In a revealing conversation on the ‘Thanx4askin’ podcast, legendary battle rapper Hollow Da Don took a trip down memory lane, sharing stories from his early days in the battle rap scene and the challenges he faced along the way. Hollow opened up about how dropping out of school and returning to New York set the stage for his battle rap career, with his first real battle happening at a local park. That moment became the catalyst for more opportunities, eventually leading him to the streets of 106th Street and Park Avenue, where he faced off against talented opponents.
However, Hollow’s journey was far from smooth. He admitted to struggling in the beginning, losing to a more experienced battle rapper from Jersey, but he saw it as a necessary lesson. “That loss pushed me to level up,” he shared. Hollow eventually found himself on BET’s 106 & Park, a major platform for battle rap at the time, but his rise was interrupted when he faced personal setbacks, including being incarcerated.
Despite these obstacles, Hollow’s hunger for success never wavered. Upon his return, he dominated the battle rap scene, winning seven consecutive battles and cementing his place in history. His relentless drive earned him a spot in BET’s ‘106 & Park’ Hall of Fame, alongside some of the biggest names in hip-hop.
Hollow also reflected on the evolution of battle rap and hip-hop, noting how the introduction of money into the scene changed the dynamics. “Once money got involved, it took the respect for battle rap to a whole new level,” he explained, highlighting how financial incentives have raised the stakes and brought a new level of recognition to battle rappers.
