Eurgh's history has been well attested and Body Bag Mag got to speak to Eurgh about the Battle Rap as it is now and where he and Don't Flop want to make it.BBM: Eurgh, whats popping homie? What going on over there right now?Eurgh: We're in the last preparation stages for the 3rd episode of "Line In The Water", our international event. Been running on this one since August. Mad excited, got 6 GT/KOTD heads coming over to fight on Sat 20th Nov. Since the beginning one in December 09, we've had Madness, Dirtbag Dan and Illmaculate, amongst others, and we're always welcoming more and more heads from overseas. BBM: You're an OG in this game. From Jumpoff and the WRC all the way to Grindtime and Don't Flop. How'd you first get into battle rap?Eurgh: OG Eurgh? Damn man, I wish the voice of that haha. It was all very random for me, I actually couldn't tell you how I actually found out almost the whole scene, all I love is that somehow I came across the old Jumpoff website back in 03, when it was hardly a one page thing. I started eagerly checking it every week to see the clips from their live events in London, and then WRC 06 too. By WRC 07, with a bit of thought from Arkaic, I took the plunge!BBM: With all the different leagues and battle rappers being so popular now, how has the setting changed over the years?Eurgh: Over saturation. It's turn a bit of a cop out to say that now, but it still rings true. In the 06/07 era, you just had a smattering of videos that you had no alternative but to be contented with, so no one was greedy. Now, everyone and their aunt wants to try it, so a new league/event/division pops up every week. If there isn't a top tier clash uploaded as regularly as people want, they begin going cold turkey. Due to the massive influx of battles from all over the earth all the time, a lot of dope new talent goes unnoticed as its swamped under mediocrity.BBM: What is the primary end of Don't Flop? What sets it asunder from any other league?Eurgh: Our goals change all the time, to be honest. Our initial reason for starting was to just take a void. There was no battles coming out of England, so we decided to run the torch ourselves because we didn't need the prospect to die when there was distinctly so many hungry MC's. We have ever wanted to allow a program for MC's of any ground to be seen, making sure the people from the little towns get as much airtime as the cats from the big cities. I say what sets us aside from the other leagues is that we have expanded into other countries, and host events in Ireland and Scotland too.BBM:You've had some big battles in the preceding year against Illmaculate, PH, and Kid Twist. Which one were you most excited for?Eurgh: I don't get excited until the second before they go the cameras on, where I love I give to get hype or i'm gonna get crushed. Battlers are weird, we've all got our own routines and ways of doing things. Once I hold to a battle, I see prepping as a necessity, and try to remain focused like it's actual work. I was really most anxious for PH, as he talked alot of thunder that got me thought he might get a trump card. With Mac and Twist, I merely let the ideas derive and rolled with it. I enjoyed all 3 battles for different reasons, and all 3 were great opponents.BBM: In your opinion, what are the 3 battles that have changed the game since you've been battling and why? We're talking epic, pivotal battles that have influenced people to this day.Eurgh: Wow, there's probably been 3 battles uploaded today alone that have made me believe "I hate battling" haha. Nah, the foremost one has to be Dumbfoundead Vs Tantrum. I suppose people thinking they knew what they were in for with that one, but once you hear lines like "I have failed you" or "My dick's bigger and I get better", it was interpreted to the adjacent level. Whenever you see someone doing race jokes on someone of the same race, you conceive of that. In Don't Flop, i'd say Oshea Vs Dirtbag Dan set the bar. In KOTD, Hollohan Vs Pat Stay, for sure. The name is long; its just to recognize that there ever will can ever be sick match ups if we put the play in to do it happen. For me personally, I remember seeing Illmaculate and The Saurus' first WRC 07 Playoff battle in New York changed my outlook. Seeing the two people that actually inspired me battle last for the start time made me see how near I wanted to be.BBM: What's next for Don't Flop? Eurgh: 2011 is leaving to be a busy year, as cliched as that is. Our primary aim is further expansion; the skys the limit. We are moving into putting on club nights, as easily as consistently bigger and better rap battle events. We experience only released our first t-shirt which is being stocked in stores about the country, and we will be producing a lot more merchandise. We are simply putting the finishing touches to our site and online store, which should be up and running soon. I'd really wish to get a Don't Flop Mixtape out there, and I acknowledge a lot of the MCs are great to get this through to. There's a cargo of other stuff we are operative on but I'm not one to talk on things much earlier they are confirmed, so you'll only cause to look and see!BBM: How do you look about current mainstream Hip Hop in the UK? Body Bag Mag loves S.A.S. since their dipset days. Is there anyone that you're really into right now?Eurgh:I look like somebody in my situation is usually expected/required to hate on the mainstream, but its a different kettle of fish. I can't lie, these guys like Tinie Tempah and Tinchy Stryder, they do their matter and they do it well. They write hooks you hum and get paid. I peeped an S.A.S video on SB:TV the former day and they've definitely still got it. In the underground, Rhyme Asylum are keeping it down. UK hip hop seems to die and be converted every 48 hours, but when its good, its good. Mad heads have been dropping new albums and acquiring their touring hustle on so cry out to them.BBM: Is Grime still big over there? Is Dizzee Rascal, Lady Sovereign and The Streets well respected?Eurgh: I don't mean i'm at liberty to say whether they are well respected, that's kinda subjective. Dizzee has been doing his thing for a piece now though, and he deserves the success. Maybe you'll see Lady Sov Vs Mike Skinner in Don't Flop soon. Grime hasn't stopped snowballing; I hardly saw Skepta has cut a course with Diddy and that's a watershed moment for the scene. Guys like P Money and Ghetts are sick to.BBM: When is your next battle? Who would you wish to get in the border with if you could take your own opponent which at this point, I think you can.Eurgh: I ain't going to fulfill all you beefmongers out there this time, sorry! For now, i'm happy chilling. Writing for PH and Kid Twist took up months of my life, and I want to prevent my entire attention on DF for the forseeable future. There's one or two people from each league I got my eye on, and when I look like I want to get back on it, i'll holla at 'em. I'll probably do a pair of battles next year.BBM: Battle Rap Report called out that Eurgh vs Arkaic would take for a historical battle. Would you always do that?Eurgh: Yes. It's something we have discussed on and off since WRC 07. There's a lot of politics involved with it though. We get asked reasonably often and I smell the sami as ever now; when the clock is right, i'm down. Keep your eyes peeled, because when it does go down, people will be blown away.BBM: Swave Sevah vs Dizaster and Cortez vs Thesaurus this friday in GTEC New York. Any predictions?Eurgh: Isn't every battle promo now? I predict Swave spits slow, Diz spits fast, Cortez gets angry and The Saurus has solid rhyme schemes. I'm a big fan of all 4, shout out to Poison Pen for devising it happen.BBM: Thanks for doing the interview Eurgh. You've done a lot for the picture and you're starting a totally new UK movement. Are there any shout outs you need to make?Eurgh: No worries. I prize that. Shout out to everyone who follows Don't Flop and spreads the discussion about what we do, its always keen to see you. Respect to all the MCs in the conference who put in these awesome performances that support the fans coming back for more. Biggup Cruger for helping run this whole operation with me. Peace.
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