oakland I had already decided:Iwasgoingtoinsertmyselfinto this tournament and prove I belong among the best Seeing those elite battlers on stage only strengthened my belief that I could compete at a high level
TheMomentof
Truth:FightorFold
The day of the event, I left my hotel, grabbed a drink at the bar to loosen up, andcaughtanUbertothevenue.Before the battles even started, I met the Oakland battle rap legend Pass. Even though he was frustrated about his battle with Calicoe getting canceled, he still took the time to offer me some words of encouragement something I trulyappreciated.
Beforesteppingonstage,allthebattlers were given the tournament rules This was when I found out that the rounds were now 3 minutes instead of 4 Since all my material was structured for 4minuterounds,Iintentionallyspedupmy flow to get through as much of my contentaspossible
My rounds weren’t designed to end cleanlyatthe3-minutemark,soIhadto adjustonthefly
My first battle was against Big Trip, and after a tough round, the judges voted against me I thought I was going home But just when I was getting ready to pack it up, John John Da Don himself approached me and told me some peoplehadno-showed “Youwanttogo again?”
But belief alone wasn’t enough. Registering for the tournament was my way of putting my money where my mouthis Itwasnerve-wrackingbutalso exciting just like the time I walked onto SolanoCollege’sMen’sBasketballTeam Itwasn’tenoughtojustknowIwasgood enough Ihadtoproveit
Without hesitation, I said yes. I was so anxious to redeem myself, thinking my tournament run was already over. He told me I could wait one battle and go after that, but I refused. I wanted to go immediately. He handed me a bottle of waterandsaid,“Let’sgo.”
TheComeback: FightingThrough theBracket
Next up, I battled Dr Jeer Before the match, we had already exchanged friendly competitive energy outside the venue, which made for an even more intense battle on stage We went bar for bar, and after a close round, the judges votedinmyfavor
With that win, I advanced to Round 3 against Camo. This battle was a test of endurance, and once again, the judges voted in my favor. However, they wanted us to go another round a decision that pushed me even further. I wonagain.
I had officially made it to the championship round But there was one problem I only wrote three rounds I didn’t have any extra material prepared for a sudden-death situation like this To this day, I’m still mad at myself for not anticipating that possibility I had fought my way back from a first-round exit to the finals, but without another round ready,mytournamentrunendedthere
Lessonsfrom theGreats
EventhoughIdidn’twinthetournament, the experience was priceless. After the event, I got valuable advice from Danny Myers,whotoldmethatmy3rdround where I said, “There’s a ‘Recall’ on my bars, I always ‘Have to bring it back’” wasmybestmomentofthetournament. He told me to find that pocket and masterit IalsogotpropsfromViixenthe Assassin, who was impressed with my punchlines and the way I structured my bars That type of feedback meant everything, especially coming from battlersIrespect
This tournament was more than just a competition it was a defining moment in my battle rap journey. Though I didn’t take home the win, I walked away knowing I can make an impact in this culture. I made memorable moments in every round and showed I can compete atahighlevel
This was just the beginning The next time I step in that ring, I’ll be more prepared, more strategic, and ready for whatevercomesmyway
TheRoadtoGates
After my Next Top Bull tournament footage dropped, I knew it was time to testmypenontheEastCoast Ireached out to Gates of the Garden, showing themmyfootageandlettingthemknowI was ready to battle. This wasn’t just another battle it was a personal challenge. Could my bars hold up in one of the most respected battle rap environments?Ihadtofindout
Before stepping into the ring, I needed to shakeoffthetension,somytwobrothers andItooksometimetoexplorePhilly
WeraceduptheRockysteps,channeling thatunderdogenergybeforethebignight. We did some sightseeing, taking in the city’shistory
And of course, I had my first Philly cheesesteak.Itliveduptothehype.Itwas great experiencing the culture of Philly before stepping into battle mode. But oncethatwasdone,itwastimetolockin.
The atmosphere inside Gates of the Garden was electric the type of place where moments are made, and a name canbebuiltinonenight Therewerejust as many rising battlers in the building as establishedlegends.
Before my battle, I met Favio, Mr. FinishYaFood himself, and we had a great conversation about the history of battlerap Heevendroppedsomegame and battle tips before I stepped on stage.
Outside,Ilockedintoafreestylesession with my brothers and battle rappers Preach and Macho Even before our battle, Troy V and I had a face-off, setting the tone while still showing mutualrespect.
Lessons&Takeaways
After the battle, I got great feedback from league owners, battlers, and fans in the crowd Battlers like Rio28 and others quoted their favorite lines andshowedloveformecomingfrom Caliandreallyrockingthestage
One of the biggest lessons was working with the crowd and getting them involved. Battle rap isn’t just about the bars it’s about performance, timing, and knowing whentoletamomentbreathe.
This battle proved to me that my bars can stand with anyone, anywhere And this is only the beginning
TheBattle:PunchingIn&PunchingOut
My opponent was Troy V, and my strategy was simple come in punching and leave out punching. Metaphors and punchlines are my strongest suit, and I knew thiswasmymomenttoprovemyself.
Someofmyfavoritemomentsfromthebattle:
•Thehostshovingmeaftermy“Riddled”scheme theyreallyfeltthatone •Thefamoushorngoingoffaftermy“Candyman”line certifiedmoment •MeetingbattleraplegendslikeCortez,DNA,CharlieClips,Steams,JC,RumNitty, O-Red, New Jersey Twork, and Prep and hearing Cortez and DNA quote their favoritebarsfrommybattle.
One scheme I thought went over heads was my New Jersey Drive scheme, but lookingback,Irealizedmydeliveryneededmorepausetoletitfullyland
Some moments hit harder on replay. I put together three key clips from my battle at Gates of the Garden each showcasing a different part of my performance, from heavy punches to layeredwordplay
I had the honor of being invited to battle at TOYS Rap Battle League’s “All Bars” event in San Francisco at ComplexSF This was a private event with no inperson crowd only battlers and emcees were allowed inside, making it an intimate setting where bars were the onlythingthatmattered
There was something special about battling during NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco it added to the highstakes energy in the room. Originally, I wassettobattleSphinxinathree-round match, but just three hours before the battle, my opponent canceled That couldhavebeentheendofmynight,but onethingaboutthisculture realbattlers arealwaysreadytostepup.
A fellow hungry emcee, Doggtown Dro, stepped in at the last moment, turning this into a one-round battle. Despite the last-minutechange,theintensitywasstill there, and we both came to fight. It was a true test of adaptability, proving that real battlers are always ready to step up whenthemomentcalls
The battle was live-streamed on Twitch, allowing viewers to engage in real-time andcasttheirvotesastheperformances unfolded. The energy was undeniable, and the back-and-forth exchange made for a highly competitive showing. When thefinalvotecountcamein,itendedina dead-even tie, highlighting just how closely matched and hard-fought the battlewas.
After the battle, I had the opportunity to sitdownforaone-on-oneinterviewwith Easy 2 B Nasty, the owner of T.O.Y.S. Rap Battle League, and Christopher Tang, the host at ComplexSF. It was a great chance to reflect on the performance, talk about my experience in the league, and discuss what’s next in mybattlerapjourney
Everybattleisachancetogrowandrefine mycraft,andthisonewasnodifferent.I’m continuingtolearnmoreaboutmydelivery, pacing, and how to control the energy in the room With every performance, I feel myself evolving, getting better at moving the crowd and landing my punches with evenmoreimpact.
Being in the building with fellow hungry and talented battlers made the night even more meaningful The environment was electric, filled with passion for the craft,andremindedmewhyIcontinueto pushmyselfinthisculture.Everybattleis another step forward, and this experience only fueled my drive to keep elevating
TheBattle:ALast-MinuteWarAgainstDoggtownDro
FULLBATTLES
NEXTTOPBULLTOURNAMENT
See how it all went down as I stepped into the tournament, proved my pen, and battled my way through multiple rounds. This was a major test, and I left my mark. Don’t just hear about it—watch the full tournament now!
FULLBATTLE
From the West Coast to the East, I took my talent to Gates of the Garden to see how my bars would stack up in one of the most respected battle rap platforms. This was the ultimate test—not just for my pen, but for my ability to control the room, land my punches, and adapt to the high-energy East Coast battle scene. Troy V and I went bar for bar, delivering a battle full of energy, wordplay, and moments you won’t forget.
FULLBATTLE
I stepped into All Bars at T.O.Y.S. Rap Battle League and went to war in a high-energy, private event where only the battlers were in the building. No distractions—just bars. This one was a fight from start to finish, and the Twitch votes showed just how competitive it was.
MyPerformance: Connecting ThroughMusic
For this show, I performed one unreleased song and my well-known track, “In My Own Skin” (Produced by Tha Beat Kollektorz - Watch Music Video). The moment I delivered the line: “I’ve seen children turn into grown men, andnotcomfortableintheirownskin.”
The reaction was instant. Head nods, verbal responses, and a deep level of engagement from the crowd made it clear that the message was received. But the most powerful moment was at the end of the song. Without any instruction, the audience began singing thechoruswithmeontheirown.
That moment was something special a truereminderthathip-hopstillconnects, andmusicwithmeaningstillresonates.
W.O.R.D.S.ACelebrationofArt &Expression
W.O.R.D.S. is more than just an event it’s a creative space where dancers, poets, singers, and rappers come together to showcase their talents Fae, the event’s founder with Bliss Urban Art Center, has done incredible work with the youth in Solano County, giving them opportunities to develop their artistic talents and perform on stages across thecountry
Being invited to perform at W.O.R.D.S. for the second time was an honor, not only because of the platform itself but because it was also a celebration of Fae’s birthday and everything she does forthecommunity.
This event is special because it brings together creators from all different backgrounds, not just rappers. Seeing dancers, poets, and singers perform alongside emcees is a reminder of the powerofartisticexpression.
Thiswasmysecondtimeperformingat
WORDS, and I’d love to return again Eventslikethiskeeptheculturealiveand provide a place where artists can connect,share,andinspire
PERFORMANCE W.O.R.D.S.
Experience the energy from my set at W.O.R.D.S., where I performed one unreleased track and “In My Own Skin.”From crowd engagement to powerful moments, this performance was special. Tap in and see the highlights!
TheRealestCoolestDopestNewYearRapShowEver
Some shows just hit different and The Realest Coolest Dopest New Year Rap Show Ever was one of them. Held at the top of 2025, this wasn’t just a performance it was an experience, a statement, and the perfect way to bring in the new year surrounded by lyricism, artistry,andcommunity
What made this event special was the diverse lineup of raw talent that hit the stage I was proud to share space with artists like Señor Gigio, 1 AM, Hugo Monster, Kensho Kuma, Constant Lyt, Sorin Vibee, and LMT Break on the 1’s and 2’s. Each artist brought their own style, message, and presence, making for a night that truly celebrated the essenceofhip-hop
There was no ego just bars, respect, and appreciation for the culture The vibe was community-centered, artistdriven,andfullofloveforthecraft.
I took the stage with one unreleased track to give the audience a taste of what’scomingin2025.Theenergyinthe room was undeniable crowd locked in, heads nodding, bars landing. Every line wasmetwithattention,andtheroomfelt alivewithrealhip-hopenergy
To close out my set, I performed “In My Own Skin” (Produced by Tha Beat Kollektorz) a track that continues to connect with people everywhere I performit Thecrowdwasfullyengaged, vibingwiththemessage,andlockedinto thechoruswithoutmissingabeat.Itwas apowerfulmomenttoendthenighton areminderoftheimpactmusiccanhave whenit’srootedintruthandrealness.
LookingAhead
Starting the year with this show was a statement:I’mhere,I’mlockedin,andI’m coming with more. From new music to more performances, 2025 is about levelingupineveryway.
Big shoutout and thank you to Señor Gigio for reaching out and inviting me to be part of this event He’s carving his own path in hip-hop, and it’s been dope to witness and be part of his journey. Artists like him help keep the culture thriving and moving forward with intention
Much love to everyone who came out, supported, and helped create this moment. The culture is alive and well, andI’mproudtobepartofit.
CreativePromo:Hip-HopMeetsHumor
Leading up to the show, we created a music video with all the artists to help promote the event and give people a taste of what to expect. It was a fun and unifiedeffortthathelpedbuildanticipationforthenight.
On top of that, I dropped a promo video parodying the classic Everest College commercial samestyle,sametone,butreworkedtopromotetherapshow Itwas hilarious to make and brought back memories for everyone who remembered the original. The response was great and showed how promotion can be creative, funny,andstillpushthemessage.
Sometimes it’s the unconventional ideas that connect the most and this one definitelyleftalastingimpression
UPCOMINGBATTLE
EFFEXVSKINGLEO
EffeX vs. King Leo is going down at Barz Up on April 26, 2025, at Old Park Brewery, 3514 Broadway, Sacramento, CA. This is set to be a high-energy battle where bars, wordplay, and performance will take center stage. With a $20 entry fee, fans and supporters can experience the raw intensity of live battle rap and see who comes out on top. If you’re in Sacramento, this is an event you don’t want to miss. Pull up and be part of the action.
UPCOMINGBATTLE
EFFEXVSSLEEPDANK
EffeX vs. Sleep Dank is set to be a clash of Vallejo’s best lyricists as we launch Head Shot Battle League. This battle is just the beginning, and we are actively booking more matchups to bring top-tier competition to the stage. The official date will be announced soon on social media —stay tuned and tap in if you’re ready to be part of this movement.
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