While some rappers named in VIBE’s Best Rapper Alive tournament are excited to be in the big dance (we see you Crooked I!), others, not so much.
After revealing the first-round match ups last week, Lupe Fiasco released a statement, via his label’s (Atlantic Records) message boards, calling the tournament “insidious and reckless action.” Lupe denounced not only his pairing against Q-Tip in the Notorious B.I.G. bracket, the Chi-Town rapper requested his fans boycott the tournament all together.
As the competition officially kicked off this week, rapper Joe Budden – the number 15 seed in the Tupac bracket – released part 3 of his ongoing “Who” series. On the record, Budden raps, “anybody looking at that new VIBE bracket/should see that they don’t know a thing about this rap shit.”
Still, the contest continues, with the first round of voting coming to a close on Saturday. Be sure to check back on Monday, July 28 to see who has moved on to the second round. Hate it or love it, Lupe and Joe could go all the way, but the choice is up to the readers.
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Click here to read Lupe Fiasco's entire statement
Click here to listen to Crooked I's "VIBE.com/Best Rapper Alive Freestyle"
Listen to Joe Budden's "Who (Pt. 3)"
To vote in VIBE's Best Rapper Alive tournament go to http://www.vibe.com/bestrapper/
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