Epic Rap Battles of History is a YouTube channel that has been around since 2010. Initially created by YouTubers NicePeter and EpicLLOYD, these videos include real and fictional historical or pop culture figures going against each other in a rap battle. The channel has over 13.5 million subscribers and the guys have gone on tour during their off seasons. I've personally been following ERB since they began, so over the years I have formed strong opinions on these videos. Out of the 64 episodes, here are my top 10 favorites. I've watch each of these videos easily a dozen times each.
10. Mr. T vs Mr. Rogers
This is from Season one of ERB and is featuring NicePeter as Mr. Rogers and DeStorm as Mr. T. The reason I love this one is because how savage Mr. Rogers is--he totally wins this battle.
9. Bruce Banner vs Bruce Jenner
This is one of their newer videos featuring NicePeter as Jenner and EpicLLOYD as Banner. After each Bruce goes once, each change into the Hulk (Mike O'Hearn) and Caitlyn Jenner (NoShame). There's one line that the Hulk says that makes me love this battle so much: "Best thing you make? / Kylie ass / She eighteen? / Hulk SMASH." I literally cackle every time I hear that line.
8. Gandhi vs Martin Luther King Jr.
Comedy Central's Key and Peele star in this season two rap battle. Both comedians perform as these two gentleman perfectly. I love this battle solely because of their hug at the end and the last line. I'm so sad that this video was only a minute and a half long! Honestly if it were longer, it would easily be number 1 on my list. If you want more of Kay and Peele epically rapping, watch them battle as Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali.7. Mario Brothers vs Wright Brothers
This is another season two battle that I love. I was trying to find my favorite line from this battle, but I honestly couldn't. The Mario Brothers (EpicLLOYD and NicePeter) effects are great, and the fact that the Wright Brothers (Rhett and Link) are actually from North Carolina (truly representing, like they say) makes it even better!
6. Oprah vs Ellen
You can't go wrong with two of the most famous female television show hosts. Lauren Flans and November Christine do their roles as Ellen and Oprah (respectively) justice. My favorite line of this season four battle? "Yes you've got that power / and yes I've got those kittens / I also feature puppies / talented children / and mittens!" It's Flan's acting that does it for me in this one. Also, shout out to EpicLLOYD for cameo-ing as Dr. Phil.
5. Romeo and Juliet vs Bonnie and Clyde
You can't go wrong with these two iconic couples. This season four battle stars NicePeter as Romeo, EpicLLOYD as Clyde, Hannah Hart as Bonnie and Grace Helbig as Juliet. The part after Juliet wakes up and goes, "Where's Romeo? / Oh nomeo!" kills me every time. The ending is kind of lame, though, no matter how expected it is.
4. Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates
NicePeter raps as Jobs while EpicLLOYD raps as Gates in this season two battle, and honestly, they couldn't have done a better job with this battle. From the music to the nerdiness about it, I love it so much. My favorite line? "Combine all your little toys / and I still crush that / iPhone / iPad / iPwn / iSmack" --Gates.
3. Dr. Seuss vs Shakespeare
We go back to season one for this rap battle. My brother actually introduced ERB to me with this video! I love this one for two reasons: they don't have Seuss rap, which goes with history since he didn't like to speak, and Shakespeare also raps in iambic pentameter. You just can't beat that, man. It starred George Watsky as Shakespeare, Mickey Meyer as Dr. Seuss, NicePeter as the Cat in the Hat, and EpicLLOYD as Thing 1 and Thing 2.
2. Bill Nye vs Sir Isaac Newton
Oh, God, I love this season three rap battle so, so much. Weird Al Yankovic stars as Newton and NicePeter as Nye. This is another very nerdy rap battle that is absolutely perfect. When "astrophysics black guy"/Neil deGrasse Tyson (Chali 2na) shows up to have Nye's back, I absolutely lose it.
1. Stephen King vs Edgar Allan Poe
I'm a huge Poe fan, so it's no wonder that this epic rap battle is my fave. George Watsky is back in this season three battle as Poe and starts off his lines in trochaic octameter, which is what "The Raven" is written in. Zach Sherwin is a perfect King, too, with my favorite line of the battle: "I'm on a clobbering spree / and I'll be smacking you with any of the / big thick books / in my big dick bibliography."
I think my favorite thing about these epic rap battles is the fact that the fans can decide who should be against each other in the battles. For example, Adolf Hitler and Darth Vader have gone against each other three times! There are also Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney (the most viewed rap battle), George R.R. Martin vs J.R.R Tolkien, and Napoleon Bonaparte vs Napoleon Dynamite. They're halfway done with season five, but they'll be back in a few months with more.
Bonus! Moses vs Santa Claus
In this season two battle, Snoop Dogg has some new comman-dizzles as Moses and NicePeter as Santa has rhymes that are so cold--you know, since he's from the North Pole and all.