Some of you have probably thought about it for a long time, but it’s true what they’ve always been saying: iba pa rin talaga manood ng live! FlipTop may be the most-viewed rap battle league in the world, but that energy and hype are taken to a different level when you’re watching the whole thing in the flesh.

But let’s face it: some people don’t know how this goes, and not everyone has attended one of these. So what do you need to bring with you? Let’s find out!

8. An open mind (and even more open ears)

You’re about to hear rhymes, references, and rapid-fire rebuttals for the next several hours. Some of them will blow your mind. Some of them will melt your face off. Some of them… will need a second listen. Brush up a bit on your pop culture game, maybe even watch the last few battles of the emcees you’re looking out for, and get ready to add another layer to the fun!

7. Cash

Merch booths and concession stands may or may not take e-wallets, but to be sure, just bring cash. Save yourself the trouble of finding out the hard way, because there are no guarantees.

6. A power bank

True, recording the battles is not allowed, but the last thing you want is to finish the event without a way to contact people on your way home. Plus, there’s also the prospect of taking a selfie or two with your idol emcees, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on that, would you?

5. An extra shirt

People might joke that events like these are not the most appealing to your olfactory senses, but you don’t need to contribute to that stereotype. Bring an extra shirt so that even if Zaito spits fire while the venue’s air conditioning breaks down, you can stay relatively fresh the whole time.

4. Hydration

A water bottle or two wouldn’t hurt, and it makes perfect sense. The last thing you want is a parched throat when you’re shouting and chanting along with the crowd. Stay hydrated. We can’t emphasize this enough.

3. A Sharpie

If you’re the type who likes autographed memorabilia, make sure you have a Sharpie you can hand to streamline the process! The time you’d save from having to borrow one from someone else might mean the difference between you actually getting an autograph or having to miss out.

2. Your crew or your courage

You can go solo, or you can go in a group. Either way, expect to mingle with people. FlipTop crowds are pretty passionate about their fandom, but generally chill and welcoming, so it’s all good whether you decide to roll on your own or with a bunch of friends. It’s always great to have people to react with at the same time, though.

1. Battle Etiquette

Don’t forget your manners! Anything goes in FlipTop, sure – for the emcees onstage. For the audience, people will look at you funny if you heckle the emcees or react a little too much for your favorites. There’s also very little reason to ever boo anyone onstage, unless they really deserve it. Having fun is all good, but make sure you don’t call attention to yourself by being too extra. This ain’t about you.

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