What originally began as way to promote hip-hop and rap in Columbia, No Coast has steadily gained acclaim both online and among international hip-hop battling leagues such as King Of The Dot and Grind Time. And with increased attention comes increased funding, which means more bigger and better battles. No Coast will host Final Countdown at Berlin Theatre (10th and Park) this weekend.

However, this event is more of a weekend hip-hop festival than simple a one-night engagement. Starting this friday at 9 p.m., attendees will be able to see some of the best talent hip-hop battling has to offer. The weekend festival will feature 32 performers from 15 different states who are all traveling to Columbia for the chance to battle hip-hop rivals. Headliners include Franco vs. Knox and Syd Vicious vs. RemyD.  Cover charge is $5.

Final Countdown is the second No Coast event of 2012 with the first being The Valentine’s Day Massacre, a two-night festival in February which featured a legendary battle between G Souldier and T Rex. The battle has received more than 130,000 views on Youtube in two months. (warning: some videos contain explicit language)

Kelly Betz, co-founder of No Coast, is happy with the success and explains how hip-hop is changing. “We are the people that would’ve been hosting free-style rap,” Betz says, referring to the internet culture that surrounds underground hip-hop. “This is where underground rap is now.”

Over the last five years, No Coast has been host to approximately 150 rap battles with many of those battles available to watch on YouTube. No Coast began (and still is) a DIY operation, says Betz, and always wished for the events and festivals to be as accessible and diverse as possible. So whether and underground rap fanatic or a curious rap-minded newbie, Final Countdown is a great chance to become affiliated with local (and national) hip-hop.