Don't Flop
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
| File:Dont Flop Logo.jpg | |
| Industry | Battle rap |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founders | Rowan Faife Freddie Scott-Miller |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Website | DontFlop.com |
Don't Flop Entertainment is the largest rap battle league based in the United Kingdom. It was founded by longtime friends Eurgh (Rowan Faife) and Cruger (Freddie Scott-Miller) in 2008. [1][2] Since then, notable performers include Oshea,[3] Sensa,[4] Lunar C,[5] Rizzle (of Rizzle Kicks),[6] Tony D (of Poisonous Poets), Blizzard,[7] Mercury Music Prize nominee Soweto Kinch,[8] and Mark Grist. Several rappers from Don't Flop have also made appearances in the Canadian rap battle league King of the Dot,[9][10][11] as well as youth and music broadcaster SB.TV.[12][13] American rappers Illmaculate and Soul Khan have also made appearances on Don't Flop, both as rappers and judges. Don't Flop events feature all elements of hip hop culture, including cappella emcee battles, freestyle battles (sometimes over beats), grime clashes, DJ sets, live performances by hip-hop/rap artists and more recently at the 'BLAM' events there has been live art and breakdancing.
Format
Don't Flop battles are usually three rounds, with each round being 60 to 90 seconds, although significant main event battles will sometimes have 3 minute rounds, there have also been instances of unlimited rounds. A coin flip typically decides who goes first, and the emcees alternate after each round. Sometimes however, the battlers will decide between themselves off camera who will go first, and in a championship match, the Champion will decide who goes first. A panel of 3-5 judges then decide the winner (there have been instances of a 7 judge format in title matches). Up until recently, an overtime round would settle a draw. However, this has now been removed from most leagues and a winner has to be decided after the 3 standard rounds.
Events
Don't Flop events are often divided across England. Mancunian rapper Chronicle organised Don't Flop North events To The Test 1 to 9, with Don't Flop co-founder, and London/Norwich based promoter and battle rapper Eurgh stepping in to organise the tenth event. A London rap battle event entitled "Blood in the Water" was thrown every year from 2009 to 2011. Emcees from other rap battle leagues such as Grindtime, King of the Dot, and Basementality Battles came to the UK to battle other opponents.[14][15] Don't Flop held its first USA vs Canada battle in 2011 with Jonny Storm vs Charron.[16] Today, there are a minimum of 2 events each month and are held all over the country.
Innovation
In recent times Don't Flop has led the way in introducing new forms of battling. In 2012, Don't Flop hosted its annual April Fools event.[17] Here, many new formats of the written battle style were introduced. At the same event, Don't Flop also hosted its first ever 3-way battle.[18] Then, at the "Second Quarter Try-Outs" event in Manchester, a battle which involved both rapping and guitar playing was showcased for the first time. Don't Flop has also shown innovation in the way battles are judged to ensure the right decision is made. Moving away from a traditional format, in the 2013 tag team tournament, judging was done after the event by judges that video their decision, which was then edited in to the battle video.
List of Champions
Until 2012, there was no crowning achievement within Don't Flop, many people thought that Oshea and Sensa were the best two battlers in the league at the time, and they had battled once already, so they had a rematch for the title, Oshea won the title, since then the title has changed hands twice, from Tony D, to Soul, Tony D was only champion to successfully defend the title, he defended the title three times before retiring it. Soul then beat Cee Major for the vacated title, and became the third champion. In 2016 Soul successfully defended his title against Raptor.
Solo Champions
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Successful Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshea defeated Sensa |
To The Test Ten Leeds, England |
Feb 5, 2012 | 0 |
| 2 | Tony D [Retired] defeated Oshea, defended against Deffinition, Chris Leese, Unanymous |
Don't Flop 4th Birthday London, England |
Oct 20, 2012 | 3 |
| 3 | Soul defeated Cee Major, defended against Raptor |
Checkpoint 2 London, England |
April 25, 2015 | 1 |
Doubles Champions
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Successful Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cracker & Cee Major defeated Bamalam & Cystic |
Verdict London, England |
June 8, 2013 | 0 |
| 2 | Shuffle-T & Marlo defeated Cracker & Cee Major, defended against Dialect & Zen |
Don't Flop 5th Birthday Leeds, England |
Nov 9, 2013 | 1 |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
