The landscape of Vietnamese rap after the chaos.

Việt Nam•10/12/2024

This year's Rap Viet features three female contestants in the finals. This is also the first time that two rappers have withdrawn from the program simultaneously, right before the most important night of the competition.

Four seasons of Rap Viet have passed, but never before has the show's finale been as unstable as this year's. Just before the finale aired, two contestants announced their withdrawal from the program. The departure of Queen B and Dangrangto made the Rap Viet finale less exciting and dramatic.

The battle, which was already tilted in favor of Team BRay, has now shifted even further in his favor. The outcome of the Rap Viet competition is no longer difficult to predict. Gill and Robber, two contestants from Team BRay, almost certainly have a chance of winning, unless any "variables" occur.

The outcome of the match is becoming increasingly predictable.

This year marks the first time Rap Viet has had three female rappers in the finals. Audiences witnessed the rise of female rappers, who were previously considered "weak" and less influential in the underground scene . The chances of Queen B, Saabirose, and Danmy winning in their direct confrontations with GILL, Robber, Manbo, etc., were almost impossible, but their appearance at least contributed to a more colorful final. Among the three, audiences placed the most bets on Queen B, a formidable representative and one of the most authentic old-school hip-hop female rappers. Unfortunately, Queen B's departure left Danmy and Saabirose to face a battle that was clearly unevenly matched.

Danmy and Saabirose improved in every aspect in the final round that aired on the evening of December 7th, but their entertaining style and strong performance still made it difficult to reverse the situation and create a surprising ending for viewers following Rap Viet this year.

Rap Viet Part 2

With Robber and Gill, BRay has almost certainly secured the top spot. Photo: Producer.

Dangrangto's absence is even more regrettable. Along with Manbo, Dangrangto (also known as Tran La Luot) was a key media asset of this year's program. He had a large fan base and frequently appeared in top trending positions. This rapper possessed a unique and unconventional flow and rap style. While his rapping skills might not be as strong as GILL or Robber, his creativity and unpredictability made Dangrangto a mysterious factor, hoped to turn the tide of Rap Viet.

Predictions for the Rap Viet finale mostly favored GILL and Robber, with some viewers mentioning Dangrangto, Manbo, and 7dnight. However, Dangrangto has now left the competition. This decision doesn't completely change the landscape of Rap Viet, as GILL and Robber remain strong contenders, but it makes the outcome easier to predict. With two "ace cards" in hand, BRay has a near-certain chance of winning.

With 7dight, Manbo, Danmy, BigDaddy, and Karik, it's difficult for them and their students to once again win the Rap Viet trophy. Suboi, with her only representative Saabirose, has even less chance of winning.

The internal conflict for the "throne" within BRay's team.

In the first final episode, BRay declared that this year he would win both the champion and runner-up titles in Rap Viet. Robber, meanwhile, confidently stated: "I'll win this round," and "UnderDogs seems to be overwhelming the other teams." Robber has grounds for making such confident statements, even though the Rap Viet champion won't be revealed for almost another week. BRay currently has the two strongest contestants in this year's competition.

In terms of fundamental rap skills such as flow, delivery, lyrics, and punchlines, GILL and Robber are almost on a different level compared to the other finalists. Robber and GILL represent two of the most common and fundamental schools of rap. Robber is a typical old-school hip-hop rapper with unpredictable flow, style, and a captivating voice, while GILL stands out more for his ability to grasp younger audience trends and create catchy melodies. GILL's flow, lyrics, and punchlines are also good, making him a well-rounded contestant.

Gill's most recent performance was structurally safe but emotionally resonant. It might have been slightly weaker for the scale of a final night, but overall, he remains a strong contender for the championship. As for Robber, he maintained his form in the final night.

Against a beat with distinctly changing colors and complex structure, Robber shows that no genre is too difficult for him. Robber's flow and delivery are constantly evolving, allowing the audience to experience a variety of different emotions within the same song.

Even Manbo believes that Gill and Robber deserve the top spot. Photo: Producer.

Under episode 14, a comment from Manbo, a member of Karik's team, garnered significant interaction. Specifically, rapper HIEUTHUHAI, who is also a member of the same team, wrote: "We're all contestants, but honestly, the champions in my heart are GILL and Robber." With Queen B having withdrawn from the competition, Danmy's chances of winning are slim, making Manbo the only hope for Karik's team. However, if Manbo wins, it's predicted that Rap Viet will have the most controversial ending from season 1 to date. Regardless of his skills, Manbo has generated the most discussion this season.

But similar to RHYDER last year, the discussion surrounding Manbo is always multifaceted, with both support and controversy. Many comments about the rapper discuss whether he can overcome the huge shadow cast by his fellow GERDNANG members, especially HIEUTHUHAI. Did Manbo reach the finals thanks to the fame of his teammates?

In terms of skill, Manbo is no less capable than his teammates, and even surpasses them in flow, voice, and lyrics. However, when faced with strong opponents like Gill and Robber, Manbo seems to struggle.

Both Manbo and 7dnight (a contestant from BigDaddy's team) delivered strong and captivating performances in the final. However, in the commentary for episode 14, most viewers praised and predicted GILL and Robber would win. Whether this prediction will come true remains to be seen in the final on the evening of December 14th.

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