The world of battle rap can be a crazy place, but that certainly hasn't kept Pat Stay from dominating the scene.
Hailing from Dartmouth Nova Scotia, the Canadian cut-throat has been in battle rap for about 10 years now. Sure, it's a rather controversial sport, but someone's gotta do it. Pat has gone up against some of battle rap's favorite punch-liners, including Dizaster, Illmaculate, and most recently Hollow da Don.
We had the chance to chat with Pat about his take on the current battle rap scene. "There's been ups and downs, but I like to roll with the flow," he said in a phone interview. "It's a crazy game. There are a lot of harsh things said, a lot of animosity, and what looks to be violent crowds, but it's just all a part of it all."
To say that battle rap is an under appreciated art form would be an understatement. Some feel it deserves to be recognized on a broader scale, but Pat seems to like the underground element of it all. "There are certain things we say that would never hit mainstream TV, but I'm okay with that. When it stays underground it's more authentic," he said.
We asked Pat to compare battle rap to anything in the world, and he described it as a mix between UFC fighting and a comedy roast in rhyme form. Really aggressive, but just as witty. The difference between battle and organized rap is huge, but Pat isn't scared to make the conversion. "It's two different zones," he said. "But at the end of the day, the key is to branch off into music and transfer that to the fan base that we've created world wide.
The best thing about Pat's career? What you see is what you get. As he says, "I'm the same person in real life. I keep it authentic and wear my heart on my sleeve. You can really get to know me just by watching me battle." He's naturally witty and a major class clown, simply putting it all in rhyme form when he hits the stage.
Be sure to catch his battle against John John Da Don and see why he's credited as Canada's best battle rapper!
Appearances:
Don't Flop presents: John John Da Don vs Pat Stay
Thursday October 6th @ 8:00 PM
Aisle 5 (Old 4th Ward)
Hip Hop Canada presented by Nova Scotia Music Week
Friday October 7th @ 6:00 PM
Delightful Eatz (Old 4th Ward)