MC Battle Blog

Repping Columbus, OH, Meta4ce has been a noteworthy competitor in the battle scene for many years. Most known for battle with Bo-Rat in Scribble Jam ’04, he’s garnered an unruly amount of unjustified hatred from internet turds despite being a sick battler and dope as fuck on tracks. Follow along as we discuss his well known battle with AdeeM, figure out what went wrong against Bo-Rat and get updateded on his music. [This interview is approximately 2 years old.]

How’s it going Meta? What’s been up man, how’s your daughter?

I’m aight. Been drinking some good old fashioned beer. My daughter’s fine, I just got her some dunks.

Word. My girlfriend’s pregnant too. I’m bout to be a father. So, how’d you first get into battling?

My dude’s older brother in Texas (Bigg Naut RIP) was like “super rapper” and he used to make us prove ourselves. So I kept battling him and I got pretty good at it.

Your street battle with AdeeM is something of battle legend. Can you explain exactly how that whole ordeal came about?

I didn’t even really know who dude was before I battled him. I saw his name, but I didn’t watch battles like that. Jakki called me up and told me some white nerd was at Bernie’s and my other dude (who will remain nameless) wanted to take his bread. So I went over there to clown and act a fool, maybe rob, but my other guy Przm was like, “Nah, don’t do that because he’s gonna think I set ‘em up. Just battle him.” So I did.

When he was performing, I’d sneak downstairs and throw ice at that man, being young and immature, trying to see what he was gonna do. It was quite hilarious.

What do you think the odds were that your heist could’ve backfired and AdeeM robbed you?

0. Too many people with me… and not rapper guys. He had a dude with ‘em. STYLIN ON ‘EM.

Unfortunately, your most well known footage is your clash with Bo-Rat at Scribble Jam ’04, a battle which didn’t turn out too well in your favor. Can you give us your thoughts on that situation? Just an off night?

Yup. That and a drunk night. I was trashed… and got trashed. Sorta. He really aint do much to tell you the truth. I came so wack that he aint even have to rhyme. That shit is funny, though. For real, for real, I never wanted to go to that shit. I don’t like the crowd and the people are weird. That’s like NoCanDo going to Fight Klub or Smack: OUT OF PLACE.com. A dude like Serius Jones could get hated on because of how he is and he’s dope. People prefer what they prefer.

What do you think of the current battle scene right now?

Good and bad. They’re starting to break the separation. The mainstream battle scene is kinda garbo. I thought some of the glock rappers were cool until I kept hearing them. Oh, and syllable nerds, blech. No flow whatsoever, jamming a bunch of words together with no rhythm does not mean a pattern. I like Illmaculate, though. And Serius Jones. Hommy Hom is pretty dope, he just aint new, that man’s been around forever. The Philly dudes are pretty tight, but should calm down on the glockery before another punch happens. The British niggas = no. I keep thinking of tea time and Queen Elizabeth.

Definitely. You mentioned that you like Serius and Illmac. Do you have any other current/overall favorite battlers? Do you think any cats are undeserved of the positive attention they receive?

Damn near the majority of the west coast. Jin, he’s a gimmick; that was proven. Dude got a NY accent of mysterious origin. P.E.A.C.E. That muhfucka didn’t make a lick of sense. There’s one cat from Atlanta, I can’t remember his name. He’s ass though.

Madd Illz?

Nah, that’s my homie, he’s pretty good; shouldn’t use lines from songs in the battle, though. The “got mugged” line. He’s good enough to get away with it.

If I’ve told him once, I’ve told him 1,000 times. “Don’t use lines from songs in battles. The whole mothafuckin’ crowd’s racist!”

Haha, backpack yts = semi-racist with superiority complex.

Speaking of Jin, how many copies of his album did you purchase?

Oh, none, and I DIDN’T download. I couldn’t bear the thought of somebody seeing any work of his in my possession. How many did you buy, good sir? “Going to Miami, I’m going to the fair…” NURP! Can’t use that one.

As opposed to organized stage events, the majority of your battles have occurred in the streets. Do you think the aggressive approach you need in street battles works well at stage events?

Aggressive approach is needed in street battles. It’s only useful in stage battles with a mixed crowd. No street people equal no aggression needed. I didn’t learn that in time. Stage battles are basically like standing there and letting somebody hit you for 30 seconds defenseless. You can’t cut anybody off or make them look stupid. It’s like comparing boxing to the UFC. Most UFC dudes wouldn’t be able to box, just like a boxer wouldn’t fuck with something as unregulated. I gotta get back into the swing of things and adapt.

Switching topics, you were featured on Copywrite’s Cruise Control mix tape. Is this a sign that you’re slowing down with battling and focusing more on music?

I’ve almost always been like that. I just used to want to battle everybody. That’s kinda lame, though. Look at this real quick: http://staging.universalmotown.com/trk/images/tumtum_ringtone.jpg. Negromullet.

I have the same haircut. So can we expect more music from you in the future?

Yeah, definitely. Look out for that Full Meta Jacket. It’ll be dropping sometime. I don’t know when, but it will be.

Can we expect the “Full Meta Jacket & Shorts” collab with Bo-Rat anytime soon?

Hahah, that’s ridiculous. And so was that look. It just aint come out right. I can’t say shit, I had on some high socks and my shorts were a TAD BIT young.

Who the fuck shaves their eyebrows?

I don’t know. I tried to get some lines in it and it turned out wrong. A lot of people do that out here, maybe not in Cali.

No doubt. Thanks for the interview Meta. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

SNARF. And Shart. FOOP.

Excellent.

Big thanks to Meta for the interview. Don’t sleep him on him ya’ll, everybody has an off night.