Bill Collector Might Be Unbeatable
Norristown PA’s Bill Collector has been on a run. I’m a pretty avid fan of the sport, and can’t tell you the last time Bill lost a battle. The LeRoy glow been in full effect, and it’s not just his execution, but a versatility, spontaneity, and disposition that make him difficult to prepare for or to attack in general. Bill is on the short list of battlers who I feel are equally effective regardless of the stage they’re on; it’s one of the reasons I want to see him against Real Deal for the KOTD title. Both of them have proven capable of thriving in any setting and have been on historical runs that included some closely contested slugfests but only further cemented their positions in any respectable top 10.
With regards to debatable battles, Bill acknowledged Makk Myron as his “scariest opponent” in the KOTD S1. Fans seem to echo that sentiment, saying it could’ve gone either way with Bill winning a razor-thin split decision. Bill’s battles with Madflex and Pass weren’t quite as close in my opinion (nor in that of the public or Bill personally), en route to Bill taking home the Grand Prix and a healthy check to boot.
Bill also offered some insight into preparing for different leagues, saying he dips into his “comedic bag” for KOTD as opposed to being “grittier” for URL; this might seem like a given, but to execute it at the highest level is something to be revered. He also said he “never prepares the same twice” and actually spends a lot of his preparation time simply overthinking his material with the final day he has being for memorization. As a perfectionist creative with a healthy dose of OCD, I can appreciate this and can cosign that it shines through Bill’s level of execution.
We also spoke on the stigma of battle rappers not making dope music, and Bill was quick to say Millz, Mook, and Lux are largely responsible for this hahah. You have to appreciate the candor. He was complimentary of West Coast battle emcees’ ability to craft records, calling their music “beautiful” and says he’s just as meticulous when making his own joints as he is when preparing for battles.
Continuing the music conversation, we delved into the return of GrindTime and industry rappers getting into the ring, the latest example being West coast legend KXNG Crooked (who is facing Dizaster). Bill was quick to remind me that just because someone does some “lyrical, miracle” stuff on a record, does not mean they’re cut out for the ring when their opponent is “breaking their life down into a scheme.” He cited Budden and Canibus as cautionary tales. I think Crooked will fare far better than his aforementioned acclaimed predecessors but also think it will be difficult to top the best version of his scheduled opponent: Diz. I look forward to Bill getting an Industry Rapper plate in the future and getting the opportunity to really show and prove his feelings on this.
I told Bill that I’d obviously love to see him against Dizaster, Real Deal (as mentioned earlier), and Pat Stay (another individual he clearly respects), but what’s actually next in the immediate future? A complimentary showdown with Dre Dennis on Barstool Sports’ “The Nicest” (available on SlingTV) as well as a GTX battle with Rosenberg Raw, which, no disrespect to his opponent, I think Bill should win handily given the run he’s been on.
For all things Bill Collector, keep up with him on socials and enjoy the show.
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MC Bravado MC Bravado is an emcee/educator from Baltimore by way of New York. He's received noteworthy press across mediums, including but not limited to Billboard, Rolling Stone, HipHopDX, CBS, FOX, ABC, SiriusXM Shade45, Okayplayer, DJBooth, HotNewHipHop, The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Magazine, Earmilk, and REVOLT TV. Performing alongside or collaborating with the likes of Bone Thugs, Scarface, Joell Ortiz, Statik Selektah, & MANY more, Bravado is a veteran presence. No stranger to big stages (Warped Tour, A3C, SXSW), MC B is showing & proving his way to rarefied air. That being said, the former Baltimore city high school English teacher still keeps a leg in the classroom as program coordinator for nonprofit Music Education program Beats Not Bullets. He also co-owns Label Necklace, an independent record label that empowers & educates other creatives while running the label’s boutique PR branch.
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