Doing the next issue of my Epic Rap Battles of History analysis, this time we are featuring the Shaka Zulu vs Julius Caesar episode.
The video can be found HERE
Shaka Zulu First Verse:
His opening line is really strong “Iwisa, meet Ceasar, he’s a commander. Who thinks that he can dance with Conan of the Savanna. But when I go hand to hand with you, I go hammer”. The next line to follow is “Knock off his dome, and wrap it up in his own banner. Send it back to Rome, with a message from the Zulu. If you battle Shaka, this what happen to you” which is a big grandiose line claiming he will kill Caesar (Roman soldiers who died in battle, were often rapped up in a Roman banner, and sent back to Rome for burial). The finishing line is “If you cross that equator you’ll head straight into a massacre, you’ll be fucked by more than just Cleopatra in Africa.” This line is great, because it was well known that Cleopatra and Julius Caesar were sleeping together for political gain (Caesar needed her wealth, Cleopatra needed the Roman army).
Iwisa is a Zulu term for a “Knobkerrie”, which was a type of club that was thrown (one end had a knob or ball end, almost resembling a hammer) that would be used to knock animals unconscious. The “When I got hand to hand with you I go hammer” line is a reference to the hammer look of the Iwisa, but also a play on the phrase “go HAM” (Hard As a Motherfucker). This part is a bit inaccurate, as while the Iwisa WAS used in hunting, it was rarely used in combat. Tthe thrown spears were known as Assegai and were traditionally used as most African tribes in southern Africa, including the Zulu up until Shaka, avoided hand-to-hand combat. Shaka utilized (often claimed invented, but the historical accuracy of whether he invented it, or just made it a common military practice) the Iklwa to take advantage of close combat fighting (The Iklwa being a short two-foot spear, whose head was a one-foot blade, closer to a sword than a spearhead. Also, it was named the Iklwa, because that was the sound the weapon made when removing it from the victims wounds). The “Conan of the Savanna” line was a reference to the comic and book series, Conan the Barbarian, who was loosely based off of Gaul and Gothic culture (who the Romans called Barbarians, both of which Julius Caesar struggled to defeat), while Shaka compared himself to Conan as the great warrior of the African Savanna. The “Knock off his dome, wrap it up in his own banner” line, as previously mentioned was a reference to the Roman method of wrapping fallen soldiers in their banners. But it was also a subtle reference to how Pompey the Great had his head cut off (“knock off his dome”) and sent to Caesar as a threat (“If you battle Shaka, this what happen to you”).
Julius Caesar First Verse:
Caesar’s opening line was “You talk a lot of shit for a man wearing a diaper, I heard you spit poison, where was it in this cypher?” He immediately swings at how the traditional loin cloths that the Zulu wore (compared to a diaper), followed immediately by how he thought Shaka’s first verse was weak. “All I hear is threats from a brute with no discipline, and I’m ruling over you like a boot full of my citizens”. Here Caesar calls Shaka undisciplined, and references the fact that he would crush the Zulu like a boot, with Italy being compared to looking like a boot. “You should take your cow-skin shield and hide under it.” Referencing the hide shields that the Zulu used in war (hiding under it when the spears were thrown). “You’re fucking with the most triumphant third of the triumvirate. First of the empire, and last of the republicans.” This line is bragging about how he rose to rule Rome. “Ask my kidnappers, if I’m just a shit talker, Doc J dunk on ya like Boom Shakalaka” Caesar talks about how he backs up what he says, dunking on Shaka like Julius “Dr. J” Erving over his competition (referencing the popularized phrase “BOOM SHAKALAKA” shouted under every hard slam dunk in the NBA). “Don’t go rattling your sticks at me, if I wanted to shake spears I’d waggle my biography”. This is just a reference to both the Zulu using spears (a weapon of many defeated Roman opponents) and how Caesar has a Shakespearean play about him (Shake spears, Shakespeare. Get it?).
The “I heard you spit poison” line was a great reference to a tactic the Zulu were known for doing. Their warriors would chew poisonous herbs out of battle to build an immunity to it. Then when going into battle, they would chew on the herbs, mixing it with their saliva, allowing them to spit it on their opponents faces causing temporary (or sometimes permanent) blindness. His “The most triumphant third of the triumvirate” line is great, because the Triumvirate was a political alliance between Caeser, Pompey the Great (who was assassinated), and Crassus (who died in battle expanding the Roman borders in the Middle East). Being the last one alive, gave him sole power over Rome (circumventing the checks and balances meant to prevent that) making him the most successful of the three. And the “First of the Empire, last of the Republicans” is a line referencing how under Caesars rule, it went from the Roman Republic, to the Roman Empire signifying a major change in both how the country is run, and how it would be seen for centuries to come. “Ask my kidnappers if I’m just a shit talker” is a huge reference to when Caesar was kidnapped by pirates. The pirates asked for 20 talents of silver (modern equivalent of $600,000 American) and Caesar laughed at them, mocked them for not knowing just who they captured, and told them to demand 50 talents of silver (roughly 1.5 million USD today). The 50 talents of silver was paid after almost 40 days, during which Caesar basically acted like he was the pirates leader and not their captive, and also informed them that when he was free, he would hunt them all down and have each of them crucified. The pirates didn’t take his threats seriously, and Caesar came back with a small fleet, captured them, killed them all, and took back his ransom, and all their possessions. He then had them all killed, by slitting their throats, and having their bodies crucified.
Shaka Zulu Second Verse:
“I’ve heard of your play, tell me how does it end? Oh yes, you get stabbed many times by your friends.” Shaka immediately swings back at Caesar, referencing his last line (The Shakespeare book) and makes fun of how he gets killed in it. “What you gonna do with your Roman swords, watch the lines of your legion get gored by the horns of the Zulu warriors.” references the battle tactics used by the Zulu under Shaka (who revolutionized warfare amongst the African Tribes of the region with new tactics, and emphasis on close quarters combat). “Trained on thorns, to dismember any emperors pasty white hoards” is a reference to both Zulu training tactics, and the “crown of thorns” that the Romans made Jesus wear. The pasty white hoards reference is also a shot at how the Zulu held off the early British invasions of their territory. “I’ve got the strength of a lion and the speed of a cheetah, and everyone knows you’re just a chicken, Caesar.” This line is a reference to how Shaka has the strengths of his homeland animals (such as the Lion and the Cheetah), while calling Caesar a coward (and referencing the Caesar salad).
“You get stabbed many times by your friends” is a reference to both how Caesar died in the play, getting stabbed by his friends and political advisors, and how he died in real life (unknown how many of them would have been considered “friends” per se, but he did get stabbed many times). Ironically, Shaka himself was killed by his own half-brother in a similar fashion. “Gored by the horns of the Zulu” is a direct reference to the Zulu tactic where the “Chest” (veteran and experienced warriors) would engage in combat, while the reserves (compromised of the young, and the inexperienced warriors) would wait behind, before splitting in two and coming up the left and right flanks (making the “horns”). He would then keep another group in reserve to reinforce when needed, or to swap out those starting to get overwhelmed. This tactic quickly crushed opponents protecting their veteran forces from being flanked, and stopping the retreat of enemies as they are now fighting from multiple sides. “Trained on Thorns” is a direct reference to how Zulu warriors would train by running barefoot over fields of thorns to toughen them up (and build a mental willpower to ignore minor scratches and pains).
Julius Caesar Second Verse:
“I’ll pave roads with the bones of your goat-herding ass” Caesar talking about how the Romans were known for paving roads everywhere. “First my front lines will drop back and spank you in the chest. Then I’ll decimate your horns, you can’t outflank the best. Let you’re reserves come at me, my ballista’s cocked and ready.” This here is literally the Roman tactics for dealing with people flanking them, and it was rather effective (so it stands to reason it would work against the Zulu). “There’s no use in murdering you and your heathen, you can grow my wheat for me after you’re beaten.”
“Pave roads with the bones” is also a reference to the Appian Way, a road that was said to be paved with the “Bones of Rome’s enemies”. The line “There’s not use in murdering you and your heathen” is a throwback to how Caesar early on was a high priest of Jupiter (calling them heathen’s because they worship the wrong gods). The “Grow my wheat for me after you’re beaten” line has two-fold proponents to it. It’s a reference to slavery, and how many of them were sent to working for farmlands (and Rome was big on making conquered states grow wheat for them). But it is also a reference to how Shaka banned the growing of wheat after his mother died.
In Conclusion:
This one was incredibly good for historical accuracy as a whole, with my biggest gripe being with the Iwisa line (using it in combat). There is a lot of historical references here. I feel that Shaka had the better flow, but also that Caesars lines were more hard hitting.
Cyguy's Musings 