battleREP

Johnny Trash got himself into a rather crazy adventure. Flown in for the MY Battles - International Standards in Malaysia, things didn't go according to plan. In a detailed interview Johnny Trash talks in-depth about his experience overseas and his upcoming battle against global battle legend 100 Bullets in 1Outs upcoming event 'Avalanche'.

battleREP.com: First off how did Zain get in contact with you about the event?
Johnny Trash: 1Outs had set up a battle between me and Zain, in the weeks leading up to this we had spoken about me coming to Malaysia, he wanted to bring out someone with a wordplay style to see how the Malaysian audiences would respond. I actually was actually meant to go there at a later date to battle Syd Vicious but last minute changes saw me going there for the May 3 event.

What happen when you first arrived in Malaysia and when did you first know that things hadn't gone to plan?
Johnny Trash: Oh man, basically the minute I got there. I landed at the airport, Zain was adamant for me to go straight to Burger King. I get there, ask a dude where Burger King is and in broken English he tells me what translates to me as 'Nah mate, no Burger King here'. I then manage to decipher out of him that there's a Burger King in another airport. Straight away I was like WTF? here I am in a foreign country no way to contact anyone and I am at the wrong airport. I immediately walk up to this white guy and say 'Yo you know where I can use the internet round here?' He replies in a thick english accent 'Johnny Trash??' IT WAS FLEX DIGITS!!! After exchanging what we knew was going on, we both knew then the plans weren't adding up...

battleREP.com: When did you guys meet up with Zain?
Johnny Trash: After meeting up with Flex (Who had no money due to a mishap with a money exchange) I bought us some lunch and caught a shuttle to another airport, we got there about half an hour later, waited for Zain for several hours, all in all from when we landed it was about 5 hours when Zain arrived. I can only assume he was trying to find money to pay Loe and Flex in this time.

battleREP.com: What did Zain say when you first caught up with him?
Johnny Trash: He was just apologetic about how he got confused about the airports, Flex and I were just both too tired and wanted to carry on with our journey, we caught a bus and a cab to the area we were meant to be staying, about an hour and half journey. The accommodation that had been organised had fell through. We had now been in the country 8 hours, exhausted and trying to sort out somewhere to stay.

battleREP.com: When did you find out about not having a return ticket?
Johnny Trash: Straight after I finished my battle at the event. Zain had said to me before I left Melbourne he had gotten me the return ticket, I took his word for it and went... Flex and I had discussed it over the couple days leading up to the event, how we doubted I had a ticket home, with all the other shit going wrong. As soon as the battles were over, i approached Zain on the stairs and said "Zain, I need to know, do I have a ticket home or not, I just need to know yes or no, so I can get it sorted. He replied softly 'There's no ticket'.

What was going through your head when you heard that?
Johnny Trash: Oh man, like the reality of it hit me, that I was stuck there with not enough money for a flight home, and nowhere to stay after Sunday. The guy I was staying with was returning to his home district to vote in the election on Sunday. The event was Friday night, I knew I had 24 hours to get it sorted or I was totally fucked. I remember taking a seat on the stairs and watching Loe and Flex talking about all the fuck ups and how it would be resolved. I remember Loe Pesci sayin 'How's Johnny Trash supposed to get home?' It was the million dollar question, I found myself sitting there thinking 'Yeah, hows Johnny Trash supposed to get home?'

battleREP.com: How did you get the situation resolved?
Johnny Trash: Straight away a couple of people were handing me money out of their pockets. I still didn't have enough to get home, and would have to get accommodation in the meantime. It was really a community vibe happening at that moment. Loe had given Flex the fraction he was paid to get by as Flex needed it more at the time. In the end, I had to get my girlfriend to bail me out. I didn't want to, but I had no choice.

battleREP.com: Since arriving back in Australia have you had much contact with Zain?
Johnny Trash: A couple of conversations here and there, just about reimbursing me for putting me out of pocket on the journey home and he thanked me for putting on a good battle for MY. He has been quite apologetic. I believe he has paid some of the other guys back. I have also said, I would go back to Malaysia, cos I actually give a fuck about the scene there and want to do it right. Just some issues need to be sorted first.

battleREP.com: All in all were you happy with the performance you did on the night?
Johnny Trash: I dunno to be honest, I wasn't happy with it personally. People have said it was a good performance, it just was not up to the standard I have come to expect from myself. Some have said I just looked exhausted to the point I coulda gone to sleep mid battle. I choked a couple of times, but being so tired I didn't give a fuck about choking and just talked shit, and people watching it laughed and enjoyed that. All in all the bars and the wordplay were there, just not the performance or energy and enthusiasm. I mean the battles were held in a fucking lobby, I couldn't really wild out and perform properly in any case.

battleREP.com: What positives could you take away from the experience?
Johnny Trash: Hmm positives, how easy life is in Australia compared to some other places, that's a big one. I met a lot of really cool people that I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life. The main positive, I got my first taste of battling overseas (besides New Zealand, but I was living there so that don't count) and my biggest peace of advice for someone battling overseas in a foreign environment is get comfortable, you will be out of your element, rest well and rest comfortably or else your performance will suffer. Meeting Flex Digits and Loe Pesci was real cool too, me and Flex got on really well, and we plan on meeting up for a BIG holiday in Thailand in 12 months time, so that's a positive!

battleREP.com: You've got a battle with 100 Bulletz in July, how have you been preparing?
Johnny Trash: I have started writing the concepts, punches and loose ideas around what I am gonna say and do. Really going to have to put in serious effort this time, I got one chance at this level of opponent and I am not going to squander it. Bulletz and I chop it up a bit online and he claims he's coming to Aus to son the shit out of me. So I aint taking this battle lightly. Hopefully the fans get their moneys worth and I put on my best performance yet!

battleREP.com: What's your thoughts about his performances and what do you expect him to bring to the table?
Johnny Trash: I first saw 100 Bulletz vs Kid Twist, this battle amazed the shit outta me from him. I hadn't seen anyone battle like him at that point. He is quite good at staying relevant with his rhyming. I expect 100 Bulletz to bring a performance and bars that are accessible to the local audience and the online audience who want to hear intricate technical bars. I expect him to touch on some personals and a bit of the history behind the battle also.

battleREP.com: Any other international battlers you'd like to go up against in the future?
Johnny Trash: I haven't really thought that far ahead, I am working on my first EP at the moment, which is hard to make progress on when this battle is taking my priority. Bender is the first name that comes to my mind, his multis are too good. Villun from Don't Flop would be great also. If we ever find ourselves back in Malaysia, I believe me vs Flex Digits would happen... a big IF though.

battleREP.com: Can you tell us a bit more about the EP you working on?
Johnny Trash: Well through my battling I have been introduced to Daily of Hit The Fan and Large from The Fourfront. They both make really dope sampled beats. I recorded a demo track with each of them, and after that the 3 of us decided to work on my first project together. Both of them have been involved in the scene for like, over a decade at least and know what they are doing respectively. Daily will be bringing that classic boom bap sound, and Large is a good sounding board for a few more of the experimental sounds I am looking to engage. The three of us working together should be a dope product, me on the lyrics and vocals, and Large and Daily on beats and production. This for me will be my first serious foray into music, so for me it is about growth and building on my skill set for future releases.

Johnny Trash - battleREP.com profile

Johnny Trash - Facebook profile

An event by event rundown on some upcoming Brisbane Real Talk and RT Gauntlet battles

RAN MC GIVES YOU THE RUNDOWN ON REAL TALK - BRIZZLEMANIA 3
REAL TALK BATTLE LEAGUE TITLE MATCH: DLIVER (Contender) vs KASE WON (Champion)

So the Real Talk Battle League' top contender tournament has come and gone with Dliver advancing through each of his battles with a high amount of well rounded lyricism and bloodlust crowds have come to expect from him to emerge as the victor.

The tournament that started many months ago spanning across multiple Real Talk events has seen him take out everyone in his path most recently defeating RhymeForm in the hard fought final at the last Real Talk event 'Fuck Dat Rapper' at Play Nightclub opposite the train station in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley where a lot of Boomtown classics have taken place and in doing so has now earned his well deserved title shot match against Real Talk Battle League's main man Kase Won. The bragging rights, the Real Talk title and an international opponent later this year are all now hanging precariously in the balance for both of these well known competitors. 

BattleREP caught up with Dliver to get his thoughts on his opponent, his strategy and what kind of battle he's preparing for since the countdown to his title shot began.

"I have a lot of respect for Kase Won as Real Talk Champion he has proven himself a few times now, against some very tough competition. Your not a real champion until you have defended your title, so he defiantly earnt his spot. but I think I have improved a lot in the past years and will surprise a few people, I have wanted to battle Kase for a while now, I knew it would be a killer metaphor riddled battle with many quotables, I'm expecting too walk outta there the new Real talk champion but I know if I'm not on top of my game Kase will take it out cause he rarely slips.

I'm going too be more prepped than ever before and make a statement so I can take it outta the judges hands, I think Real Talk ready for some new blood!!"

Dliver v RhymeForm (Top Contender Match)
Cast Your Fan Vote Here

On the other side of this particular story stands Kase Won the Real Talk champion who has successfully defended his chain many times against some career defining top teir names in some high paced and high quality matches in the Brisbane and overall Australian battle rap community. Although Kase Won's last battle againt Perth local Lethal was not a title defense but rather a great exhibition of two high ranking interstate MCs come June 8th 2013 he'll be playing for keeps in the main event once more. BattleREP got Kase Won's thoughts on what could very well be his most important battle appearance to date.

"Out of all the entrants in the top contender tourney, I had a hunch it would be Dliver who would emerge victorious judging on recent form. He was probably the most deserving of the bunch as well, having debuted at one of the very early RT events and battled at pretty much every event since.

He has a fairly impressive resume, even though his win/loss record doesn't really reflect this, I feel he has improved the performance aspect of his game tenfold recently and I know he has been wanting to battle me for years. We were actually scheduled to battle in a 2on2 at a previous event (Me/Tung v Dliver/Virus) but D drank himself to the very limits of consciousness at the event and we had to cancel, but the material I caught wind of that they had for us after the fact was surprisingly impressive. He has always been a wordplay-heavy writer like myself, so it should be a good matchup stylistically and an entertaining bar-fest of a contest.

I don't see him being too much of a problem to defend against though, especially if he comes at me from the angles I expect from him. With the chance of an international opponent on offer for the victor, there is no way in hell I will be sleeping on this, I have a new found hunger to prove a point in this battle shit and feel I owe the fans a redemption of a performance after the underwhelming battle me and Lethal had (still got robbed though haha!). That along with the material I have already prepared, I feel like it will take something almost out of reach and unseen before from Dliver to keep up in this title match. Anything short of that, or a robbery, I expect to be your 4x Champ at the end of June 8"

Kase Won v Doubleyou (Title Match)
Cast Your Fan Vote Here

Kase Won battleREP Profile

Dliver battleREP Profile

Hailing from the sleepy Queensland capital city known as Boomtown, DWIZOFOZ has been around for more than a minute now. A big man with a big presence. At 26, Dwizofoz is a young leader in Brisbane hip hop who has earnt a reputation as an animal on the mic with his unique rapid fire flow delivery, honest and clever yet hard hitting and thought out lyrics and an undeniable passion for what he does.

The long awaited follow up to his ‘Baked Not Fried’ EP (released 2009) is ‘Art Intimidates Life’. A collection of tracks that serves as an audiobiography of sorts, this album takes listeners on a journey to get to know who Dwizofoz is as a person, a father and as an emcee.

Kicking off the album in a big way is “In My Shoes” a tale of how Dwiz used to have to make ends meet for himself at a young age growing up in housing commission communities. Other notable standouts on the album are “Take What’s Mine” and title track “Art Intimidates Life” ft. DJ Dcide, which represent Dwiz’s mission statement, that he’s in it for the long haul and isn’t going away any time soon. “Style” with Bias B is a powerful example of Dwizofoz’s explosive way with words, and stands to cement Dwiz’s place as one of the best, if not at least most unique lyricists in the country. Dwiz also switches up the tone on the album with tracks like “The Wrong One” ft. Mr Hill, a track dedicated to scandalous bitches everywhere, “Can Happen To You” a short, inspired by a true story tale clearly close to Dwiz’s own heart and “Her Letter” a song written for his daughter over a spine tingling Mdusu instrumental.

With this album, Dwizofoz is sure to break free of the “battle host” tag he’s probably best known for and secure himself a reputation as a leader among the next generation of emcee’s coming out of our shores…

Track List

01. Intro

02. In My Shoes (Produced by MCRotheee)

03. Take What’s Mine (Produced by Mizari)

04. Art Intimidates Life Ft. DJ Dcide (Produced by Insideus)

05. Playground (Produced by Pyrex)

06. Style! Ft. Bias B (Produced by Swilo)

07. Micology 101 Ft. Exit Strategy, Flowz and Strooth (Produced by Insideus)

08. Steps (Produced by AussieOzborn)

09. The Wrong One Ft. Mr. Hill and Irrelevant (Produced by Double Digits)

10. Can Happen To You (Produced by Mizari)

11. Her Letter (Produced by Mdusu)

12. Last Of Me Ft. Sean B and eMCYTe (Produced by Sean B)

All other cuts by DJ Immaculate.

Preorders available May 10th from www.469underworld.com

Release Date – June 21st.

Launch dates:

Melbourne – July 12 w/ Brad Strut and Kings Konekted @ Laundry Bar.
Brisbane – July 26 w/ Exit Strategy, Kawz n KOZ and special guest, Brad Strut @ Coniston Lane.

"Dear All. This is my official story of the international event that went down in KL on Friday, May 3.

Loe Pesci said he would be in Malaysia to visit family and asked me if he could battle in Malaysia with a fee. Because I thought it was an opportunity not to be missed I agreed to him battling in Malaysia and also agreed to his fee. I also tried to get Flex Digits to be on the card. Flex said because he would be going out of his way he would require a fee as well so I agreed, in addition to his flight from Bangkok to kl and KL to Beijing which I later provided. I was getting sponsors for this event and thought I could definitely honour my commitments to their performance fees, as well as a flight from KL to Singapore for Loe which I had provided, since he already had arrangements to fly to Montreal from Singapore.

The reason why I was trying to get more international battlers to this event was because I didn't want to be the sole main event battling Loe because it seemed selfish to me. I wanted it to be about the Malaysian battle scene and not just me.

Then along the way, sponsors pulled out when someone I wanted to battle MC Stiff pulled out. Then I had to replace him with Jin Hackman to battle mc stiff. When the sponsors pulled out I was desperately using my own money to pay for the event, including flights, and trying my hardest to find money to fund the event and the fees for everyone right up till the night of the actual event.

For those of you who believe I can just ask my parents for money anytime I want, the fact is due to certain family reasons my parents were unable and unwilling to give me money when sponsors pulled out so I had to deal with it myself.

Yes, I initially told Johnny Trash he could sleep at my family's place when we were planning him to come over but because of family problems a few days before the event I was unable to let him stay at my family's place so I got a friend to have Flex and Johnny stay there. That is my fault.

The reason why I chose International Youth Centre KL, which was far away from the city centre, to be the venue was because it was cheap. I originally wanted their large room for 600 people but could not afford it when sponsors pulled out so I settled for a smaller room which unfortunately got locked up when I got there.

I was trying my best to get as much money as I could right up until the night of the actual event and while I was running around I was not contactable because I had lost my phone some time ago.

Chase made the tremendous effort of giving me half the money for his flight a long time before the event but I was not trying to lead him on for the sake of it. I was genuinely trying my best to get my half of the money for his flight right up until the very end a few days before the event. However, in spite of my efforts I could not get all the money I needed.

Ultimately, I used what money I had to pay for the other flights besides Chase and later returned Chase's money to him. On the night of the event only about 20 people turned up. I was running the whole event and the preparation up to it on my own without much people helping me so I could not promote it as much as I wanted to. The floods and traffic jam on the night of the event and the timing of it being two days before the elections didn't help either. The reason why I had the event on this date was to make sure it coincided with Loe’s arrival in Malaysia.

The reason I was un-contactable for long periods of time was because I had lost my phone and I was running around desperately trying to get money for the rappers' fees and other expenses

Through this whole crisis before the event I was hoping to get enough money from the door to pay Flex his fee and at least a percentage of Loe's fee while owing him the rest. Unfortunately, the event had a very low turn out.

Even on the night of the event I was trying to call people looking for money. At the end of the event there was RM 250.00 collected not USD 250.00. Loe was good enough to let me give it to Flex who was leaving for China the next day on the flight that was already provided.

Loe's uncle and I are in touch so I can do my best to pay Loe's fee.

And as for Johnny Trash, my friend who was good enough to give Johnny a place to stay, drove he and I home, and on the drive back home I asked Johnny how much money he had. I asked my friend for a loan while saying I would try coming up with the rest of the money, all for Johnny's return flight. I also said I would call the next day to help with the flight. The next night I called and it turned out Johnny had gotten a return flight back so now I owe my friend money and I told Johnny, both on the phone, and via email, to let me know how much money I owe him for his flight back home. This was tremendously unfair to Johnny because my plan was to have his return flight provided but I could not due to the financial problems leading up to the event due to sponsors backing out and my failure to come up with enough money in time.

I am in touch with Flex, Loe and Loe's uncle to pay their performance fees. I also owe Johnny Trash money for his flight Flex Digits, Johnny Trash, Loe Pesci and Chase worked very hard for their battles and I do not place any blame on them at all. I apologize profusely to all the battle MCs involved for what happened."

- Zain Azrai