MATH HOFFA: THE REALEST??!! BLURRED LINES??!!

10/07/2013 10:44:00 PM 0 Comments




02 October 2013

MATH HOFFA: THE REALIST!! OR BLURRED LINES!!

By: Brooklyn Gabriel
@broklyn_gabriel
@hiphopisrealtv

Let me start off by saying this, 

Math Hoffa is one of the top 10 best battle rappers of all time period!!!  The impact he has had on the battle rap game is profound and legendary!!! 

Math his exploits in and out the arena will be spoken about in mythical terms forever in battle rap.  (Not to sound dramatic but you can't dispute the Dose situation and how it galvanized battle rap and launched it into the mainstream conversation) Hoffa baby delivers bombastic barz that has intricate meaning and wordplay.  He is the ultimate personification of "Bully Rap with Barz"  Math is an amalgamation of fury, barz, pain, strategy, humor, wordplay and most importantly REALNESS!!!  Not to mention his stage presence is heavy and Math physical stature adds to the effect of his barz and the message he is trying to deliver is always surely felt!!!  His delivery is vicious and vocal projection demands respect like it or not.

The reason why???  

Math's credentials and his street lore is certified there's no question about it.  You can tell that man is forged from the grit and bricks of Brooklyn New York.  Math Hoffa is a warrior in the truest sense of the word (Math had ten battles this year and none of them was patsies) you hear it when he spits.  You see it in his face and furthermore its backed up by his resume.  His resume is extensive, well known and of course documented.  

Math Hoffa needs to be respected!!!    

Math embodies the fiber of Brooklyn in every way.  Hard working, gritty, intelligent, dangerous, respected, humorous and most importantly he's not to be played with. Hoffa is an interesting dichotomy of vice and virtue.  He can be the funniest man in the room or be the first to bite your head off if he's crossed marginally​.  He converse's with fans and takes the time to shake everybody's hand waiting on line at summer madness. His intentions are honorable but like any real man, if Math feels disrespected, smh"WATCH OUT" .....

"Houston we have a problem".  

This is why he is the perfect ambassador for one of the greatest cities in the world.  You can't play with Math like some average battle rapper, i.e. you can't walk around disrespectfully through the streets of Brooklyn!!! You will surely get checked sooner rather then later. Math exudes this in his body language, aura and his demeanor.  Math has a unique weapon in his arsenal that only a few posses, but many strive for or act like they have, which is......REALNESS!!! IN ITS PUREST FORM.  RAW AND UNCUT.  In this fake gangster rapper era!!!

This can not be OVERSTATED!!!  

Math is like a priceless gem among a group of Cubic Zirconium (fake diamonds).  He Lives what he raps, and his alleged tales of beat downs, pistol whips, and knockouts has not been disputed and never even questioned.  This realness allows for his bone bruising barz to resonate and land with devastating power and rock his opponents with fear. Subconsciously, you know you will get checked or minimum checked if you spit what he feels is disrespectful barz. This tangible feeling translates to the audience in a real life manner (The possibility of another Dose and Serius Jones situation)!!!  This is a factor in what makes Math Hoffa such a popular & polarizing figure in battle rap.  He is "The Brooklyn Bully" with Barz!!! The Juggernaut of Battle Rap!!! The epitome of  "I live what I rap" type of feel.  This is the gift!! However, this gift has turned into a curse. (Sigh, smh)  BLURRED LINES!!!

Here is the conundrum.  Battle rap is making it's way into mainstream, which is not played by the same rules the underground platform provides and revels in.   Battle Rap is a brutal sport of lyrical warfare that can get very personal.  There are no rules on what you can't say so everything thing is fair game such as your mother, father, kids, dog, do you get the picture??? Things can get a little awkward, compounding this pressure your face to face so tick tick tick, like a bomb anyone under enough stress and pressure will blow. There is a potential consequence to your actions and words before, during or after the battle.  It's is the simple human factor, the  tongue cuts sharper then the sword!!!  Thus, people can get emotional so you have to be very careful on what you say, how you say it and most importantly who you say it to.  If you are a non-aggressive punch line rapper battling against a punch line rapper, then keep your distance and just spit your barz or shit can get dangerous!!! (this does not apply to you B-Magic, you are certified).  

Battle rap provides a platform that can articulate the many ways he is superior to you and your faction in lyrical form but still convey the feeling that in any second things can get easily physical.  This is what makes battle rap, battle rap. This is where we may fall on our sword!  Nobody talks about the "train wreck theory" but everybody wants to see a possible train wreck.  That's why reality shows are so popular but I digress.  Of course the real battle rap fans comes to see barz and lyrical excellence but that may be the minority.  Let's be real.  There is a subconscious notion, that a possible fight can ensue between two real street self proclaimed killers.  It is part of the lure of battle rap and adds to the value of entertainment or what we call shock value!!! Additionally in my opinion this is what makes S.M.A.C.K/U.R.L the most respected battle platform on the planet!!!

U.R.L is not comprised with poetry majors from Yale, or from middle to upper middle class families that know how to rap.  The U.R.L. brand is very exclusive.  It is real gritty street/hood dudes that can write better then Langston Hughes in his prime.  They have the ability to paint such a dynamic picture with their words, there rap becomes almost tangible, you can feel it,  It sits in your soul.  However it is the same dudes that would pistol whip a man leaving him bloody today but have the ability to construct highly intellectual piece's that can even have a Harvard graduate perplexed and amazed at the lyricism, battle shemes and word play. (I have seen Harvard students and college graduates watch battles, then look at me dumb founded because of the multilayered metaphors and double entendre, and wordplay used to take the viewer on a journey). 

There can potentially be a issue because some of these battle rappers are some real street dudes.  It is a different feel when you are on Smack/U.R.L.  It is REAL HOOD/STREET DUDES FACE TO FACE, CLIQUE AGAINST CLIQUE!!!  Some of these battlers factions are not used to hearing this type of blasphemy against there brand, crew, gang or block so things can get real hectic fast!!! This in my opinion is what separates the Smack/U.R.L. BRAND!!!  It's the notion that battle rappers or crews could get it popping right then and there!!  Hell even Beasley's introduction of the battles gives it a U.F.C. like feel during the intro! It's brilliant! and I love it!

With the recent events at Summer Madness everything is just fucked up now!!! (Smh) It's a stain on battle rap and the U.R.L. brand in particular!!!  This in a business sense is horrible on all levels.  1) As a business  2) As a battle culture 3) The Negative view of Hip Hop.   I can see Smack, Beasley, Chico, and Norbes going ape shit because of the negative after shocks this event will produce when it comes to booking future battle rap/hip hop venues.  This unfortunate event will effect the U.R.L. brand and most importantly battle rap as a whole when it comes to negotiating and securing venues in exclusive locations. (MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, THE BARKLEY CENTER) It is going to be impossible to book battles in New York!!!  This can also affect any future Internet and television platforms as well, such as B.E.T. and H.B.O. (sigh, smh) wow.  This affects not just Math but it affects the whole battle rap world and as a battle rap fan I can honestly say it hurts!!!  

You can see the pain in Smack's face when he did his blog responding to the Math situation.  Math knows better.  He is calculated in his moves and is very mature. If you speak to Math, or listen to his barz, you can tell the reputation of aggressiveness is just one of the many faces of Hoffa.  Math is a good dude who blacked out and went over the edge.  Unfortunately, this can be the price of doing business in battle rap.  Specifically when your dealing with potentially explosive personalities and situations. 

HOWEVER, WE CAN NOT TURN OUR BACKS ON ONE OF BATTLE RAP'S ORIGINAL SON!!!  

MATH HOFFA PROVIDED THE CLOTH OF "REAL RAP" THAT SO MANY BATTLE RAPPERS USE TODAY!!!  HE SET THE BAR AND PROVIDED A LANE FOR HARDCORE STREET REALNESS WHICH MAKES THIS BRUTAL ART FORM SO EXCLUSIVE AND SPECIAL.  MATH'S INFLUENCE ON BATTLE RAP IS EMBEDDED INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CULTURE.  IT IS UP TO US AS A CULTURE, BATTLE LEAGUES, BRANDS, WEBSITES OR AS FANS TO ACCEPT OR DISREGARD HIM!!! 

This is something we must really contemplate before making a definitive decision. Math was very wrong on all levels. However, you want real rap???   You got real rap!!!  Be careful what you ask for.  Math Hoffa in a twisted way is BATTLE RAP IN IT'S PURE ESSENCE!!! 


@broklyn_gabriel
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