The Hip Hop scene is still beating vigorously in Lansing, Michigan! The latest edition of The Jump Off Beat Battle brought to you by All of The Above Academy Hip Hop Academy went down on March 26, 2022, at The Record Lounge.
Billed as “Top 8 Champions Edition”, returning winners Blizzard, Man@Work aka Sir Manley, “Player One” Mark Cooper, Young Heat, Young O, Whit, Big Shaady (in place of Ess Be), and current 2-time Grand Rapids Beat Down champion Wodii dueled to determine which of the eight producers would end the night as the Grand Champion.
AOTA Executive Director and all-time great recording artist Ozay Moore served as the event’s MC. He shared microphone time with up-and-coming artist and AOTA alumnus The Player. Follow AOTA grad The Juice controlled the music, and there was a special performance by producer, educator, and cultural ambassador RyNea Soul.
Fans and admires in attendance and everyone who watched online via various web sites, social media platforms, and live streaming outlets were able to vote during each round using an app. There was also a panel of four judges – DJ Bizzy B, Ward Skillz, John Beltran, and Kaz Drumatik – on hand to assist with selecting de facto winners.
The contest kicked off on an extremely high note. All eight champions rattled the Lounge in an epic first round of impressive sounds and vibes. Everyone got rewarded with ovations as Blizzard, Cooper, Wodii, and Manley advanced to the semifinals.
Group mates and close friends Cooper and Blizzard went at it in an unbelievable matchup that had fan voting even. Cooper’s symphony of synth eventually won the judges over, narrowly overcoming Blizzard’s barrage of aggressive bass and drums. Cooper, headed to the finals, first hugged his brother and the led the crowd in an ovation as it was announced that Blizzard scored a production placement with Hip Hop icon Method Man of The Wu-Tang Clan.
Next, we heard Manley’s well-orchestrated funk and boom-bap-fused grooves go toe-to-toe with Wodii’s soulful voice samples and undeniable drumlines. A multi-time battle champion himself, Manley had only lost one battle in his two-decades-long career, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit that Wodii was an exceptional challenge. In the end Manley proudly congratulated his opponent when close voting moved Wodii on to the finals.
For those who follow the battle circuit, it’s well known that Mark Cooper and Wodii have a longstanding history versus one another, with Cooper edging Wodii all-time with more victories. The “Top 8 Champions Edition” finale was also a long-awaited rematch from The Jump Off on June 1, 2018 at Reach Art Studio in Lansing. It was an unforgettable back-and-forth clash won by Cooper.
This Cooper vs Wodii matchup was also memorable and very, very close to call, only this time Wodii walked away the winner with $1000 for his pocket and the title of The Jump Off Grand Champion! Cooper and Wodii shook hands, expressing their mutual respect and friendship, and they celebrated Wodii’s remarkable third consecutive major battle victory over the last six months.
The Jump Off has been a staple in Lansing for many years. As someone who was a former competitor from the beginning, it is such a joy to see this still going on. As music producers we spend hours of our time creating and crafting music, and most of our time is spent alone.
For people to be able to hear what these amazing musicians create is such a special experience. Making music is a way to express yourself to the world, and the “Top 8 Champions Edition” event was a spectacle to behold. This is the heart of Lansing, and I am so excited to see more of this in the years to come! |THIS ENT
[By Alex The Host and Mr. Joe Walker]
