John John Da Don says the old battle rap formula is dead—and reveals his plan to help rebuild the culture through Pendulum.
In this exclusive interview with Knowledge Tha God of HipHopIsReal, John John breaks down why the energy surrounding battle rap events has reached one of its lowest points, why leagues can no longer rely on posting a flyer and waiting for fans to show up, and why the culture desperately needs a whole new audience.
John John explains why Pendulum will not have a pay-per-view and why he wants fans to experience the event live inside the building. His goal is to bring back the atmosphere that made people watch battle rap online and immediately regret not being there.
He also speaks on fans proudly watching bootlegs, bloggers who no longer attend events, declining live crowds and why battle rap must return to the streets to connect with new supporters.
From real promotion and live DJs to better food, drinks, spacing and crowd energy, John John wants Pendulum to feel like more than another battle card. He wants it to become a complete experience that other leagues will eventually try to recreate.
John John also explains why he believes battle rap needs to return to New York, where much of the original energy started, and reconnect with fans who may not follow every app, blog or online conversation.
Is John John right that battle rap’s old formula no longer works—and can Pendulum become the blueprint for rebuilding the culture?
Watch the full interview, subscribe to HipHopIsReal and join the debate in the comments.
