Rap Battle
1990s-present · New York / worldwide
Also known as Hip-Hop Scene, Improvised Rap Battle, Bad Rap
Two players freestyle a rap battle over a live beat — verses must rhyme, insult the opponent, and build over rounds.
Known for
- Not a Whose Line staple but a core UCB / Magnet musical-improv game since the 2000s.
- Requires real freestyle skill — most improvisers specialize or sit it out.
- Often framed like 8 Mile: four-bar verses, call and response from the audience.
- Sub-variant 'Bad Rap' allows hilariously bad freestyle — the meta-joke is failing on beat.
Connected to
Forms
musical improv
Games