There's been a lot of drama surrounding Norbes' decisions to make cuts to the PG roster ever since Smack/URL started issuing contracts to their new battlers, but he's certainly found a few gems amongst the new crop that are sure to become Battle Rap's stars of tomorrow. Early next week, two of those new prospects are going to be featured once Norbes releases the first battle from the PG card that occurred over the Summer Madness 4 weekend between GJonaj vs. Gutta.
While the battle was closely contested, Detroit, Mi., spitter GJonaj stood out the most. His appearance may not scream "Hey, I'm a Battle Rapper!" when you first look at him, but once GJonaj spits his first few words, you'll be left with no other option but to be captivated by the performance that he puts forth. Being that I, Battle Rap Journalist Michael Hughes, was present at the event and witnessed it live, I can tell you that literally everyone in the venue except for Norbes was completely shocked when GJonaj began spewing out straight flames in his first round.
The battle kicked off with Gutta putting forth a solid round with some strong bars; however, there was certainly room for GJonaj to retaliate and capture the first round, which is exactly what he did. There was rarely a dull moment in his first, as GJonaj landed some Mike Tyson-worthy punchlines that had the crowd erupting in building-rattling roars. This might seem hard to believe, but he also delivered one of the best punchlines of 2014 in this first round; some might argue against this, but regardless, the line he spit was beyond fire.
Gutta came back strong in the second and third rounds, and possibly had the best showing in his third, but GJonaj's momentum didn't slow down one bit. At certain points in the battle he showcased his true intellectual lyrical abilities, while maintaining that beastly aggression and impactful punchlines throughout. Having seen the battle live, I have been wondering how the clash would translate on footage, and thanks to Norbes, VladTV was given an exclusive showing of the battle prior to its release.
Safe to say, the explosive energy that took place in the building was captured in full and resonates just as forcefully on video. Smack/URL has yet another Proving Grounds classic on their hands that took place at the renowned Black Star Music and Video store in Harlem.
While great praise was given to GJonaj, fans must not overlook the talents of Gutta, who too showed that he definitely deserves a spot among Smack/URL's roster of truly skilled battlers. Both of these young men have the potential to go very far in this sport under the Smack/URL wing, and once this battle drops, fans will certainly be crying out for new battles from both combatants.
Stay tuned for GJonaj vs. Gutta dropping next week, to see some of the top prospects of Smack/URL's new additions to their growing PG roster.
