Recap: Notwithstanding both B. Dot and Mike P.not quite bringing their A-game’s, this West-coast Initiation battle between the two still makes for a solid and competitive effort. Mike P., however disjointed with his angles and punches in losing a close 1st round, still manages to not only stay away from the typical ‘conscious rapper/gang member’ conundrums associated with his opponent, but bring enough haymakers and more consistent verbal spitfire to edge the 2nd to split things going into the 3rd. But B. Dot, who for all his political awareness, rapid punchlines and racial austere, can still suffer from one too many dry spots when it comes to bars, would come through with a thunderous 3rd, spitting rich narratives on inequality, well-researched (and fiery) personals on his opponent’s past struggle bars (esp. Mike’s battle vs. Shotgun Suge) and potent barbs on white privilege to beat back a versatile and solid at times, but also inconsistent and angle-perplexing turn by Mike.
Verdict: B. Dot (W) 2-1
Favorite line: B. Dot – “I can take you on a crash course on how they dump drugs in L.A. and came back around with the armor trucks, put us on smack to kill us, now you on Smack gettin’ killed…nigga, karma sucks!”
