Before Lucius Jones stepped in as promoter of the Shotz Fired Battle Rap League in July 2019, the league was a relatively unknown gem in the local hip-hop community, celebrated mostly by those diehard backers who believed strongly in its greater potential.

But since connecting with longtime Shotz Fired owner AR Green, Jones has helped carve out a platform for the city’s top battle rappers, expanding the league locally as the art form has grown in popularity.