FLIPTOP

What is Fliptop?“FlipTop is a rap battle league that puts two people in a match to have them insult each other with the cleverest punch lines and sharpest rhymes.” --Alaric Riam Yuson (a.k.a. Anygma)

Why is it called FlipTop?FlipTop Kru, Inc. is an occasions and artist handling company founded by Anygma.

History of FlipTopAlaric Yuson: “Why not try it out here?”

Feb 6, 2010 - first Filipino Rap Battle League2010 - year FlipTop videos on Youtube went viral

most viewed video: Loonie/Abra vs.Shehyee/Smugglaz (17 million views)

December 2010 - Tectonics battle rapMay 2011 - first rap battle participated by femcees (Lil Sisa and Hearty tha Bomb)

Some terms on FlipTopEmcees/MCs - the two contenders in a FlipTop battleFemcees - female emceesRebuttal - tossing the insult back at your challenger*Written-verses that are prepared by the emcee while waiting for the next turn. Not necessarily “written”Choke - a long pause during the emcee’s turn. **Multi - multisyllabic rhymes. Rhymes that have two or more syllables

Famous names in FlipTop

Abra

Dello

Loonie

BLKD

Lil Sisa

Themes in FlipTop battles- No particular topic in each battle- Person’s physical appearance, rebuttal to the verses,

comparison of self to opponent and to other fliptopers- Not everything said are necessarily true

FlipTop battle flow- The arbiter introduces the two emcees.- The person to make the first turn is determined by a

toss-coin. - Usually a turn takes 90 seconds- “Time” indicates the end of turn

Fliptop battle flow- Has three rounds. One turn per emcee per round.- In the first round, first person gives verses that are

usually rehearsed and second person gives “rebuttals”.- OT- Writtens vs. Rebuttals- There are no specific criteria for judging. Very

subjective. Chosen judges have their own criteria.

What are the common elements of Fliptop?-Filipino is the medium used for Fliptop, but English and other Philippine Languages can be used depending on the speaker/location.-Swears/Bad words are not required but they are commonly uttered.-Rhyming words and puns-Figures of speech, making reference

FlipTop LinesExample: (From Dello vs. Badang Fliptop Metro Manila, Feb.7, 2015, Grain Assault 6, Makati City)

“Nagpapaputi ka ng pangalan pero Badang di mo kaya,Likas ang pagkabobo kaya kanta mo PapayaJuan Dela Cruz ang kaharapmo, di uso ang pakarapPag di bumenta yung papayaRemix natin. Gawin nating atchara” -Dello

Example: (From Dello vs. Badang Fliptop Metro Manila, Feb.7, 2015, Grain Assault 6, Makati City)

“Naalala mo after nung show natin sa La UnionKinantot mo yung mukhang ulupong sa CRAng cheap mo tol, putang ina mo isang text ko langsa tropa ko, meron ka nang iscandalKaya sa asawa ni Delo, mag-isip isip ka, binababoy ka nyaGanyan siya, bigla ka pinagpalitGanto tong asawa mong hayop kalupitWalang pangit-pangit sa titing galit” -Badang

Example: (From Dello vs. Badang Fliptop Metro Manila, Feb.7, 2015, Grain Assault 6, Makati City)

“Di mo nagets no? Buti pa yung chicken, may na-gets.”-Dello

“Tignan mo nga naman Tipsy D. Pag minamalas ka,sineswerte ako. Sulit na sulit yung orasna sinayang ko sa yo.” -Sinio (July 19, 2014. Angeles, Pampanga. Fliptop Aspakan 2)

“Gago, yung buhok mo mukhang Brocolliat mukha naman nyang cauliflower for sure pag blinondi” -Sinio

Is FlipTop the Modern Balagtasan?

“...though both feature the nuances of poetry, there is a distinction between their sensitivities. They belong to different historical and cultural channels, and we have to recognize those attributes.”

--BLKD (pronounced as ba-la-kid)

Is FlipTop the Modern Balagtasan?

Interview with FlipTop subscribers.