Latin Hip Hop takes center ring at Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos in Los Angeles.

The most innovative Latin battle emcees (MCs) in Los Angeles will take the stage at Club 740 (740 S. Broadway) at 8 p.m. in what is sure to be a heated match at the world’s most well-respected international freestyle MC competition known as Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature talented lyricists from Los Angeles rapping solely in Spanish in a no-holds-barred clash to find the best Latin MC in Los Angeles. The winner of the Los Angeles qualifier will advance to the U.S. National Final also to be held in Los Angeles on October 3, 2008 at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena. The U.S. finalist will then head to the international stage in Mexico City to compete against lyricists from 15 other Spanish-speaking countries in the International Final to crown the ‘best Latin battle MC’ in the world.

“This is truly the ‘heavy-weight world championship’ of all of Latin Hip Hop,” said Sami Cultura, 2007 U.S. Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos winner. “This is the premier showcase of rising Latino artists in the U.S. and around the world, helping to pave the way and grow the influence of Latin Hip Hop.”

Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos is fast-paced freestyle battle rapping at its very best, allowing MCs one minute to prove their skills or be knocked out in single elimination rounds. The international battle will feature talent from countries including: Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Spain, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, United States and Puerto Rico.

“The battles are intense, ‘gloves off’ competitions that leave crowds pumped and amazed every time,” said Eduardo Torres, judge from a previous Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos qualifier. “There is not one moment where you don’t feel the pulse and the intensity of the beats pumping to the words and rhymes of the MCs that are wanting nothing less than a full blown knock-out!”

From these L.A. finalists along with other MCs from qualifiers in San Francisco and New York City, the U.S winner will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Mexico City to compete in the international finals. They will also have an opportunity to record his or her music in the prestigious Red Bull Studios in Santa Monica, California where platinum-recording artists such as Young Buck have been in session. The international Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos winner will walk away with worldwide bragging rights, cash and custom memorabilia.

Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos’ first international freestyle MC competition began in 2005 with only eight countries rallying in Puerto Rico for the first batalla. Four years later, Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos has expanded with a diverse range of talent, including the first Latina MC from Venezuela competing last year in the international finals alongside great U.S. Latino artists that have quickly risen to fame. Last year’s U.S. winner, L.A.’s very own Sami Cultura, has since propelled to the top of the Latin Hip Hop scene sharing the same spotlight with artists such as Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, and is expected to soon release his second album with collaborations from Latin Hip Hop’s very own Roocky, Pit Bull, and Aldo. Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos has quickly become one of the best competitions for identifying future Latin Hip Hop talent.

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