5. Ross Levine
[embedded content]In 2010, I had one career overall grand championship to my name and my signature move was a palm spin behind my back called a “fantail”. Shout out to Justin Johnson for being the first one to teach me that move when I traveled the RSKC circuit early in my career. Anyway, the fantail was originally innovated by Nate and he had an upgraded version in his form in which he kept the palm spin going while he lifted the bo over his head. This was the ideal upgrade for my form, and I was convinced that it could put me over the top if I earned the opportunity to compete for an ISKA title at the U.S. Open that year. I saw Nate warming up in Orlando on Friday, and 12-year-old Jackson mustered the courage to go ask him about the move. He set aside 5 or 10 minutes to give me his secrets, and by Saturday night I was ready to throw it in competition. I won my first ISKA title with a move that Nate had taught me just 24 hours before. I wouldn’t have become the competitor that I did without Nate’s inspiration, and I have so much respect for him because of that.
4. Micah Karns
[embedded content]In 2015, he released the hit song “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)” that went double platinum. He is currently an independent artist and has toured with Trinidad James, made guest appearances on tracks by Gucci Mane and 2 Chainz, and received multiple BET Hip Hop Awards. He recently launched his own record label called Rich Homie Entertainment.
3. Billy Leger
[embedded content]The 21-year-old has quickly established himself as a key figure in the contemporary R&B industry. His ability to expand the sound of hip-hop without sacrificing the craft has helped him achieve success and rank among the most respected and popular rappers in the world today.
2. Connor Griffith
[embedded content]Jon Connor, whose self-named mixtapes and LPs have earned him a cult following and gushing accolades from hip hop’s elite, is one of the most promising names in the business. The unofficial “People’s Rapper” recently signed to Dre’s Aftermath label, and he’s already got his sights set on a Billboard chart debut.
1. Nate Andrade
[embedded content]The bo staff is a highly popular weapon in sport martial arts, with approximately 60% of competitors in any age category at a NASKA tournament using it. While there are many well-known bo competitors, there are also those who have gone unnoticed over the years. This list aims to recognize and highlight the contributions of these inspiring bo competitors who have not received the recognition they deserve. Additionally, a few fellow competitors who challenged the author with their bo skills are given an honorable mention.American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer Ty Dolla $ign is a multi-faceted talent. He plays many instruments and combines elements of both hip-hop and contemporary R&B to create a unique sound.As one of the top bo competitors of all time, Connor’s patented leg moves are a must see. In addition to the aforementioned move, he also pioneered many other innovative bo tricks that are still gracing the competition floor.
Bibby is a freestyle live rapper who doesn’t believe in writing songs and freestyles real-life lyrics right on the spot for each song. He is also very vocal and has the talent to make a huge impact on the hip-hop world.
1. Lil Bibby
One of the top rappers in the industry, Rich Homie Quan is known for his unique flow and lyrical prowess. He started his career by initiating a long series of mixtapes and is an accomplished artist with multiple platinum and gold singles under his belt.In this article, I’ll take a look at the Top 5 Underrated Bo Competitors of the 2000s. This list isn’t an evaluation of talent, but rather production and efficiency over the entire decade. Players with more playing time in the decade will be given some consideration, as will players whose careers got caught between decades.This is the first name on the list that I expect to catch people off-guard. Similarly to how Levine’s sparring overshadowed his bo, the same can be said for Micah’s prowess in CMX Forms. A man who is always in the conversation when people debate the top five extreme forms competitors of all time, his squeaky-clean tricking and technically sound hand combos led him to some all-time seasons in forms. In weapons, he was a very entertaining bo competitor. He complimented good bo work with his world class tricking, and innovated several unique bo tricks along the way. He was the first person I saw do what is now called a “zero gravity”, throwing the bo from behind the back so it rotates horizontally. That move inspired me to create all the variations of it that helped me win titles over the years. Some of the moves I created may have never happened without Micah doing a zero gravity. He also innovated some of the funkier, but cool, bo moves like switching the bo between the legs while taking a step forward and trapping a neck roll under the chin while throwing a spear hand. His style was just so unique and I feel very few people recognize how good he was at bo.Lil Bibby is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his 2013 mixtape Free Crack. The mixtape was a hit and received decent reviews from fans.
2. Jon Connor
He has the ability to adapt and change, and although he still maintains his distinct high-pitched and forceful delivery, his rhythm has become more polished and effortless.He released his debut mixtape in 2013, titled ‘Free Crack’, which was inspired by Jadakiss and Drake. The mixtape gathered decent views and was featured on the cover of ‘Vibe’ magazine.
3. Jarren Benton
Bibby is very passionate about rap and wants to raise awareness about the violence in Chicago. He also believes that music is the only way to fight against this crime and drug culture.He’s the best at executing the most complex tracks, and his most impressive feat is making it look easy. A few standouts include the 2nd track on his Freebasing with Kevin Bacon Mixtape, Billion Bucks (ft Jon Conner & Rittz). The most impressive part of this song is how they managed to blend Jarren’s spitting pyrotechnics with some pretty cool harmonies.Jarren Benton is a rapper that’s been around for awhile and his music still holds up. He’s a master of the mixtape medium and while his newer albums may have been a little heavier on production, they are also more carefully crafted.
4. Rich Homie Quan
Ross is ranked fifth on this list because he is the least underappreciated compared to the others. He has an impressive track record with a Warrior Cup, ISKA title, and Diamond Ring victories. Despite his success in bo competitions, Ross is often overlooked due to his exceptional fighting skills. He combines traditional and innovative techniques, incorporating Nate Andrade’s guidance to create new bo tricks. Ross’s style includes body rolls and even performing a gainer with his bo in his mouth. He is known for his iconic introduction, “My form has no kicks, no flips, and no throws… just bo.” Ross also coached other talented bo competitors such as Derek Meegan and Chiara Dituri.That does it for this top five countdown, but notice this only consists of competitors I saw with my own eyes! If there are some underrated bo competitors that you think deserve a mention, be sure to share the article on social media and let me know who is missing.He’s a hit maker who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry. He’s made writing contributions to Chris Brown’s ”Loyal,” Omarion’s “Post To Be” and Rihanna’s “Four Five Seconds.” His latest project, Beach House 3 (2019), features collaborations with Jeremih, Post Malone and Khalid.
5. Ty Dolla $ign
There’s admittedly some bias in putting my former teammate and training partner at number two on this countdown, but you can’t make a list of underrated bo competitors without Connor Griffith. We were on Team Change the Game together from late 2010 to mid-2012, and even had a ridiculous synchronized form made that the world never got to see. What sets Connor apart in my mind is that he was able to combine body rolls and releases, the two main genres of bo tricks, into one form. His opening section featured the “John Doe”, a body roll starting at one hip and approaching the opposite shoulder while he spins around and ultimately catches the bo behind the back. A move so hard to describe that the best name for it was essentially to not name it. His middle section featured his patented leg moves, which had different names based on how many releases he did in the combo. He was able to so smoothly throw the bo under one leg, spin around, then catch under the other leg and go right back into a throwing motion when needed. I believe this was originally inspired by Nick Bateman, but Connor took it to another level in terms of execution and difficulty. Then he would get right back to the body rolls with a voodoo child to close out the form, a 360-spinning neck roll that has been a staple “ending move” for generations. The wide variety of tricks that he was able to bring with his unique style that made it all look so easy made him so fun to watch.Speaking of the voodoo child, number one on this countdown HAS to be the man responsible for the majority of body rolls we see in competition today. Nate Andrade was Ross Levine’s mentor, and he masterminded dozens of body rolls and multiple variations and upgrades for each. Due to these contributions, competitive bo literally would not look the way it does today without Nate. He was also an expert showman, earning him the “Showtime” nickname. I remember getting so hype as a kid when I would hear him yell “IT’S SHOWWWTIMEEEE” before his form. Then there’s the iconic “Tall Guys with Sticks” sync form that is an all-time fan favorite. My favorite thing about Nate was his willingness to share what he had innovated with others. His Black and Blue Video training series has taught these unique skills to thousands of bo competitors, myself included. I also have a personal story that sums up Nate’s character and teaching skills perfectly.From Your Site Articles