It isn’t really this easy.

Taken out of context, he looks more like he’s waiting for a bus or lampin’ on the corner with his boys. The smooth, relaxed tones coming from his mouth sound more like he’s ordering a pizza or callin’ up his girl. The supremely confident demeanor oozing off him feels more like he’s dropping expensive dimes on the ball court or firing precision passes on the football field. Taken out of context, you’d never imagine he was spontaneously coming up with lyrics that hit like a street sweeper, the crowd around him putting more effort into listening than it seems he’s putting into spitting. Nah, it isn’t really this easy. Serius Jones just made it look that way.

Born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Jones discovered his talent for freestyling in neighborhood cyphers as he was growing up. He only entered his first official battle on a dare from a friend. Naturally, he won the whole competition. Serius was the definition of a natural, gifted with a strong voice and a gigantic personality that made crowds gravitate to him before his first bars were even spit. When he made his way to the Fight Klub circuit in 2005 fans and opposing MCs alike had no idea what hit them. His run through the competition, 13 straight victories ending with a championship win against Jin the Emcee, would never be matched. The only blemish on his record, a loss to British legend Professor Green in his final match, came at the Fight Klub Power Summit in the Bahamas and still remains one of the most controversial decisions in the league’s history.

Jones occupies a special place in battle rap lore not only for his track record, but also for his unique style. His flow was slow and hypnotic, his bars vacillating between street aggression and laid back comedy in a way few MCs could accomplish. In an East Coast scene dominated by extended rounds and endless writtens, Serius was one of few rappers who remained dedicated to the freestyle form. His absolute dominance of Jin in the Fight Klub championship bout remains one of the single most impressive performances in the history of battling, a combination of frees and writtens, punches and gun talk, personality and personals.

The win led Jones to one of the most highly anticipated and debated battles of all time, his SMACK DVD throwdown with Murda Mook that to this day is a polarizing topic among battle fans. After being discovered by Ludacris and signed to his Disturbing Tha Peace label in 2007, Jones retired from the ring to focus on his musical career. Of course, breaking through in the industry is something few battlers have accomplished. It isn’t really that easy. But if anyone can make it seem like it is, Serius Jones is that dude.