I’ll be sharing my advice on what to say in a rap battle.
What to say in a Rap Battle
You need to build your pedigree.
Let your opponent know you’re expecting a response with what you said.
You need to speak on the struggles they’re facing.
Add in some pop culture references too.
Follow it up with clever wordplay and multi-entendres.
Do what you can to diss their style.
Be strategic.
And strike some fear in letting them know where the battle can go if it continues.
Build up your pedigree
When I say build your pedigree it means to let them know your track record.
Inform them on you not being a rookie to opposition and what happened to your last opponents.
This is essentially giving your resume on why they’re not even qualified to be speaking to you.
Acknowledge that you’re looking for a response
Let them know you want them to keep talking.
It’s a battle of words and that you’re expecting a conversation or it’s just a lecture.
That’s a win-win situation for you solely.
It communicates you’re not running from discourse and openly accept a response.
Speak on your opponent’s struggles you’re aware of
Start airing out the dirty laundry here.
Your opponent’s insecurities might take some research and some might be more obvious.
The media’s your friend here in having them report what they pick up on with the opponent.
Take that and report it from your platform.
They’re gonna be politically correct when displaying it but here’s your chance to keep it real.
It’s really using their fears against them.
Incorporate pop culture references for relatability
Here’s where it gets fun for the audience that doesn’t really know what the beef’s about.
You’re catching them up to speed being in tune with your audience using recalls they can identify.
Add in clever wordplay
Your intellect is gonna show here by dressing up seemingly basic bars with deeper meaning.
Listen to one of my songs if you need to.
Typically it’s gonna be words that complete a thought but if it gets dissected it’ll reveal more.
Diss their style
All my drama fanatics get a kick out of this part.
This is where you critique your opponent.
If you need a better frame for how this painted then look at it as sharing direct feedback.
Let your opponent know what you really think and don’t spare them.
They need to be able to take constructive criticism anyway.
What better person than the person they’re taking time to talk to anyway?
Strategical bars
I personally like this part.
Being strategic with your bars is simply having the response fit the offense.
If they say something that don’t need an overkill response then move accordingly.
You’re simply matching the energy.
If you’re initiating the battle then prepare for a comeback that’s somewhat close to what you said.
Let them know where this battle is going
Give them the warning they deserve here by letting them know what happens next.
If you did a good job then what you said should make them not want to cross that territory again.
Make them feel that escalation is not gonna go in their favor.
Your goal is to get them to stop talking once and for all.
Related Coverage
Best things to say in a rap battle
- “Where’s the truth in what you’re saying cuz the people say you’re playing.”

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