RAP ROYAL RUMBLE! A sit down with Josef Coney Island

 So we just Recently had the "RAP ROYAL RUMBLE" a Rhymin Round Robin? What is this exactly?

     It was a night featuring 4 rappers going song for song for 8 rounds (8 songs a piece)  while SNTNCK mixed the set!  We were set up in a ring and instead of each performer doing a straight set of material we all went back and forth Iike a round robin!

How did you come up with thisRobin!

I love the vibe from cyphers and wanted to bring that feel to a showcase.  This is a perfect way to keep the crowd engaged, give the DJ something more to do than just press play,, and keep the rappers on their toes and at their best by putting them right after eachother.

Is this going to become a regular event?

Every 3 months we will do a RAP ROYAL RUMBLE!  Trading cards included

What went into choosing the artist and producer that participated?

I wanted to bring different talented acts that are sonically diverse and have fan bases that don't really cross eachother but would like everyone on the bill.  We pretty much decided to do the show about 2 weeks before the event. I wanted to book Isaac Castor at the spot and I ran into him and foulmouth at the 37th Shield Library in Eastern Market (shouts to Lord Dru and Dj Psycho), from there I wanted to get Crimson Alchemist on the ticket and had done a couple shows this year already with Dango Forlaine so reaching out to them was real easy... in fact Crimson Alchemist was also at the record store while we were there.  The whole thing was booked in under 30 mins...

The graphic aspect was dope, how did that all come about?

I sat with my designer Kyi from Kyiros Media and explained the vibe I was looking for sent a few reference pics and let them take It from there... we are currently working out the rules for the RAP ROYAL RUMBLE trading card game.

What can we expect in the future from the creatives that put all this together?

First Fridays at the Co.Lab will feature hip-hop shows- release partys, open mic game shows, and of course the RAP ROYAL RUMBLE.  Every third Thursday will be the Cypher. And we have tons of electronic and other music throughout the month as well.  The Co.lab is located at the  Russell industrial center in building 1 room 135.

I forgot to ask, was there a winner? Who won?

Detroit rap won this one. We all killed it. But to give you a real answer I think Crimson Alchemist  had the edge, I mean she came with a bushido blade, and was the last emcee to spit so by the rules of the royal rumble I'd have to give her the Dub...