Frederick Douglass vs Thomas Jefferson. Epic Rap Battles of History

[@nicolasdiaz1542]

For anyone who didn't know, when Frederick Douglass talked about the photos, he was bragging about how he was the most photographed person in the 18th century

[@cortes2j]

He was born in the 19th century…

[@nicolasdiaz1542]

@@cortes2j yes, you're right. Thats my mistake

[@Discojericho]

@@nicolasdiaz1542 Its not like there was a more photogenic or photographed person in the 18th century so you are fine.

[@MichellePaulette79]

How many people from the 19th century can you look at their photos, and they have a style that would not be completely out of place even today. Ahead of his time in so many ways.... even fashion! I do wish that somewhere in this rap battle were his words to the youth in his own Time.. Agitate, agitate, agitate! Which I personally think is great advice! Yet another reason this man was so far ahead of his time.

[@cortes2j]

@@MichellePaulette79 about four…

[@EpoxyResin-x3s]

I don't remember this part of Hamilton

[@lucascurio8345]

Because in real life Hamilton and his wife were big slave owners, Douglas would whoop their arses.

[@EpoxyResin-x3s]

@@lucascurio8345 that's a #bruhmoment if I do say so myself

[@jp3813]

​@@lucascurio8345 Douglas won't even need something like that since Hamilton destroyed his own reputation which prevented him from ever becoming president. Got this from Wikipedia: Hamilton is not known to have ever owned slaves, although members of his family were slave owners. At the time of her death, Hamilton's mother owned two slaves named Christian and Ajax, and she had written a will leaving them to her sons; however, due to their illegitimacy, Hamilton and his brother were held ineligible to inherit her property, and never took ownership of the slaves. Later, as a youth in St. Croix, Hamilton worked for a company trading in commodities that included slaves. During his career, Hamilton did occasionally purchase or sell slaves for others as their legal representative, and one of Hamilton's grandsons interpreted some of these journal entries as being purchases for himself. By the time of Hamilton's early participation in the American Revolution, his abolitionist sensibilities had become evident. Hamilton was active during the Revolution in trying to raise black troops for the army, with the promise of freedom. In the 1780s and 1790s, he generally opposed pro-slavery southern interests, which he saw as hypocritical to the values of the American Revolution. In 1785, he joined his close associate John Jay in founding the New-York Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and Protecting Such of Them as Have Been, or May be Liberated, the main anti-slavery organization in New York. The society successfully promoted the abolition of the international slave trade in New York City and passed a state law to end slavery in New York through a decades-long process of emancipation, with a final end to slavery in the state on July 4, 1827. At a time when most white leaders doubted the capacity of blacks, Hamilton believed slavery was morally wrong and wrote that "their natural faculties are as good as ours." Unlike contemporaries such as Jefferson, who considered the removal of freed slaves (to a western territory, the West Indies, or Africa) to be essential to any plan for emancipation, Hamilton pressed for emancipation with no such provisions. Hamilton and other Federalists supported Toussaint Louverture's revolution against France in Haiti, which had originated as a slave revolt. Hamilton's suggestions helped shape the Haitian constitution. In 1804 when Haiti became the Western Hemisphere's first independent state with a majority of the population being black, Hamilton urged closer economic and diplomatic ties.

[@lucascurio8345]

jp3813 holy shit nice paragraph dude

[@jp3813]

@@lucascurio8345 It ain't mine. lol

[@rebeccad9635]

"and I ceased being an alien to your unalienable rights" holy fucking shit dawg

[@hephsmith3738]

400 likes to the Meme Master!

[@JeiHeirumaru]

“And ‘we the people’ stopped meaning ‘we the people…who are white’ “

[@janverfaillie8943]

0:18 "I'm endowed with certain unalienable skills"

[@theasexualidiot4803]

@@janverfaillie8943 bro dug his own grave in one his first verses

[@theasexualidiot4803]

Dude just burned him at the stake like the Roman’s did to the Catholics.

[@minecraftsteve2504]

"YOU LET FREEDOM RING BUT DIDN'T PICK UP THE PHONE MAN" I love it. Douglas came out not seeking violence, but seeking the truth.

[@GoingToAFuneral]

YOO YOU GOT A HEART CONGRATS

[@minecraftsteve2504]

@@GoingToAFuneral honestly I wasn't anticipating it Really threw me off guard when I saw it in my notifications Much love to the boys behind erb

[@weego2585]

@@minecraftsteve2504they really are good guys ngl.

[@wldnrkls]

you didn't even get the quote right with the video right in front of you

[@greasemaster]

Ggs

[@arielcahn7728]

"You let freedom ring but never picked up the phone" I come back to this battle for this line. Genius.

[@lokitmg4123]

Clever line

[@neraka-z4n]

Even better when you realize that Fredrick Douglas lived long enough to see the invention of the telephone.

[@toodmorales8462]

I’m happy I was the guy to provide you with 1k, cause I agreeeeeee

[@datguymiller]

Also made sure former president Jefferson was finished with his rap

[@flappynautintheocean8824]

@@lokitmg4123 can't be tamed bros

[@portalmasterjake5267]

dude i just got, "you died on the 4th of july, its a very important holiday, but what the fuck does it mean to this guy?" he wrote a speech called, "what is the 4th of july to a slave" wack

[@neilpemberton5523]

It is possibly his best speech ever.

[@distaffpope2603]

@@neilpemberton5523 It's such fire

[@senoritarat9520]

DAMNNN

[@droid327]

Ironically, in that speech he actually quotes Jefferson decrying the evil of slavery

[@ssj2camaro21]

Well seems like we have that same issue today with BLM.

[@rocky4629]

“Ah Fredrick I’ve never heard a verse I Doug Less” that line was so corny i ended up laughing too hard.

[@Nayhan123]

epiphany you got likes thought I'd tell you

[@rocky4629]

aaron bacchus i know that

[@michaelgiffen7541]

I hate that I didn't get that until I saw this

[@drewwatkins3053]

@@michaelgiffen7541 same lmao

[@sephiroth24592]

I was in the shower when I realized that was a pun....

[@Hei_Darkfire]

1:23 Can we just appreciate how much effort ERB puts into these. They took 7 shots of the guy playing Frederick instead of just copying and pasting one shot into all of the photos. That is real dedication.

[@greasemaster]

It sure is

[@ServerYT]

> That is real dedication. HEADS FOR RACIST TAILS FOR SLAVE PLANTATION

[@clickthisforawsomnes]

They do things like this in every rap. Theres always eye candy and small things you can spot in the background. You can tell they love their craft

[@what_s_that_question_mark]

@@clickthisforawsomnes And we love 'em too!

[@agc2757]

It's also real muggin'

[@noahkelly3627]

The line “not to mention third president” line is so subtle but very clever. Jefferson didn’t consider being president a real big accomplishment in his life. On his tombstone, it mentions other accomplishments (writing the Declaration of Independence, writing the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and founding the University of Virginia) but does not mention him being president at all because he didn’t really see it as that important

[@jeremytewari3346]

That whole concluding verse of his accomplishments followed by “the fuck’d you do?” is so powerful

[@andyknightwarden9746]

@@caden7745 Agreed.

[@IsaTehGothicMando]

@@caden7745 Its a battle, Jefferson's remarks amounted to "Im gonna brag about everything I've done" and "You look silly" ,and then apologizing his entire second verse, you're crazy to think he took this. Douglas threw everything he said back in his face, called him not only a racist, but a gigantic hypocrite whose greatest accomplishments ring hollow because he didnt back it up with his actions,

[@justahyundai]

@@caden7745 Douglass second verse completely and utterly destroyed Jefferson no doubt

[@MonsterIcee]

IsaTehGothicMando yeah but I think Noah is appreciating what the creators gave Jefferson. Given his insults must have been limited, similar to hulk vs jenner

[@tadstrange1465]

I love how legitimately pissed Fredrick Douglass seems here.

[@MrLoukato]

I mean it's a slave owner vs a former slave. Considering how stuff was back then and all he went through, I feel like he has a right to be pissed.

[@TheHenrydu]

ikr, has to be too, with their parody on NWA, nigga does have an attitude

[@tadstrange1465]

Rohunt Yeah it's great acting on this guy's part

[@samiryeahman7005]

Tad Strange is that a gravity falls character I see????

[@nathanseper8738]

There is nothing more powerful than righteous fury.

[@ShmeengusDingus]

Frederick’s Last Verse: “I’m not mad, I’m just horribly disappointed in you.”

[@function0077]

This is the parental dagger to the heart line.

[@kumba713]

@@function0077 true

[@Zeke1460]

Douglass’s lines about “the 4th of July is an important holiday but what does it mean to this guy?” Is referring to a speech he gave about the 4th of July. Basically in that speech he discussed how the 4th of july is when america celebrates freedom and liberation but at the same time they continued to enslave black people, so the 4th of July was just a reminder of enslavement for black people.

[@emlynselene1096]

Here to add on it's called "What, to a slave, is the 4th of July?"

[@dilloncasey1194]

It’s also taking a shot at Jefferson who had 6 babies with his slave only 4 survived she had a choice though to be free in France or return to America with Jefferson she chose to go with him as long as long as her children would become free when they turn 21 which Jefferson never did until he died on the 4th of July 1826

[@phillipsnichole2857]

'... But what does it mean to this guy... ' well, CTFD. Doesn't it stand to reason that speeches like the one you refer to are meant to set the frame work in the mind of people of that time? Instant gratification of fast societal change is not a reasonable expectation. Change is slow. Speeches are made to inspire thought and debate.

[@gandalf_thegrey]

@@dilloncasey1194 I mean, not really unexpected the 2 out of 6 babies die. I would even go as far an claim thats a pretty good ratio for the time

[@grendal113]

To be fair. Stayed on the plantation has a real meaning for cowards.

[@sabercat2178]

>”I’m so down with revolutions I invented the swivel chair” >google >HE ACTUALLY INVENTED THE SWIVEL CHAIR

[@penisparker5172]

Thomas is a savage

[@TheLibermania]

The Simpsons already taught us that.

[@Korfman]

They don't call it Epic Rap Battles of HISTORY for nothing.

[@Stazmanian]

Damn boi

[@vivaciousmyosotis]

Saber Cat I don’t get that line

[@ra_mry3062]

Okay but no one is talking about “founding absentee father”

[@ItRemindMeOfHome]

Because his family to this day refuses to talk about it

[@jazzyprince3335]

THERE'S TOO MUCH WORDPLAY!!!!!!!!!!

[@imanuelgonzalez2853]

Because he said it to fast and it didn't really connect or rhyme with the previous sentence.

[@elaovi]

Because he raped and impregnated a slave woman

[@jesseberg3271]

@@elaovi in some ways, he and Hemmings lived like a married couple, and when she was given her freedom by the French (before they had had children) she chose to go back to Virginia with him, which meant going back into slavery. This is NOT a defense of Jefferson. The fact that he could still participate in the institution of slavery while in that kind of relationship with a black woman makes him (in a way) more monstrous than someone who saw slaves as little different from livestock. He knew these were people, no different than him, and he did what he did anyway.

[@bestnumber_7225]

Just noticed Jefferson say “I’ve never heard a verse I dug less” Douglass

[@saltyonions9268]

I would have never caught that

[@oliverholland1205]

How did it take you this long 😂😂

[@verZatile_bmotp]

"Aw Frederick , I've never heard a verse I dug less" (Douglas) Word play on 100!

[@k4nj1kun83]

Also “This ain’t Louisiana man, I ain’t buying it.” I think we all know what purchases Jefferson made

[@samwalker3165]

Oh. Mah. Gawd. I have watched this several times and never realised 😀

[@generaljesus7669]

It's crazy cause I feel like Jeffferson"s first verse was absolutely lethal: he just had the wrong opponent

[@philiphockenbury6563]

The first verse was fantastic. It’s just that he’s fighting THE Black Abolitionist. So Jefferson was set up to get dunked on.

[@erobertwicker]

@@philiphockenbury6563Agreed. Imagine if it was Thomas Jefferson vs John Adams or something like that, they ultimately were friends but disagreed on a many great things. I think Lloyd could’ve played a great Adams in my opinion.

[@TG-om1ue]

They had to give Jefferson an opponent he basically couldnt beat, because if it was literally anyone else he wouldve fucking crushed them. He just did too much to not clown on anyone except for the dude who was a slave, got free and became a famous Abolitionist

[@UmbreonMessiah]

In almost any other context, Jefferson's first verse would have ended the whole battle. Almost nobody can stand up to the things he accomplished in his life. ...but across from him is one of the only people with the knowledge, the know-how and the credentials to do just that.

[@TG-om1ue]

@UmbreonMessiah it's basically impossible to beat Douglass because of what he did with his life. Beyond making fun of his looks and calling him basically a narcissist (both of which Jefferson does) there isn't anything else you can touch. You could probably put anyone against Douglass and the result would be a loss

[@8h723]

“1st Secretary of State, VP number 2, not to mention 3rd President.” I like how that is in Numerical Order

[@Clangdon0148]

1, 2, 3, that seems right

[@오렌지-y9o]

@@Clangdon0148 that’s not a question

[@ivanthehunter3530]

Ocd has been satisfied* ...... For now*

[@masonwoods319]

Another fun little fact, the “not to mention” pet is because it isn’t listed on his tombstone that he was president of the United States. Wack.

[@baseballguy0125]

And chronological

[@aaronjohnson1647]

They fit a whole semester of high school history in 3 min

[@gunargundarson1626]

Another reason why the current education system is whack.

[@notlogical4016]

@@gunargundarson1626 yee yee

[@inactiveuserakashahb3201]

@@gunargundarson1626 hee hee

[@justsomeguy1014]

No Lollygagging the system WACK, the teachers WACK, the school WACK, the textbooks WACK

[@notlogical4016]

Yosuru Shi it doesn’t, the school system just forces it on you for a semester. Because the schools are dumb

[@ChairmanLor]

Fun Fact: The dude who plays Douglas in this battle is J.B. Smoove, who also plays one of Peter Parker's teachers in the new Spiderman movies.

[@Rygoat]

and "Leon Black" from Curb Your Enthusiasm

[@SkiggsMoDiggs]

I thought he looked familiar

[@weirdcarpetthing97]

Oh yeah he’s that witches guy

[@jons_7402]

He's also the barber in Everybody Hates Chris.

[@chattaboxxx2332]

This. This right fucking here. This made my week.

[@Aiden_Jomanski]

Douglas was so powerful, that Jefferson spent his whole second verse trying to make peace with him

[@Hokum6]

First and only time in an ERB. Feels wrong.

[@luckii.__17]

@@Hokum6 I think he should've been like "yeah I did that so what", even though he wasn't really like that irl I guess.

[@TG-om1ue]

@@luckii.__17 The problem is he basically cant attack Frederick Douglass on anything besides what he did in the first verse. Douglass is like the ultimate rap battle trump card because you cant really make fun of the guy who spent his whole life talking about how bad slavery was. Had Jefferson had literally anyone else as an opponent he would win easily

[@duongnguyen-mb3rp]

@@luckii.__17 too bad he was rapping agains Douglass of all people cause if he said that, it would just make things worse for him

[@charlescollier7217]

Frederick Douglass is quietly the best orator in American history.

[@tiny99990]

I felt that Thomas Jefferson flowed better... but Frederick was spitting truth with passion so I gotta give it to him.

[@nimvvv8467]

True

[@PsychCaptain]

Well said.

[@angelfloress5063]

@@PsychCaptain Naw douglass was being a bit too cocky and using his race to his advantage. If this wasn’t on youtube, a leftist organization, Jefferson would’ve won.

[@michaelmooney1914]

@@angelfloress5063 KZbin isn't an organization, it's a public forum.

[@angelfloress5063]

@@michaelmooney1914 Yes it is.

[@thedonutqueen6454]

"So down with revolution, I invented the swivel chair," I love that line.

[@bobateacafe5792]

The DonutQueen “this ain’t Louisiana I aint buying it” I LAUGHED SO HARD IN HISTORY

[@gumunduringigumundsson9344]

The DonutQueen it is sweet 🍀🌏💜

[@MarleyMan850]

Fredrick Went IceCube

[@ashlynnnfairchild3355]

I thought that was Ben Franklin

[@AJSLV2002]

Yh well it didn't mention Alexander Hamilton who was actually one of the main people in the American revolution doo...

[@JacobRy]

best flow: Jefferson best disses: Douglass overall winner: swivel chair

[@deadpan904]

Cheers bro, I'll drink to that!

[@lordeverett5642]

Rock And Roll Guru I concur

[@kfg452]

How original.

[@therealplaguerat]

@@kfg452 I agree but whatever

[@diabtozy_the_realest]

What about Thomas Jeffersons.Stone face?

[@SirToaster9330]

“This ain’t Louisiana, man I ain’t buying it” I love this, it’s a reference to when Thomas bought the Louisiana territory from Napoleon

[@Thespikedballofdoom]

thanks, I somehow never caught that

[@IsaaacWithThreeA]

“How dare you adress moi, you adolescent worm.”

[@CA.papaBear]

@@IsaaacWithThreeA Damn it I read it and instead of reading it mentally with a normal voice instead in my head I read it as though I mentally sounded like Napoleon Bonaparte.

[@IsaaacWithThreeA]

@@CA.papaBear This bastard’s about to see how bad a battle can be.

[@joannnuneza4919]

Finally someone who saw it.

[@philliptivis3082]

Jefferson has an amazing first verse. The flow, the disses...it's quite a strong start...and then Douglas shuts it down with 3 words: "You finished? Okay..."

[@Salsuero]

Yeah. Very much an underrated opening in context by Douglas.

[@MintyCoffee]

Jefferson doesn’t have any disses in most of his first verse and none in his second xd

[@MonsieurDijon]

not really no, but ok

[@xanderzelef9757]

@@MintyCoffee he kinda does

[@justanotheranimeprofilepic]

He had the balls to stop Jeffersons flow instead of just turning it around

[@alredir]

"This ain't Louisiana man, I ain't buyin' it." Hah, Jefferson did the Louisiana Purchase.

[@anywaythewindblows8912]

Right lol

[@jaxmatthews2748]

OMG I NEVER REALIZED THAT

[@MrJoeylj]

Hidden fact

[@maxfieldjoyner5244]

I realized that after like 30 watches of this rap. That is embarrassing.

[@lokitmg4123]

I just now realized this. At first I didn't get the reference but now that we're learning about this in history I actually understand.

[@sine-spike]

Ok but can we talk about how hilarious Jefferson’s facial expressions are throughout both of Frederick’s verses. He’s just like “Yikes, he’s right”

[@TheWarriorofHonor]

more like "damn how do i get out of this??" XD

[@MattBnl2ih]

Oppenheimer had the same exact expressions yet he still managed to say “fuck this guilt trip, this is a god damn rap battle”

[@X-35173]

Had to re watch and focus on them but yeah they were great lmao.

[@Sailorbyday]

Not about every thing. He was kinda wrong on some so

[@thetruth-hl7ct]

I think it was more like "Is that even English?"

[@jeffreydudgeon4579]

Those last two lines, "I ain't denying your fame I'm just saying they need to put an asterisk next to your name" Perfectly encapsulates this video

[@rach2111]

I feel like Jefferson would agree.

[@HookCamper]

An asterisk meaning what? I thought that line was left vague so the viewer could add their own meaning to the meaninglessness, like Kanye lyrics.

[@jeffreydudgeon4579]

@@HookCamper that Jefferson, despite all his high minded ideals of freedom, was a slave-owner. So I thought the line was pretty straight forward.

[@ramen2192]

@@HookCamper asterisks in writing usually mean that there are caveats or more context to add to the situation

[@spuriouslathos2518]

​@@HookCamper you gotta try reeeeeeeal hard to miss the point that badly.

[@paulpardee]

"when I stopped being an alien to your inalienable rights" Jesus Christ that hit hard!

[@carlitojaunito2269]

Paul Pardee suffer I made it uneven

[@trappout3104]

900th like

[@AacaL05]

Paul Pardee I really liked that line

[@JoeJohnson-fc5wr]

I liked the other one. "When we the people stopped meaning we the people who are white." That one really struck me.

[@klaud7311]

*unalienable

[@mariaesthervillanueva729]

"You let freedom ring but never pick up the phone" Why aren't we talking about this line? Like, he kill him.

[@ditw_music]

Nah, wasn't that great. Jefferson's first verse was fire

[@MohamedAli-nf1rp]

@@ditw_music you would be a dummy if you think jefferson won

[@mariaesthervillanueva729]

@@MohamedAli-nf1rp Douglass won is so obvious 👏👏

[@MohamedAli-nf1rp]

@@mariaesthervillanueva729 ik

[@Nesendrea]

To be honest, Douglass was spitting so much fire that by the end of the battle, Jefferson should have been sweating worse than Douglas’ people, cello or no.

[@ThatsABitPersonal]

Frederick Douglass was also a huge advocate for women’s rights, so he could tell Jefferson that he... Fought to include women in the sequel.

[@jazminnegro6747]

Work!

[@psychicbyinternet]

Yay I literally just watched that last night so I get the reference haha

[@mostlynull]

r/unexpectedhamilton

[@mrboop8905]

Aiden's come on man that is the most expected Hamilton

[@yougosquishnow]

Nice

[@renaissancenerd3801]

can we talk about how "I didn't do anything to stop the slave trade or free my own slaves because I was worried about my money" is such a painfully realistic thing for a politician to say Edit: the sheer amount of people in the replies looking for any and all excuses for Jefferson genuinely boggles my mind

[@carlosg8103]

@MasteroMatter Yep you are right

[@CidVeldoril]

To be fair he lived in a time when having money meant being able to vote and he was not some kind of dictator who could have easily changed stuff. To be able to change anything for the better on any issue he needed to have money.

[@lordspam2721]

I agree. Jefferson and Douglas were both epic and this battle was weak. People have such a blinded view of history. They were both based AF

[@Justaguyuguys]

Jefferson was tortured over this, he argued for freeing American slaves most of his life, tried to outlaw slavery in VA and wanted to include a condemnation of slavery in the declaration but the founders thought it would isolate the southern colonies. I've never figured out exactly why he didn't free his slaves when he died, but I think he was in debt and was using the slaves as collateral. I may be wrong about that but everytime I try to look it up I get conflicting answers.

[@degayify]

Ok groomer

[@christopherjustice6411]

If they had put Jefferson up against literally anybody else he would've kicked ass. This matchup is perfection.

[@konstantinopoulos33]

Hmm. Harriet Tubman?

[@MonsieurFeshe]

ye, but he still won.

[@ZeroTheFoolArcana]

he still kicked ass tho, but we are not allowed to say it because it would be "racist" to say thomas won

[@christopherjustice6411]

Zero Your victim narrative is funny, it’s a matter of opinion of who won my dude.

[@ZeroTheFoolArcana]

@@christopherjustice6411 victim narrative is frederick whole rap...

[@PaperbackWizard]

Not gonna lie, Douglass could have talked a little more about himself. He did more than just get his picture taken.

[@kmjkmjkmj]

You mean tell us he taught himself to read? He covered that.

[@kikiretzorg1467]

He didn't need to talk about himself to complete dismantle Jefferson by targeting his cognitive dissonance.

[@kanoy7817]

That was the weakest line tbh, "oh you got your fucking face on a mountain, but I got the cool photos"

[@kanoy7817]

@@sacrore9 No, no I don't think they will. Unless the regressive left keeps pushing identity politics.

[@majeedmamah7457]

@@kanoy7817 if identity politics turns you into a racist, you were already a racist.

[@reefb6292]

"no compromise, you couldn't whip a fifth of me man". holyyy shit the three fifths compromise

[@lokitmg4123]

Oooooh yeah!

[@loqutor]

Except that's not at all what the three-fifths compromise meant. The real Frederick Douglass would have known that.

[@lachlanwashere1279]

@@loqutor I mean, the ⅗ compromise did have to do with a slave's value, and I think they were trying to reference it's existence, not define it.

[@samsondog2182]

@@lachlanwashere1279 The slave owners wanted their slaves to count as one person for voting rights and for more power. The compromise was to keep the slave owning democrat from gaining more voting power.

[@Bribridude130]

It should have been “no compromise, you couldn’t whip three-fifths of me man”

[@thatjeff7550]

"You finished? Okay..." And that's when Jefferson knew he was fighting waaaay out of his league... LOL

[@demnbrown]

The "face of a free man taught himself to read men no-compromise couldn't whip a fifth of me man" won the battle.

[@laurah12]

took way too long for me to find this comment

[@TheBeastBandit]

One of the hardest lines that gets so little attention. It was so fucking good

[@cyrusmuller6502]

Tbh after rewatching this it feels one sided like with the hulk

[@ShrodingersCatgirl]

"you let freedom ring but never picked up the phone" boy he DEAD dead

[@olivergates5843]

@@ShrodingersCatgirl What does this line mean

[@sewtom7309]

I get that Douglass definitely won this one, but Jefferson's first verse was pretty much flawless, and among the best verses in all of ERB. Rivalled by very few.

[@jacobgushue866]

Major Spook they stacked the battle, which is fine since it was straight fire

[@diegomontesleon136]

I think that's what makes this battle so interesting. Jefferson brought in a clean-cut brag-rap, that against anyone else would have caused a stalemate. Like Shaka Zulu's opener against Julius Caesar. And then comes in Douglas. Instead of trying to out-brag Jefferson, he picks up Jefferson's own ego trip and hits him with his own flaws. That also helps to make his point; Because Jefferson was a great man, he isn't even trying to outdo him, but he also was a very flawed figure, which is what Douglas has an issue with.

[@Arcessitor]

@@diegomontesleon136 Lol Shaka got destroyed by Caesar. His best diss was about Caesar being stabbed by friends, while Shaka himself was stabbed by his own family. Lol.

[@AceGANNON-tu3qh]

If it was even it would have been Jefferson all the way. But Jefferson only had one verse. Jeffersons second verse was just him apologizing for his flaws I don't think that Douglass had bad raps. I was saying it's not as good as Jeffersons bars. I would put Jeffersons first verse with the likes of the fathers of the Renaissance. Almost unmatched like the top comment said. But Douglass steamrolled Jefferson like James bond did. He didn't let Jefferson get words in and you can tell Jeff want to say stuff

[@firstnamexlastname9190]

I agree

[@seanbourdier8756]

My favorite thing about this battle is how Jefferson showed up for a regular battle, and Douglass was clearly here with a mission, addressing slavery. Going up against a founding father, he knew what he was doing and then Jefferson has to like back pedal because the whole battle has changed now so he has to cover his ass about it.

[@SkiggsMoDiggs]

Yeah, although Thomas could've just not acknowledged it and continued like most tend to do when their opponent brings up a mistake they can't deny, Thomas wanted to address his accusations. I think that says a bit about him as well, but then again, so does his actions

[@JB-gw7xf]

@@SkiggsMoDiggs Jefferson was well aware of his own hypocrisy on slavery. In "Notes on the State of Virginia" he said "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep forever: that considering numbers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events: that it may become probable by supernatural interference! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest."

[@danielkokal8819]

@@JB-gw7xf Damn that boy could write.

[@DCPTF2]

yep nothing like shoving white guilt down the viewer throat

[@jaqua7732]

Yes that was very well played, but all of these epicrapbattles usually are

[@iaincoleman5947]

"I'm just saying, you need to put an asterisk next to your name" is one of the greatest, most lethal rapier thrusts in all of ERB

[@G01NGP0ZT4L]

THE WAY HE SAID IT SEALS IT

[@jackscliparchives1080]

I don’t get it still

[@markbrehob5592]

@@jackscliparchives1080 In sports, they will often put someone as a record holder but add an asterisk saying there was some issue (game called early or something). He's saying "you were great, but there were issues so important that when anyone mentions how great you were, this stain on your record will always be mentioned".

[@jackscliparchives1080]

@@markbrehob5592 The line sucks

[@chocolateavian]

@@jackscliparchives1080 i dont think you get how amazing it is

[@jbfn14]

"The day the 13th damn ammendment was ratified and I ceased to be an alien to your inalienable rights" One of the most powerful lines in all of ERB.

[@ssj2camaro21]

Property doesn't have rights.

[@sayaksen7545]

@Kacper he's a salty confederate I assume

[@TheWarriorofHonor]

@@sayaksen7545 possible so, but he had a bit of a point, befire 1865, slaves were considered property (by some) and it is correct to say that property doesn't have right. technically it is correct, even if treating people as property is anything but correct

[@passiveswan]

@@ssj2camaro21 kay why ess

[@UKMonkey]

Apart from the 13th just means that in order to have slaves, they need to be arrested first. Why do you think arrest rates are so high in America, especially of the black folks; or why America has one of the highest % of incarcerated people in the world? the 13th protects slavery - just in a hidden way.

[@greasyclown]

Douglass dissed Jefferson so much, Thomas apologized in next verse...

[@thethird1967]

Lol

[@segmentre1352]

Ice-cave goblin no

[@tammygreen8962]

@@segmentre1352 .. MMmmm..YES HE DID.. DON'T HATE.. STRAIGHT OUT OF BONDAGE 🤣😂😅💃💯

[@matthewprue1010]

I kinda looked at it like, “hey I did these other things and you kinda misrepresented me.” But he did also apologize which was kinda lame. At least he apologized in a great way.

[@ethpling165]

Inquisitor goblin hmm I wonder if there was a narrative behind that??

[@self-proclaimedcomedian1037]

Jefferson spending his full second verse explaining himself is so beautifully realistic. It's exactly what most politicians would do. It's genius, really

[@Jonathan-oy8cl]

I mean, he makes a better argument than most

[@monke980]

i mean but he was being legit, he was actually explaining shit, he wasn't just deflecting with vague ideas. it's really not that genius.

[@bijuutamer729]

It makes Jefferson look better because pretty much any president before Abe would have just been like, “lol don’t care you’re black”

[@juanquixote4186]

Certainly what the real Jefferson would have tried to do

[@Adalon-]

@@bijuutamer729 abe was basically the same way. All the freed slaves would have been forcibly repatriated if he hadn't been killed. Abe dislikes slavery, but people forget that is not what the war was about. Abe made it about that, after the fact and at a point the north was in trouble, to Garner support, rally people and to further demonize an enemy. They were just tools, as always in history.

[@veccyboo7694]

I love the N.W.A reference in Douglas’ first line “Straight outta Bondage” referring to the song and straight out of Compton, which was one of the most political hip hop albums ever that tackled racism and discrimination, so much thought goes into these battles no wonder they take so long to release.

[@andrewpeters6207]

It's crazy how you guys balanced being respectful and redeeming Jefferson's character; while also shredding him to pieces. This is one of your finest videos.

[@menthols4625]

The only character in ERB to ever have to apologize to his opponent in the middle of a rap battle, only to have that apology denied and be told to fuck off. /// Respect Pick one, it can't be both.

[@andrewpeters6207]

@@menthols4625 I am speaking to the fact that most writers of something like this today have ran to ignoring any of the good Jefferson did; and only see racist. Just read the comments, you will see consensus is that the stamp of racist is so big nothing else matters. Here Jefferson actually managed to dig himself out of that most dangerous brand. Douglass's retort was fair, it is the only truly fair criticism of Jefferson, that if he genuinely loved the slave girl who he was in a relationship with, why not take any steps to free her or move her to freedom? I will give you that his second verse had no attacks back, only a masterful knock down of the racist brand, is the one big negative of this video. Being branded racist is a death blow in today's political climate, so that they managed to have Jefferson brush that off and still walking away looking great, is respect for the man.

[@trinwheeler4639]

Why shouldn't being a racist be a death brand? You can hate someone while still appreciating their work and efforts. Should a serial killer get a lighter sentence just because they made a nice painting or invented something? The answer is no.

[@thehaloscrolls391]

@@trinwheeler4639 your comparing hating a race to literally murdering several people brutally, both are bad, sure, but just being racist pales in comparison to the shit serial killers do

[@trinwheeler4639]

@@thehaloscrolls391 Social death brand, dumb ass. You know, strip racists of their achievements and prestige just like they've done to people of color for millenia.

[@MattBnl2ih]

Thomas was on his ass until he decided to spend an entire verse trying say “I’m not racist, my sisters boyfriends black”

[@EriniusT]

"I'm not racist my slave girlfriend is black"

[@lukepearson4611]

I’m not racist I love black people I think everyone should own one

[@lifesuckstbh]

@@EriniusT stahhhhp 😭😭😂😂😂

[@Mo_Real_Official]

lmao

[@AvoirJoseph]

I'm not racist, my sister-in-law's baby cousin Tracy got a brother and his girlfriend's black

[@eswan8900]

I just learned in school that when Douglass says the fourth of July is a very important holiday, but asks what it means to him is a reference to a speech he gave in 1852 called "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" Clever reference!

[@dalemcilwain]

July 4, 1826, fifty years after the Declaration Of Independence was signed. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams former presidents and bitter rivals died within hours of each other. Jefferson was gone at about 1PM, Adams passed after 4PM.

[@tableswithoutchairs1168]

“I’ll never work for your ass but I’ll kick it, for free” And that automatically made FD win imo

[@thealis]

I wish my history class was like this. I would have aced that. LOL 😂😂

[@cherryrootbeer6834]

Hahaha 😂 saaaaame

[@Sg190th]

I agree with you!

[@jaredgonding6136]

You are right.

[@wolfhead8799]

I would love that

[@enriquepena2009]

watch Hamilton

[@danielsilva2200]

Best flow: Jefferson Best disses: Freddy D. Loser: King George

[@MatthewDoesThisNow]

Don’t worry, he’ll be back

[@alexavieralagao3343]

Alexander Hamilton vs Aaron Burr/ King George?

[@piercelindenberg6842]

Kaiser Lex Alagao we NEED a Hamilton rap battle. Desperately.

[@raheemalmond4267]

Winner: The Swivel Chair

[@miguelntirampeba4797]

Hotel? Trivago.

[@crashbandicoot5636]

"Man, you did some good things I ain't denying your fame; Just sayin' they need to put an asterisk... Next to your name." F.D. killed it with the last verse.

[@illiteratekiwi6536]

F. D. Killed with the whole song

[@tristanhoward4808]

What does it mean???

[@multiplayerrkmedia1764]

tristan howard Asterisks mean that there’s more information than provided on the topic it’s next to. F.D’s saying Thomas shouldn’t just be known for his positive actions but also his negatives

[@tristanhoward4808]

MULTIplayerRK Media ohh I figured as much

[@tristanhoward4808]

MULTIplayerRK Media thanks bri

[@bungybooce4205]

“I’m so down with revolutions I invented the Swivel Chair” is my favorite ERB line of all time😂

[@avatarmikephantom153]

Mine too. It’s just so perfect and true.

[@chancellorpalpatine3781]

“No compromise you couldn’t whoop a fifth of me man” This line is very underrated as well as this whole rap battle. So many historical references.

[@Sara-xr9ph]

Chancellor Palpatine atlanta compromise? what does the other part mean 😬

[@typus6471]

@@Sara-xr9ph nigga when he said whip a fith of me man, he meant the three fith compromise dawg

[@Yirialo]

@@Sara-xr9ph it's based off of the 3/5 compromise. It was a compromise in the Constitutional convention. It was were southerners wanted slaves to count as "people" in their population so they can evenly proportion out Representatives, elector votes, etc. If that makes any sense.

[@bimifoluwaomopariola8202]

And you can interpret it as "whooping" as in slave beating

[@timschroyer1257]

Are we still using that 3/5ths lie? No where does it single out blacks or any other peoples group. It states those not freemen. That would include the irish indentured servants. And if a black man was free in the north he would be counted as a full person. The intent was to reduce the political power of the slave states so we could end slavery by passing a law instead of a war. The counting as 3/5 a man was not for their vote but as count for population for how many repesentitives a state got to send to congress. So if you wanted to end slavery you wanted the cslaves to not count at all! If you are a slave owner you wanted the slaves to count as a full person. Read the actual amendment and think. Don't just repeat your ignorant racial studies prof.

[@i.j.dragonfly3123]

"No compromise, you couldn't whip a 5th of me man!" That line was fire.

[@xavierstanton8146]

It is referencing the Three Fifths Compromise?

[@rexduodecim3528]

@@xavierstanton8146 Yes it is

[@loqutor]

Except that's not how the three-fifths compromise worked.

[@garboil]

I think this the best one ever. I love them all, but this is serious dope. “So down with revolution I invented the swivel chair” “You let freedom ring, but never picked up the phone” Genius.

[@mastergamingdude6191]

u r a genius and u understand the ways of epic rap battles

[@ositacarinosito]

"I didn't come back from Paris to battle Pepe Le Pew"

[@aaronjanestrada9484]

You forgot "I'd never work for your ass, but I'd kick it for free" Roasted.

[@ChronoBaw]

My issue with this one has always been the super short second part from Jefferson, he apologized and didn't put any good lines forwards towards Douglass at all, would have been way better if that part had a second verse with some actual dissing towards Douglass rather than apologizing and sitting there like a punching bag

[@ohyeahyeah4954]

"No compromise. You couldnt whip a 5th of me man"

[@MarshmallowEclipse]

I love how when Jefferson says "Set up a little place called the United States, sound familiar?" in the background are a bunch of American people previously portrayed on ERB, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Clint Eastwood, Barack Obama, Hulk Hogan.

[@EthanOoms]

ok but what about mikhail gorbachev he isn't american and he also appears at that point

[@MarshmallowEclipse]

@@EthanOoms Gorbachev was Russian, but he did collaborate with Americans more than most other Soviets.

[@EthanOoms]

@@MarshmallowEclipse yea ok

[@typicalfurry2747]

​@@EthanOoms where?

[@theblkbird5672]

Who else thinks the beat in this is on point?

[@talonpop]

Makes me kinda wish Colonial rap was a thing

[@aaronglandon00]

+Talon Marshall I suggest listening to Hamilton the Musical

[@bryanlanderos2223]

+Talon Marshall lol

[@chrisforsyth8323]

I loved it, and the Douglas bass line was fantastic.

[@yasminadigun243]

I do

[@jackpot5282]

Jon Snow vs. Alexander Hamilton Battle of the Bastards.

[@chloehall4922]

JackPot YESSS

[@Zimmathon]

Get the guy who played Che Guevara in their recent rap battle to play Jon Snow.

[@kharlclear1981]

Ooooooor Just Lin-Manuel Miranda vs Alexander Hamilton with Lin as a guest would be lit 🔥

[@g-ratedhistory8233]

William the conqueror jumps in and slaughters them both

[@frizzie123456]

Lin would LOVE to do this, oh my god

[@mikau2123]

"You finished?" That's code for "I'm about to destroy you"

[@guilhermehenzel2493]

no

[@redditcentral6487]

Google User ok simp

[@gatekeepingwarlock9604]

*STRAIGHT OUTTA BONDAGE*

[@PrivateDaisy]

I need this on shirt

[@Cowinator66]

Add the STRAIGHT OUTTA BONDAGE, I'm surprised more people aren't talking about this homage line.

[@mishtaromaniello8295]

One of those times ERB was not only entertaining but thought-provoking. One of your very best battles.

[@courageousodin]

I KNEW i recognized the lisp in spiderman far from home. the teacher and frederick douglass are both played by jb smoove!

[@xXSkyifyXx]

Courageous Odin woah that’s sick thanks for pointing that out

[@sockondik12]

He also plays a funny guy on Curb your Enthusiasm!

[@omkarbhambure9530]

@@sockondik12 Leon

[@Jorrdacakes]

this comment should have more likes

[@dwightlove3704]

Goon Man Yes JB SMOOVE held his own in this battle.

[@SharkByteOfficial]

"Ahh Frederick, I've never heard a verse I *dug less*" How the shet did I just notice this lol

[@Cuttl.e]

What

[@LithKast]

Verse I Dug less. Meaning he didn't like the verse. Dug less or Douglass. sound the same.

[@natgeowildbackup]

Dude, I literally commented the same thing 3 weeks ago lol. We both think alike.

[@SharkByteOfficial]

***** lol

[@Dragons4Dummies]

You just pointed out a whole extra curve ball to this epic edition XD

[@abdhitariefaldi]

Just realize who played Fredrick Douglas is actor who play as Peter Parker teacher in Far From Home..

[@hellcathelton4217]

Abdhita Riefaldi no way

[@nada55666]

Yes that'll JB Smoove. He also plays Leon jn Curb your Enthusiasm

[@cheetahrun1793]

What a easter egg

[@williameldridge9382]

He also played Dr. Ray De Angelo Harris in Grand Theft Auto V

[@ericpeterson8732]

He's a wordsmith. (That's from a guest star on Castle)

[@NorthernSea121]

"they need to put an asterisk next to your name" was probably the best delivery of a line i've ever heard

[@TippytoeZombie]

John Adams and John Quincy Adams Vs. George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush

[@tedarcher9120]

Good idea!

[@yaboijoe2080]

TippytoeZombie Just gonna leave out William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison :(

[@king_supreme1102]

ya boi joe they weren’t father and son... and if they were going to do family members they would do the Roosevelt’s before the Harrison’s. Although a 4 way battle would be cool.

[@khameriengibson8834]

the roosevelts werent father and son just sayinh

[@talongreene5663]

Either Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr or thomas jeferson and James madison vs. Hamilton and George Washington

[@robin_emmel]

"this ain`t Louisiana man, I ain`t buying it" shots has been fired xD

[@JuanAlvarez-rx7oy]

It wasn't even that nice of a line.Bruhhhh he wasn't even trying to offend him.

[@mhmq5051]

ث

[@glencoco5159]

What does it mean? Im not american so i dont get the context.

[@glencoco5159]

@@aidanmurphy40 ooh that makes so much sense now thank you.

[@dwaki3822]

I just got that funny

[@Jchmcom]

“You couldn’t whip a fifth of me, man!” Jefferson was so ready to retort but instantly though “Fuck, ok that was a really good bar.”

[@tykemorris]

Is this a reference to blacks being assessed as "3/5 human"?

[@kenleonard7739]

@@tykemorris Yes. "No compromise, you couldn't whip a 5th of me, man!" refers to the 3/5 Compromise, which was made so that states whose people's main interest was maintaining their right to buy and sell human beings would join ratify the Constitution.

[@edwardblair4096]

@@tykemorris In particular the southern states wanted their slaves to count as whole people when it came to allocating seats in the House of Representatives. They weren't going to get to vote, but the (rich) free men of the state would have had the advantage of their numbers in Congress. The non-slave states did not want non-free population to count at all when it came to dividing political power between the states. The compromise was between these two positions. I understand how dehumanizing it sounds to us today, but I am not sure if it would have been better if the South had gotten their original wish. There is a good chance that the Civil War might have started earlier, or had a different outcome if the political balance was more favorable to the higher population of the southern slave states. Think no Missouri Compromise and probably more slavery in the western territories.

[@tykemorris]

@@edwardblair4096 On a similar "what if" note, a lot of people feel that the constitutional convention should have abolished slavery. While that seems right at first thought, there would have been at best 8 original states, two separate countries and no civil war to free the slaves. That would have prolonged slavery and increased the persecution of blacks.

[@TheSpartanFactor]

I don't think his hesitation is recognition of the bar, but a realization that countering would be bragging about his ability to whip a former slave. Jefferson is a specimen of shame in this battle, that's why his entire second verse is a long-winded non-apology. He refuses to take the blow and move on with the battle, and spends the rest of his time explaining away his failures. He has to believe his crimes and failures were justifiable, because his own thoughts echo Douglas's words. Thomas knows that Douglas is right, and choosing to dispute "you couldn't whip a fifth of me man," is a tacit admission of guilt. He knows in his brain that it would look real bad to interject on that note, but he has an emotional need to respond, because the lyric is a merciless assault on a very real insecurity of his. As for whether or not that's how the real Thomas Jefferson felt about his actions, I can't say. If there's an answer to that question I certainly haven't read enough about him to know, but that is definitely the read I get on this particular representation of him.

[@lulolie]

I love how they gave Jefferson bars because he was genuinely a great writer but still had Frederick beat him the whole way through based on Jefferson's hypocrisy to his own words and expressed values

[@CourtlandLess]

He would’ve won if Fred didn’t make it about race. All Jefferson did was defend himself

[@Ravenholm337]

@@CourtlandLess Freddy D didn't make it about race, he just pointed out Jefferson's actions or lack thereof.

[@StrangeworldEU]

you're surprised the frederick douglass, someone who is best known for being a former slave and abolitionist, who was *a slave in jefferson's lifetime*, would comment about slavery? To thomas jefferson? 'make it about race' my ass lol. this couldn't be about anything else.@@CourtlandLess

[@ImVeryOriginal]

@@StrangeworldEUYeah white racists really don't want to think about their racism so whenever the topic is brought up in any context it's "inserting race into it" lol

[@angelperalessalaices8696]

tell us that you're a racist without telling us you are racist@@CourtlandLess

[@the1flym459]

Jefferson commited the cardinal sin of rap battles: He went on the defensive

[@TweekMorgan4dictator]

I mean, yeah, but it also kinda works for his character.

[@jdpena26]

Noah Lamberty wait why

[@maxg8594]

If he attacked Douglass personally, other than that he didn't do many memorable things, he would be proving Douglass's point

[@aviator550]

Noah Lamberty I think the character playing Jefferson knew if he didn't bring it up (slavery) in his rap everybody else would in the comments section

[@NarpytheCrimeDog]

This is rather accurate for Jefferson. He freely admitted that he was a coward and constantly tried to justify his character flaws - more to himself than to others. He didn't like to boast or puff his chest - nor did he really like exploitation.

[@Dandelionsinthesky]

The fact that Daveed Diggs played Thomas Jefferson in "Hamilton:The Musical" and is now playing Frederick Douglass in "The Good Lord Bird" makes this even better

[@galaxyroobear7600]

Ikr?!?!

[@marcusdayungg2110]

1:29 “No compromise, you couldn’t whip a fifth of me man.” And theres five of him on screen.

[@Plug_Art]

The little details 😂

[@callmevalentine8540]

The 3/5th compromise reference😌

[@effemeseyevee901]

on point!

[@penisparker5172]

And there is idoits in the comment section who dont get the disses lmfao.

[@jjnn2]

I'm astounded that so many people don't understand basic references

[@dragonlord588]

"You let freedom ring but never picked up the phone" always gives me goosebumps

[@Listening_Books12345]

For me it's always the run up and finale of the line "you couldn't whip a fifth of me, man!"

[@thechrignaciostrash3960]

Thomas Jefferson* vs Frederick Douglass

[@matthewmoore2690]

@@mizzaely8863 nah it mean Thomas Jefferson was against slavery but still owned slaves

[@ethanshields2371]

that took me a minute figure out great comedy

[@rinokumura9223]

What does the astrick mean

[@MrJoeylj]

@@rinokumura9223 it means a person died

[@Zom13y]

MrJoeylj it means the person made a mistake that cannot be corrected but incorporated into any success or feat. Example baseball records broken by players under the use of performance enhancing drugs have an asterisk next to their names. In this instance Thomas Jefferson fought for freedom while benefiting from the bondage of others. It is a hideous mistake made by Jefferson that shouldn't be forgotten or excused but incorporated into the viewing of this man's achievements and motives. Also he was a rapist, try to whitewash it as much as you like but if you OWN a person there's no such thing as consent.

[@topgamer101]

To this day, J.B. Smoove's final line in this is my all time favorite ending to almost all the others. He comes in hard but that final line is calm and strong in saying you did some things worth noting, but put an asterisk with it and calmly walks away. No further ego or combative nature after it, just let the line hang in the air and walk away. Thanks for doing these guys. Hope everyone that works on them and in them are doing well. :D

[@marleyjr.bobert6639]

I agree, still showing he had some respect through his character.

[@DragonRyderGames]

I don't understand the asterisk part never have what does that mean?

[@radien239]

I’m just realizing that’s JB smoove

[@Just_a_Jynx]

@@DragonRyderGames I wanna know too lol

[@DragonRyderGames]

@@Just_a_Jynx ikr lol I even looked it up online at one point and got no answer other than it having to do with wikipedia but idk how it relates to the line

[@ramenramrod]

I was today years old when I realized Thomas Jefferson ACTUALLY invented the Swivel Chair. God, this series is educational and badass! 👌🏽

[@danielkokal8819]

also played a mean violin

[@Zac4_B7ack]

@@danielkokal8819 CELLO, not violin.

[@praisetelesto]

@@Zac4_B7ack You mean the baby version of the Bass

[@Zac4_B7ack]

@@praisetelesto No, I mean a cello.

[@praisetelesto]

@@Zac4_B7ack oh I get it the big brother of the viola

[@GotEmAll1337]

Y'all are seriously so damn talented. This kind of content is what KZbin was made for.

[@R1NZL3R]

Keep the hype train rolling boys!! Morgan Freeman vs Samuel L. Jackson!!!

[@Radolus555]

OH GOD YES

[@-terminando-3371]

yes please

[@sheridanwood1166]

Ok I'm soon behind this one

[@josephschaffner5514]

yess

[@chuckwagonbowling3633]

Yes!!!

[@michellegentilozzi6268]

When Jefferson says "so kings and pirates beware," most get the refrence to King George III, but what is underated is the reference to the 2 Barbary wars, which occured 1801-1805, and 1815-1816. They fought against Barbary (North African) pirates.

[@jaidengabriel1675]

Tripoli moment

[@Justaguyuguys]

Ah the good old days, when American interventionism was just us kicking some pirate ass.

[@jaidengabriel1675]

@@Justaguyuguys I wish for a return to simpler times when we never had to question our own morals...

[@samueldurham9327]

Oh yeah, the wars that started because white Americans were taken as, what was it again? Oh thats right, SLAVES. Thomas Jefferson and the entire founding fathers were a disgrace and hypocrisy white supremacists. The sheer hypocrisy in fighting wars to free slaves while you subjugate an entire race should not be lost on anyone.

[@mothsfavlamp]

There's so many references to piracy in stuff like the Federalist Papers, and while it makes sense, it still always catches me off guard a bit

[@emmab3275]

I swear this is the most underrated battle. It's one of my top 5, easily.

[@leslierae6416]

Fuck yeah, the rhymes are sick

[@nicholasvath5896]

The line "You let freedom ring but never picked up the phone" Damn

[@LadyPallas]

Emma B yeah the beat is great. I'm a producer and I pay attention to that lol

[@dreadedpatrick9876]

same

[@healyrose4957]

Emma B

[@dtniland]

"you a soft white Monticello marshmallow" is one of my favorite lines because it has great flow, rhyme, and also is a good diss

[@emersonthomas7201]

you finished? ...okay STRAIGHT OUTTA' BONDAGE That gets me every time.

[@jaybanks2709]

i know right crazy ROAST

[@Nesperimus]

Ice Cube will be proud

[@Nesperimus]

Ice Cube would be proud.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

Bruta'al BIG HAIR, BIG NUTS, BIG ISSUES!

[@emersonthomas7201]

@@Edmonton-of2ec starting with your nickel, there's a real declaration, heads for racist, tails for slave plantation.

[@Mr.President427]

Everyone talking about how F.D killed it, but Jefferson’s first verse was actually solid

[@gansta4hiren84]

FD still killed

[@fahadalsubaie2677]

But F.D killed all of it

[@eonsinfinity534]

Nah, to this day i still believe the battle was over after thomas jeffersons first verse. The entire rest of the battle was just frederick douglas trying to make sure his verse stayed relevant.

[@gansta4hiren84]

@@eonsinfinity534 its literally the other way around. Thomas just bragged about being a rich white educated Male, while FD rapped about the struggle of slaves and how he never let that stop him from getting the things he needed to succeed. FD still killed

[@eonsinfinity534]

@@gansta4hiren84 so tell me man, how many other rich white males went on to the same level of sucess he achieved? Let me think..... what president are we on again?

[@psychopunk8817]

"founding absentee father"... Damn thats cold blooded

[@notmakingcontent]

No, that's real muggin.

[@matthewbranagan7587]

@Max The Random Lepurchaun No compromise you couldn't whip a fifth of me man

[@alaskagyal]

Matthew Branagan you got a self evident truth of your own, you let freedom ring and never picked up the phone

[@NwoDispatcher]

those in glass houses shouldn't cast stones

[@GenocidalSquid]

@@alaskagyal Aw, Fredrick, I never heard a verse I dug less, Alright, I admit it, I confess! I participated in a broken system that I hated! But I needed to keep my financial status situated, And the words I used were "Hideous Blot", To describe the slave trade and the pain it hath brought! And I fought to stop the trade of new slaves in Virginia, When I ran the whole state and still made it home for dinner. So forgive me, man I had a lot to do, so you're free now, so.. we cool?

[@ericperez9310]

“Let me run down my resume will ya. Set up a little place called the United States. Sound familiar?” 🔥🔥

[@pleaseleave]

Jefferson's second verse was just him going into damage control, while Fredrick just kept on the attack

[@keiranokeeffe1861]

Then again douglas rephrased the whole racist arguement so many times

[@anthos8182]

Keiran O'Keeffe Fr, I agree him won, but if Jefferson actually dissed in his second verse he woulda easily took the dub. He had one of the best opening verses in ERB history

[@petnaby]

That's because what else could they have written for Jefferson? Douglass, when compared to Jefferson, is really a nobody. Jefferson lists his greatest achievements then tells Douglass who the fuck he is i.e. you're not even important in history and Douglass basically spends the rest of the rap going "u racist bro". Like, yeah, Frederick had some great lines but never addresses that compared to Jefferson he's a literal nobody. The whole song was written so Frederick could have the best chance at winning

[@paydensquiressjuauwu1032]

Ya because racism isn’t cool but Jefferson Douglas apologized

[@paydensquiressjuauwu1032]

And Douglas continued to diss after so of course he won

[@potato-vm9ys]

Me at 3 AM: Ok brain, I want to sleep... Brain: STRAIGHT OUTTA BONDAGE Edit: I come back to this comment in quarantine and HOLY MOLEY 2.3k likes AND an internet chorus performance? I am proud of you all fellow humans

[@1ring182]

this mw right now

[@LeeBreezy]

BIG HAIR BIG NUTS BIG ISSUES

[@ziadjouini1671]

THERE'S A REAL DECLARATION HEADS FOR RASIST TAILS FOR A SLAVE PLANTATION

[@janus_1986]

YOU'RE A SOFT, WHITE MONTICELLO MARSHMALLOW

[@neinno8172]

WATCHING MY PEOPLE SWEAT WHILE YOU SAT PLAYING CELLO- HELLO

[@TheVGC]

I always believe when ERB actually involve history they are objectively better.

[@symphonyofaria]

Idk I liked the Gordon Ramsay and Julia child one

[@ravenfrancis1476]

Yeah, no. The rapping was good, so was the beat, but the fact Hamilton actually genuinely apologized throughout his second verse kinda ruined the whole thing.

[@sugoruyo]

ERB is always great but the historical episodes just hit it out of the park.

[@kylemiller2039]

+Joe Francis jefferson

[@ravenfrancis1476]

+Kyle Miller Sorry, my brain was loopy when I wrote that.

[@empratt5800]

Wow. I am so impressed by all the fantastic references packed into this rap battle, that I feel compelled to spell them out. Here’s what I think is not totally self-evident (heh) from the lyrics: 0:11 The Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) 0:19 The Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) 0:27 The Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) - listed ways King George III was a tyrant 0:40 Douglass’s 3 autobiographies: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave; My Bondage and My Freedom; and The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass 0:45 Jefferson served as ambassador to France and spent time in Paris 0:58 Straight Outta Compton (film) / Douglass’s escape from slavery 1:04 U.S. nickel has Jefferson’s portrait on the heads side, his estate Monticello (where his many slaves lived/worked) on the tails side 1:12 Jefferson played the violin and sometimes the cello 1:23 Douglass’s many, many portraits - Douglass recognized the power of the fairly new medium of photography and posed for every portrait he could, always with a serious face, to counteract the racist minstrel stereotype of the “happy slave” 1:28 The Three-fifths Compromise (Jefferson was not a part of making this, but he did benefit from it when it gave him just enough electoral college votes to win the 1800 presidential election against John Adams) 1:31 The Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) 2:03 The Louisiana Purchase (Jefferson) 2:09 Jefferson had 6 children with his slave Sally Hemings, who was very probably the half-sister of Jefferson’s wife Martha and may have born a resemblance to her. It is believed Jefferson started having sex with Hemings a couple years after his wife’s death, when he was 44 and Hemings was 14. While he did eventually free all of the children he had with Hemings, he did not free Hemings herself, not even in his will. 2:14 Jefferson died on the 4th of July, 1826 (and weirdly so did John Adams) 2:17 What, to the Slave, Is the Fourth of July? (Douglass) 2:24 While the Emancipation Proclamation was a limited wartime measure, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery permanently. 2:28 The Declaration of Independence (Jefferson) 2:29 The U.S. Constitution starts “We the people” Anything important I missed? Do comment if so!

[@notcleetus5561]

the straight outta compton reference is from the music video for the song not the movie, everything else is great tho

[@dremasacco1420]

This is seriously one of my favorite battles.

[@dremasacco1420]

ERB you guys are so sweet!

[@ididntknowwhattonamemyself9626]

❤️

[@HighwaytoHoserville]

This taught me about the dissertation douglass presented to congress about the 4th of july. Really heavy stuff, but good to know about.

[@delbeloliver]

Dorothy (from Oz) vs Alice (A. from Wonderland)

[@bethel1080]

good one want see it.

[@madhatter3421]

Yes! I wanna see that

[@tristianroberts5793]

Gabe Newell (valve)vs Yves Guillemot(Ubisoft)

[@AsanpiCh]

I would love to see that!

[@omarpalacios9311]

ooooh yes I would to see that

[@ryadachaibou8098]

the organ and lapsteel guitar when Douglas's verse starts are so sick

[@Nick-um1pi]

Ironically, Daveed Diggs has played both these people

[@milesmorales2106]

EXACTLY

[@Doveo838]

How

[@milesmorales2106]

@@Doveo838 there’s a show called “the good lord bird” where he plays Freddy D

[@aztecgodhuzluiospd1033]

🤯

[@janoahstegall2651]

Even better knowing that his flow is otherworldly, especially off a Broadway stage

[@artofthecube7227]

The Pope vs Emperor Palpatine!

[@artofthecube7227]

pls @ERB

[@artofthecube7227]

*@ERB

[@calvarywheel2346]

sure

[@connorbelko7240]

Which Pope?

[@Idkmanlemmeedit]

Which one do you think he fucking means? Possibly the current pope? Idk, that's what I guess.

[@donniepatt9514]

Ya know, I really enjoy the rhymes but I REALLY appreciate the editing in this. Its amazing

[@thiccum4004]

Got a like from erb!

[@foggydogy5796]

Man, I love this battle! The fact that Jefferson spent his second verse apologizing for slavery is definitely in character with him. In the history books I've read most historians claim that Jefferson and other Virginia politicians spent a lot of time talking about how evil slavery was but didn't take any personal or political steps to stop it.

[@CultureCrossed64]

Jefferson fought to end the slave trade both in Virginia and nationally. So that's false from the jump- but he also put into the Declaration of independence that slavery was evil and was forced to take it out.

[@mnm1273]

@@CultureCrossed64 He owned hundreds of slaves personally and politically his actions limited the trade but not the owning of slaves.

[@spoopy9689]

​@@mnm1273and do you think he still would've been president if he freed them? The entire South was running and profiting off of slavery, Thomas Jefferson, if he freed his slaves, he would've probably been impeached, if he freed all the slaves, there might be an early Civil War that tears the country apart before it really became a country.

[@conservativecatholic9030]

If it weren’t for the language, I would show this to my 8th grade history class.

[@miconis123]

I hear ya. They do an amazing job with historical facts, especially little things like Jefferson inventing the swivel chair.

[@frankesposito2182]

You know the " Baby Mama".. thing was comming....best Rap battle !

[@heatherstewart9994]

I like how you wanted to keep it clean for your class but they’re eighth graders, I’m sure they can handle it

[@miconis123]

@@heatherstewart9994 It's the parents who will throw the fit, not the students.

[@heatherstewart9994]

I am Miconis that’s a good point

[@alexvandyke7564]

Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde vs Harvey Dent/ Two Face

[@Th3J0k3R2KraZ]

Please YEEEESSSSSS!!!!!

[@DragonFilms]

This is a REALLY good one please make it happen!

[@thelukemeister]

Thank you for your wise words of wisdoms you genius

[@mustachio_comics9125]

Would've preferred Jekyll vs Banner but this would also be great

[@jorgemendoza5849]

After all, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde inspired Two-Face.

[@HH-lr2zt]

One of my essay questions today on my US History test related to Thomas Jefferson as a controversial figure, and my mind blanked so I just paraphrased lines from this rap and used it to back up my weak argument. Wish me luck! Thanks ERB. Edit: It's been two years but I got an A on that test and my teacher commented that I had one of the most unique takes in the class.

[@AeromaticXD]

Hannah Henderson how did it go?

[@BRITISH420Blazin]

How did it go tho?

[@koxukoshu]

how did it go

[@booman469]

WE NEED ANSWER HOW'D IT GO?

[@bobxyzp]

HOW-DID-IT-GO

[@amyschildgamerlive4519]

This is my fav erb video. The beats. The lines. The delivery... it's a masterpiece!