A rallying cry for artistic development and community in the DMV
Rappers, Pearlz and Danjale engage in a respectful passing of the mic
If you happened to pass by Shanklin Hall in Washington, D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood this weekend, you may have noticed a room full of hip hop artists and creatives forming their own sword of sorts, creating an X with their arms and chanting “iron sharpens iron.”
Can a pen really be mightier than a sword? Metaphorically, sure. Literally, not as much. Words move people more than physical force does. But in hip hop, both answers are simultaneously valid, and in a competition setting, a pen is only one part of the sword. The entire sword includes an emcee’s eager ability to read a room, work a room and deliver dope music in a head-to-head tournament.
“It comes down to everything,” said Danjalé, the second DMV-area winner for Master of the Chamber – a Boston headquartered live hip hop competition centered around lyrical East Coast grit and showmanship. “It’s a full package moment. Not just who’s the best lyricist or who’s the best performer.”
At Master of the Chamber, you’ll find something that has become increasingly rare in competitions – no sore losers. That’s because while bragging rights and a chance to compete for a $5,000 grand prize in Boston are enticing, the ultimate purpose of the event is for artists to sharpen their swords and build community.
Of course, like in any competitive setting, the Chamber is not without its share of drama and controversy. A handful of matches were painfully close, and in one instance, the Chamber hosts had the “fates” (shorthand for the audience, which determines the outcome of each battle by voice vote) literally stand on opposing sides of the room to fairly determine a winner.
“We believe in kayfabe, where we got to entertain the people and keep sort of the illusion [of beef] there,” said Chamber competitor Maji. “But at the end of the day, it is community, and that’s the thin line of trying to entertain and also trying to be the best.”
A crowd of TSK members supports Don Kuzan
Events like the Chamber also highlight how hard it is to be truly unbiased while watching your friends battle. In a region as small as the DMV, where most artists already know each other, people form longstanding personal connections that are nearly impossible to cast aside. But what made the DMV leg of the Chamber special is that many of the fates, despite having clear favorites, were largely able to put the craft first and friendship second. Ultimately, the consensus in the room was that the right person won the night.
If you have never been to a Chamber event, but have seen promotional acapella freestyles for each battle, you couldn’t be blamed for assuming the focus is primarily on writing. Especially with the “iron sharpens iron” mantra looming above each competitor.
In practice, what separates a Chamber winner from a strong writer with good music is timing – knowing when to spend your best song, and when to hold it back. At its core, the Chamber is a test of resolve, stamina and on-the-fly artistry. Emcees do not predetermine the order of the songs they will perform. Instead, they are tasked with strategically choosing songs in their portfolio based on their view of the energy of the room (and, of course, the relative strength of their competitors). For Danjalé, the strategic component was on full display as she performed one of her signature pieces – a hard-hitting display of lyricism over Kelis’ classic “Milkshake” beat – in the semifinal as opposed to the final. It was a bold move given how little down time she ended up having between those two rounds compared to her opposition in the final, rising Boston-area star DayDaDon.
For some DMV locals, such as Chamber competitor CeeDubelu, the event represented a refreshing alternative to the crabs-in-a-barrel mentality and occasional disorganization that, fairly or not, has become synonymous with the DMV-area rap scene.
“I’ve put on so many events in this area, and it’s always like pulling teeth to get people involved, so I was afraid that would happen,” CeeDubelu said. “But I saw how these guys were moving … like a well-oiled machine.”
Or, perhaps, like a sword continuously being sharpened.
That’s the same idea KONTRA was built on. As a collective striving to increase opportunities, access and inclusivity for artists, sharpening – through open mics, showcases and best practices on music distribution – is the whole point.
To learn more about KONTRA and upcoming events, and become part of our growing Kontraverse community, visit our Patreon and Instagram.
-By Red Eye Wright