Prevail vs. Flipout – The Year Was 1995…

The year was 1995.

Prevail had just linked up with Madchild to form Swollen Members. Flipout was a couple years removed as one half of the duo What The Hell (also with Madchild). To say their was a rivalry between the two would be an understatement. Prev went on-air at the legendary Krispy Biskut show and called out Flipout.

Flip, being the super b-boy he is, accepted the challenge and the battle was set for a party that G-Man & Rizk were holding at The Red Lounge called Honey Dips. The energy and buzz surrounding the Prev vs. Flip showdown was huge and the battle lived up to the incredible hype. I think this one is best left to both Prevail and Flipout to describe from each of their perspectives.

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

Prevail Recap:

“When Swollen Members first formed, it was a shock to most heads in the Vancouver scene. Myself and Moka Only had a group of 5 years called Split Sphere and Madchild and Flipout had a group know as What The Hell. Of course both those entities would be instantly transformed as Swollen started to record our first album. At the time I lived for battling and wanted to cement the arrival of Swollen Members in everyones minds.

I challenged Flipout to a battle to make it known once and for all who Vancouver’s premiere rap group was. Crammed onto the small stage at The Red Lounge, the energy level was unforgettable as Flipout and I exchanged verses. I was nervous and had come with a written rhyme to open my debate. I should have trusted in myself and freestyled from the beginning. Although the crowd response was overwhelming for both us, at the battles end, I felt in my heart that I had been bested.

As the months and years went on, the friendship between Flipout and I grew and I knew I had been influenced for the better because of it. To this day I still remember the excitement and fervour of that legendary night and it’s lessons have always been close to my heart and mind. For anyone in the building that night, I know they won’t soon forget the epic proportions and energy in the room, and thankfully, neither will I.”

Flipout Recap:

“Worst. Singing. Ever.

Sorry about that.

I took this battle quite serious. I was already known by friends by the nickname “Freestyle Crazee” because I would go off for 30 minutes straight sometimes, mostly when we were all really stoned. The way the battle was set up was Prev actually phoned me at my parents house and said “You know we gotta battle right?” to which I responded, “Yeah.” I’m not sure how it was all put together as an “event” but I prepared myself, thoroughly.

I didn’t really do much “research” because I kinda knew Prev already and we had been sort of rivals since me and Madchild were in a group together (What The Hell, get the album on iTunes!). Anyway… as you can hear in the recording I got pretty heated and yeah, I was wearing hair gel. I was also wearing an ill dark green PVC Columbia jacket and a black BALANCE tee (word to Dedos and GMAN). 1st round, Prev came at me with some personal jabs about how I cried in San Fran when me and Mad were living there doing shows… I missed my family! I was 18 years old!

But I remember Prev using this as ammo and that’s when I knew I had him beat because that shit didn’t mean anything to me and I could see the crowd didn’t even catch it. So in my head I was like, “ok, I think he just threw his most aggressive disses at me and they didn’t work so I’m gonna go extra hard to make sure I shut him down.” That was the mentality, kill mode, beast mode, whatever you call it. If Prev had gotten those disses out more effectively it would’ve made it a whole different ballgame but I smelled blood and pounced. I played to the crowd too. A lot.

I thought about KRS ONE’s tactics in the MC SHAN wars. Also, I honestly felt like the underdog so I wanted to make sure I came correct! Like I said, I took it really seriously. It was literally war to me.

I have since grown up (a bit) and I have a life. And me and Prev squashed everything right after the battle.”

Download the infamous Prevail vs. Flipout Battle

Jeff Spec – On My Feet

Hilarious video from local emcee Jeff Spec, about a man and his sneakers. Is that a Pharoahe Monch sample in there? From his album ‘Sneakerboxxx’ available on iTunes now.

Video directed by Ben Hamilton.