Illustration: Nathan Fox | From Left: Wright Brothers, Edison, Mozart, Skrillex, Tesla, Mario bros.
Bruce Lee versus Clint Eastwood, Vader versus Hitler — who would win in a fight? On the hilarious YouTube series Epic Rap Battles of History, cultural icons rhyme for supremacy. The brainchild of comedians (and diss-rap masters) Lloyd Ahlquist and Peter Shukoff, the show has become a smash hit, averaging 35 million views per episode and boasting more channel subscribers than Justin Bieber. ERB's third season debuts this fall, and its creators promise more celebrity trash-talking (a popular 2012 episode featured Snoop Lion as Moses). "Lloyd is making a strong case for Al Capone," Shukoff says. "And one of the most popular suggestions is Superman versus Goku." We're waiting for our dream battle — Snowden versus Manning, duh — but we picked winners of our favorite matchups so far.
Tesla: If the people knew you stopped me from making power free / They would curse the con Edison with every utility.
Edison: Step up, you'll be shocked when I spit and start static / I'll rip your style and add it to my long list of patents.
And the winner is: Tesla. The Wizard of Menlo Park has energy on the mic, but the Master of Lightning drops the most mad science.
Wright Brothers: Before us, people only used to fly in balloons / You think we're scared of two idiots addicted to 'shrooms?
Mario Bros.: We're serving up an 8-bit fist made to order / That'll knock you off the back of your own stupid quarters.
And the winner is: The Wright brothers. Orville and Wilbur are in full control, while Mario and Luigi sound like they're playing games.
Skrillex: Your daddy issues make the Jackson 5 look like The Family Circus / You might have been a genius but you died Baroque and worthless.
Mozart: Why don't you put down your Cubase and pick up a real bow / I rocked harder than you when I was 5 years old.
And the winner is: Mozart. Sure, the dubstep king can kick the new style, but Amadeus proves that old school never goes out of style.
- ### The Age of Invisible Design Has Arrived
