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From A Fan’s Perspective: Watching The First Second Sight Live
Let this fan take you back to the 20th of March 2010, where the inaugural Second Sight took place.
Anonymous Battle Fan
April 22, 2026
I can still remember it vividly. It was March 19, 2010. A college friend, who is a solid hip-hop head, invited me to an event in Makati on the following night. I didn’t ask about the specifics. I just said yes, since the rest of our college clique will be going. At this time, I was already into hip-hop, but more of just a casual fan. Then, the 20th came. We met around 3PM at our hangout spot somewhere in Chino Roces. After a fun catching up session over light snacks, we went straight to B-Side. The venue was still new, and upon entering, we were awe-inspired by the overall look of the place. It was the perfect location for events.
My friend told me that it was a battle rap show. I initially expected the traditional, on-beat freestyle matches, but I actually learned about the modern format when we saw the documentary which was part of the event program. We then witnessed musical performances by Schizophrenia, NothingElse, and DJ Lamok (RIP). I was unfamiliar with them, but they definitely impressed me with their skills and presence. Anygma proceeded with the opening remarks, and that’s where I found out everything about FlipTop and their vision. It made me even more interested!
The battles took place outside of the bar. It was the first time I ever became part of the pit setup. We formed a circle and surrounded the competing emcees, Anygma, and Kuya Kevs the cameraman. From there on, we were all part of Philippine hip-hop history. As for the order of the battles, I could no longer remember it exactly, so I’ll just start with the two English Conference matchups: Apoc vs Plazma and Tim vs Dimebag Daryl.
Unfortunately, Apoc and Dimebag Daryl choked. I was really looking forward to both bouts, since I’m into English rap. Thankfully, Plazma and Tim gave unforgettable performances. It was Plazma who formally introduced me to horrorcore in his battle, and I was instantly hooked to the subgenre! Tim mixed solid written and freestyle rhymes, and he delivered haymaker after haymaker. I have no update regarding Dimebag’s career after this, but for Apoc, he was able to bounce back, extending his success to music.
Harlem vs Apekz was the freestyle battle on the card. Both emcees delivered remarkable off-the-top material, and it became a very close match. Luke vs Target and Loonie vs Gap were similar to the English Conference battles. While Luke and Gap stumbled badly on their rounds, their opponents made sure to still make it a classic. Target amazed us with his laidback but lethal delivery and perfect blend of witty jokes and heavy bars. Loonie gave us a rhyming clinic on this night. He showcased flawless multisyllabic rhymes, and aside from that, he broke down the style and personality of his opponent in the most confident manner. It was simply battle rap 101!
Now, we go to the two back-and-forth clashes of Second Sight. Cameltoe vs Dhictah was a fun style clash! Dhictah brought his aggressive, hardcore raps while Cameltoe unleashed his highly unique deadpan humor. It was entertaining from start to finish. Batas vs Dello was another all-out verbal brawl. Dello fascinated us with his clever jokes, complex multis, and effective rebuttals. Batas delivered hard-hitting angles and brutal lines paired with his raw aggression, which were shocking to us outsiders at the time. Watching it live was intense, making the whole experience much more worth it.
WATCH: Second Sight
Second Sight was my first event to see live, and I immediately became a fan. Actually, everyone in our clique became solid supporters. Sixteen years later, we’re still showing love to the movement. We’ve already bought tickets for Second Sight 15. See you guys there! For sure, it will be another historic occasion. Thank you always to the FlipTop staff and the emcees for not only entertaining us, but also for sharing your knowledge. Did you attend the inaugural Second Sight? Make sure you share your story in the comments.
