Hip Hop culture has been an integral part of the music industry for decades, and its influence has spread beyond just music, but into fashion, art, and even language.
Battle rap, a sub-genre of Hip Hop, has also been on the rise in recent years, with many leagues springing up globally. Smack DVD and URL Battle in the US were pioneers with its online rap battles and recent ones like like Rare Breed and Chrome 23 have started gaining more traction.
In Ghana, a new online rap league is trying to build on this trend. Lyrical Wars, a Ghanaian-based battle rap league that has gained a reputation for providing quality content and organizing rap battle events in Ghana.
About The Platform
Founded in 2014, Lyrical Wars started as a platform to promote Ghanaian battle rappers. Over the years, the league has extended its reach to Nigeria, inviting battle rappers from Nigeria to compete with their Ghanaian counterparts.
The league has served its niche market primarily through its YouTube channel, which has over 4,370 subscribers and a total of 267,000 views.
One of the unique features of Lyrical Wars is its ability to organize seasonal events that give fans a chance to witness the rap battles live. The league has become a cultural force within the Hip Hop space in Ghana, with its theme over the years being “On behalf of the culture.”
Lyrical Wars has organized several events, including the “Main Event” in December 2022, which had a Pay per View service on their website, Lyricalwars.tv. This service allows fans who are unable to attend the events in person to watch the action live from anywhere in the world.
The last pay per view had paying customers, the majority from Nigeria, with some from the USA and UK.
The league’s mission to monetize what many people consider an “underground” culture has led to the setup of a Video on Demand service. This service allows viewers to pay to watch a battle from Lyrical Wars’ catalogue of battles, currently with two battles up for purchase. Upon payment, the buyer has access to view the footage for 90 days.
Lyrical Wars’ prices for battles vary by country, with the African sub-region equivalent of 20GHC and $9 for other countries outside the continent. The league’s ability to extend its reach to Nigeria and other parts of the world through its content and events has increased its audience and revenue streams.
Lyrical Wars’ contribution to the Hip Hop space cannot be overlooked. Its ability to organize seasonal events, provide quality content, and monetize its platform has put it on the global map. As the league continues to grow, its theme “On behalf of the culture” remains a driving force behind its success.
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