No Coast Battles rappers spit for respect Oct. 23

Its founder, Kelly Betz, explained his motivation.

By Matt Schur

Published Oct. 16, 2009

With his mohawk, skinny jeans and a tight button down shirt, it isn't immediately obvious Kelly Betz is the founder of No Coast Battles, Columbia's rap battle league.

But don't be fooled by his appearance. Betz, who uses the rap alias Dr. U.G.Z., can really rap, even beating locally known rapper Statyc in a recent battle.

The key to his success, and the key in general when battling, is a combination of originality and delivering timely punch lines.

"I love individuality," Betz said. "You have to be your own person in these battles."

The battles start with a coin flip to determine who goes first. (There is an advantage to going second.) Both rappers then alternate, spitting three one-minute verses. There is no touching, no going over the time limit and no talking over the other rapper. At the end of the three rounds, three celebrity judges determine the winner.

The battles are also done a cappella, meaning there is no accompanying beat. Not having a beat challenges the battlers to create their own rhythm and the effect heightens the importance of what is said.

"You obviously want to sound good," Betz said, "But the point is to be able to have joke after joke. I try to make every line a direct joke about the other person."

Raps are sometimes pre-written, making the punch lines more poignant and personal, creating an intense atmosphere. Eminem's "8 Mile" is the anthem to this mentality and the battle generation as a whole.

For No Coast Battles, Betz is focused on getting publicity over money. No Coast Battles is already expanding with a new league starting in Kansas City. In several years, Betz hopes there will be battle leagues in every major city.

Betz, who grew up in St. Louis, said his knack for battling started early in his life through a childhood practice of verbal self-defense.

"People used to pick on me on the school bus or at school, for how I dressed and how I looked," Betz said. "I just tried to make the bully look like a dick by returning a quick comeback. I just wanted to get people to laugh."

Rap battling seems to unfold out of this elementary exchange, a sort of fusion between boxing and comedy. Rappers take jabs at one another with minute physical descriptions, such as ear size, to others, such as occupation.

Betz's appearance might make him an easy target at times, but his hair and fashion choices are important characteristics and make him who he is.

"The people who are fake and just talk about themselves the whole time will always lose," Betz said about the battles. "The most important thing is to be original. I've already heard 'mo-hawk, mo' problems' too many times."

Be sure to check out their next event Oct. 23 at Speakers Circle. The eight battles will start at 5 p.m. and local talents Steddy P., Mr. Abstracked and Dan Friesen, will judge them.