This is Eve’s moment to rep Philly, and it works, but it doesn’t hit as hard as Trina’s continuous nods toward Miami - because Eve is stuck in a room all the way in London while Trina gets to physically rock it out with her fellow Miamians. “Scenario 2000” will never hit the same without DMX there to deliver his own biting and barking bars, but Eve bringing it back to that in the first place is a winning move. Both women make sure to point out that Missy was a pioneer, “an architect,” who paved the way for them and so many other women in the game. Smart move, Trina: It’s always a good idea to ride the Missy Elliott wave. Ludacris & Trina’s “One Minute Man (Video Remix)” vs. 5, and spent a then-record 18 weeks at No. But then Eve goes and brings Missy Elliott into the mix: “Hot Boyz” is one of Eve’s four top-10 Hot 100 hits, peaking at No. She even brings it home a capella, without missing a word. Trina shouts out the Slip-N-Slide label to introduce “Single Again,” produced by J-Roc and Timbaland for her 2008 album Still Da Baddest. Eve, Nas, Lil’ Mo & Q-Tip’s “Hot Boyz (Remix)” In this round, Eve may have had the more recognizable song, but Trina makes sure anybody who hadn’t heard “That’s Cool” before is adding it to their playlist. Every time Eve brings a timeless banger to the table, such as the second track on her debut album Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady, Trina counterpunches. Let it be stated for the record: Trina’s energy is relentless. Inarguably strong, but Eve’s counter has an emotional element that can’t be topped: The Ruff Ryders’ First Lady throws up an X in tribute to the late DMX, who died April 9, and lets his verse play uninterrupted before saying, “May he rest.” Trina agrees, putting up an X, prompting a broadcast-wide moment of silence, and recognizing that this was happening on what would have been Tupac’s 50th birthday. “Any time you come to the 305, this is how we get down,” she boasts. Trina really takes advantage of having an audience to play to, and punches-up her “Pull Over” performance with backup dancers joining her on stage. DMX, Drag-On, Eve, Jadakiss & Styles P’s “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem (Remix)” If this weren’t a broadcast allowing all to see Eve’s snarl during “What Y’all Want,” it certainly can be heard through her confident delivery. Nokio the N-Tity’s “What Ya’ll Want (Remix)”
#Trina here we go agian cracked
Eve eases in with 2007’s “Tambourine” - a strong song in its own right, having cracked the top 10 on Billboard ’s Hot Rap Songs chart - but she admits Trina picked the “perfect way to start it off” and wished she were in Miami to enjoy it. Trina wastes no time reminding everyone she really is that bad 21 years after the title track (and her debut solo single) from her game-changing debut album.
Below is Billboard ‘s round-by-round scorecard with a victor declared at the end. Even so, there always has to be a winner.
These 90 minutes existed solely to give flowers to two of the baddest women this industry has ever seen. The bars were flying, and with them came nostalgia. We always showed love, we always supported each other, we always held each other down.” “We’ve been knowing each other for over 20 years. “I wouldn’t have wanted to do this with nobody else than my sister, Eve,” the Diamond Princess said. Trina had previously said she really wanted to do a Verzuz with Lil’ Kim, but toward the end of her battle (read: celebration) with Eve, she put an end to that rumor. It was a certified ladies’ night at LIV Nightclub - if this truly were a playoff game, Trina would automatically have home-court advantage as Miami’s own, while Eve was videoing in from London - as the two competitors lathered each other in love, dancing along when the other was performing and noting favorites from each other’s catalog. Billboard Explains: Rap Battles & the 'Verzuz Effect'