you had room to move around
almost 360 and work it. With that
being different did it change your
performance?
Mook: We got to see the stage a
day before. No one knew prior to,
but the day before we got to go
on the stage. But you can’t really
simulate, you know?
Jon Rines: So it didn’t change your
performance?
Mook: Yeah, ‘cause of what you
said; [being able to] look all
around.
Jon Rines: Everyone wants to
know about the last thirty seconds.
This article was completed a couple
of days after the battle. The last
thirty seconds are now posted on
YouTube if you want to hear them,
but I’m sure as a true battle rap fan,
you’ve already heard.
Mook: The reason I was adamant
about the last thirty seconds is
because it brought it all home.
It was a scheme about him being
Joe Clark ‘cause he said that to
Hollow on the roof. It was crazy
and I had it to where the crowd
was going to say, “Easy.” It was
going to be electric, but every time
I got stopped. I was just pissed off
because it felt incomplete.
Jon Rines: I mean, don’t get me
wrong I like time limits, I just
think it should be a guide and not
a rule. Let someone finish it up.
62
Mook: They asked, “Mook and
Lux; what y’all doing?” and we
said five minutes with a thirtysecond cap. Everybody was like,
“huh?” I’m telling you, “five
minutes [isn’t] enough.” I was just
pissed.
Jon Rines: It’s hard to tell because
there are moments when it’s too
long and there are moments when
you just want more, like the end
of your third. Walk me through
right before the battle. Make me
feel the nerves of waiting for the
most anticipated rematch in battle
rap history. What was going on
backstage with you, mentally and
physically?
Mook: First of all, let me shoutout
Total Slaughter. They put us in
nice hotels, nice dressing rooms.
They were just very professional.
I have nothing but respect for
them. But before the battle, I just
had my headphones; going over
the lines, over and over. It’s really
not the rhymes, just the beginning
of the line, because once I know
the beginning it all links. Because
you’ll be so nervous up there you’ll
forget.
Jon Rines: Did you and Lux see
each other before the battle?
Mook: Yeah, on the walk up to the
stage we saw each other.
And here we have it. Two guys
whose battle rap career has been
on a collision course since they first
spit bars to each other. Both lyrical
giants, walking to the stage knowing
their goal is to verbally obliterate
the other and when they walk off,
one became the clear and decisive
victor; taking home all the marbles
and becoming king. What I love the
most is the humility and humbleness
I now see in the man we watched
grow right before our very eyes. In
closing, this is what he had to say
about his new title.
Jon Rines: “Return of the King”;
Give me your thoughts.
Mook: I’m not really with that.
It’s all propaganda man (Mook
laughs). Like, I’ve been advocating
and been a big part of battle rap
these last 10 to 12 years. If people
want to say somebody’s a king,
I just say I’m here to push the
culture forward. Y’all want to
be the king, you can have that.
Whatever. What’s understood
doesn’t need to be explained and
that’s where I’m leaving it.
The King has spoken.
— Jon Rines