“Talent prevails over what the majority wants”is possibly Sergio Castro’s most iconic phrase. It is the perfect phrase to define the rapper. In the world of cockfighting he is known as Chutymore than a decade improvising rap, first in the parks, until he reached the stage.
At 31 years old, the Vallecano has achieved merits to be considered, by many, as the best freestyler from the history of Spanish-speaking rap battles. Among many other awards, it is the three-time champion of the Red Bull Nacional Batalla de Gallos, three-time champion of the Freestyle Master Series and 2023 Red Bull world champion.
This year will defend his world belt at the International Red Bull Battle in Spainwhich will be held at the WiZink Center in Madrid next November 30 at 8:00 p.m.. The pressure of being the best and the current champion is on his back, but it would be difficult for a fighter of Chuty’s stature not to be able to withstand it.
If he wins, he would be just one world title away from equaling Aczino’s three-time championship. In HuffPost he has made his future in this competition very clear in case of winning or losing.
– There is very little left for you to defend the world title. How are the feelings going?
For the remaining time I thought I was going to be more nervous, but I am calm and fine. In terms of level, always, the more time you have to continue rapping for many, many, hours, you always polish. I have been competing at a fairly high pace, one is doing sessions with other teammates doing battles, I shoot, they shoot me, I feel very comfortable and working well. Right now I would be ready to compete, but we are going to continue polishing to get as good as possible. The sensations are good.
-How do you mentally prepare for a day like this?
Depends. It is true that in other years I may have focused much more on the technical part, on reaching the best possible level, objectively speaking only about free. There is a more mental part of not trusting yourself because you are playing at home, of knowing that you have to demand the same from yourself, that you have to perform the same. Not all locals have won throughout history, it has its trap. I’m leaving space for myself, to be happy, to do things that I do in my daily life so that I’m no longer in a bubble, to feel the pressure of knowing that Inter is coming, oh how overwhelming, I don’t know what… I’m doing what I always do, I play with my friends, I dedicate time to my family. I’m seeing how much time I can rapping to polish it, but I’m focused on getting there calmly.
-Has the Red Bull World Championship been your top priority this year?
Right now I would say yes, because it’s the next thing I have. But it is true that, for example, when I have been on a FMS day I have not put it first to say ‘come on, today I eat well or I drink Red Bull to compete’ because I am going to be on a super-strict diet when Inter arrives, no. When I have to compete, that day will be my top priority. Now of course Inter is, but I mean whether it goes well or goes badly, I’m not going to relax or give in. Nor a seven-day celebration if I win, because then my top priority will be to start the FMS World Series Super League. But now Inter is my priority, I want to win, defend the title, do a good job. It’s what I have right now marked at a professional level.
– Do you feel a certain pressure that you have to win no matter what?
That always happens, when you are not the current champion too. When you participate and you are one of the good guys, you are always forced to win or it is like the most tragic thing. In fact, last year, from the first round of the regional they were already asking me if I was going to win the Inter. For me nothing changes because last year I had to win yes or yes, in 2017, yes or yes, in 2016, yes or yes… Every year the same. Obviously, I hope we can win. Let’s try it.
– Do any of the freestylers on the list would give you more problems than any other?
I think that due to experience, both with Teorema and Stuart you have to be very careful. Of the younger ones, obviously Gazir, El Menor, Mecha… These three are very active, they give very good roles in all the competitions. Then anything can happen to you and you can lose to anyone, but those five are the ones that I see, from the outside and a priori, as the favorites.
“People who think I’m the best are going to continue doing it, win or lose.”
Chuty, in an interview with El HuffPost days before the Red Bull Batalla world final
– Don’t you miss someone on that list?
Of course, if a Skone, an Aczino, an Arkano, people like that had been there… From my generation, a little older, there are people who contribute a lot.
– Let’s not jinx it, but if you revalidate the title, is the damn debate about you being the best in history going to end?
(Laughs) That will always continue, whether you win or not. We all have a lot of fans and there are colleagues who also have many fans and merits. There are people who believe that those are the best and I have many fans (and merits) who believe that I am the best. That idea is not going to change. The people who think I am will continue to think so, win or lose, and the people who don’t think so will continue to think the same thing. I don’t think it will change much.
-How are you seeing the panorama currently? Is free returning to a small crisis or is it already making a comeback?
It depends on the battle, it goes for days. We recently had a battle that has almost more than 400,000 views. We continue making ‘cool’ numbers. Obviously, the public has many leisure options and has to decide carefully what they want to see. Every time there is a battle that is very good, they do watch it. Tickets for the International sold out in 12 days. People have become more selective, pre-pandemic there were very few skills in the field of leisure and currently there are many more. Time is limited and people have to see what they are being offered, and we have to be aware that there are many competitions that we do that are top level. People who like free will give us priority.
– How do you get along with social networks?
I’m calm with the networks, I use them very little, to publish my things more than to consume to see what others say or do. I only publish when they are about work or some things about family life, moments that I want to share. In the end it burns for better and worse. The networks make you think that you have done better than you really have and make you trust yourself, and that is why you go less strong to the next competition. And vice versa. I try to be self-critical and not have to look for constructive criticism or approval on networks. I try to thank the people who support me and ignore the people who don’t.
– Gazir will also represent Spain. What would you say to him as a rival and what would you say to him as a friend?
As a rival I wouldn’t say anything to him, honestly. As a friend, let him go calmly, let him go to the final to do what he knows how to do. He is also one of the clear favorites this year. I hope to win, but if I don’t win, I hope that the people I have a relationship with do very well. I hope you have a good day.
Chuty poses for the camera days before the Red Bull Batalla de Gallos International Final.
– If you win or lose in Red Bull, will it influence your future in this competition?
In this specific one I think so. I’m going to continue competing in freestyle for a little longer, I think. In Red Bull, by coming directly as champion, I wouldn’t have to start again from regionals and it is a process that I don’t feel like right now. Last year I didn’t feel like it and due to the circumstances that arose, it was as it came, let’s go for it. I don’t see myself starting with the regional. If I finish on the podium, I think I would go almost 100%. If I don’t qualify directly, I don’t see myself doing the whole process again.
– I always leave this last question for last. He asks a lot, but little from the heart. How are you?
Very cool. I am with my family in peace, we are fine, at home with Nerea, the little dog… I have had a super normal and stable life for several years. A few days ago I started to get small feelings of nervousness and pressure. I’m calm to say, damn, I’ve done very well, if I go calmly and don’t put pressure on myself, I’m excited to see how Wizink is received. I have never been a local in one of the main international ones, it is the first time. I have the doubt/excitement to see what it is like.
Source: www.huffingtonpost.es
