Rap battles in Costa Rica have become much more well known due to social media and specific leaders who spend a lot of time organizing battles and events. Some may see a group of rappers in the park and think they are bums with nothing to do but they don’t see the hard work behind organizing leagues and battles or the beauty behind the art.
Freestyle battles are moving and have hundreds of fans gathering on streets throughout all 7 provinces of Costa Rica. Some from our country have even gone on to international events and succeeded. Cehzar was crowned the first national champion at the international Red Bull Battle of the Roosters in 2016.
Leagues, or groups of rappers, compete regionally and nationally. The Alajuela Rap Battles will choose a national champion in December, for example. One of the most important leagues in Costa Rica is Poseidón. Guapiles was off the rap map until 2017 and it has been improving ever since. Great names from the region have boosted its reputation competing against the greats of the GAM.
Rapquicia sets up battles and posts videos of them on YouTube. There are almost 22,000 subscribers. The most watched battle has been seen 107,000 times.
