Capital Rap Battles Presents Midwest Havoc in Calgary

On Saturday, November 22, Vern’s Tavern in downtown Calgary became the site of a long, focused day of battle rap as Capital Rap Battles brought Midwest Havoc to the city. Presented by the Canadian battle league known for building competitive platforms for emerging artists while pushing the culture forward nationwide, the event ran from late afternoon into the night as a full-scale showcase of lyricism, presence, and crowd engagement — the kind of environment where every reaction matters and momentum is built in real time.

Doors opened early, setting the tone for what was clearly meant to be more than a casual evening event. By the time battles began filming at 5:30 p.m., the room was already locked in. Vern’s offered an intimate but energetic setting — close enough for every bar to land clearly, and tight enough that crowd response became part of the performance itself.

Midwest Havoc didn’t rely on spectacle. The focus stayed squarely on delivery, crowd control, and endurance. As the day progressed, the energy in the room never flattened — it sharpened. Each matchup added weight to the atmosphere, building toward the evening’s main events without ever feeling like filler in between.

The main event featured Madflex vs Pathogenic, a battle that held the room with tension and precision. Serving as co-main was JayYohh vs Johnny Knoxx, a matchup that reinforced why Midwest Havoc carried the expectations it did. Surrounding those headline battles was a full card that kept the crowd engaged throughout the day, including Riz Relit vs Benny, Wize Guy vs Trippz, Dysfunctional vs Spud, Raw Blow vs K Ess, J.AR3 vs Jebediah, Raiden Black vs Tek Pro, Billboard vs Shabbott, and QLKA vs TKM.

What stood out most wasn’t just individual performances, but the way the crowd stayed present. Reactions were immediate. Call-and-response moments landed naturally. There was a shared understanding in the room — that this was a long-format event meant to be experienced fully, not dipped in and out of.

Midwest Havoc also reflected the strength of community support behind Canada’s battle rap scene. The event was backed by individuals and brands invested in keeping this culture alive and accessible, including Ante Up Clothing, MacLeod Gaming and Engravings, No Cap’tion, Louise’Ville, and Comets Crew. For Comets Crew, the night marked one of our first official event sponsorships as a platform — a meaningful step in continuing to support Canadian talent not only through coverage, but through direct investment in the spaces where culture is built!

By the time the final battles wrapped and the crowd filtered out into the Calgary night, Midwest Havoc had delivered exactly what it set out to: a focused, high-energy event rooted in respect for the craft. It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t padded. It was a full day of battle rap done with intention — and a reminder of how strong the scene is when given the space to breathe.

The following images highlight selected moments from the event and represent what was captured during the day, though not every performance appears here

PICTURES EDITED BY VISIONS PHOTOS

We’d like to take a moment to acknowledge Capital Rap Battles for the work that goes into planning and hosting events like this. Creating space for artists, coordinating the details, and bringing the community together takes real effort, much of it behind the scenes. That dedication is felt throughout nights like this and plays an important role in keeping community-driven events moving forward.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/midwest-havoc-144351847?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share

For those who would like to support the work behind this event, the official event video is available ABOVE!