I don't think Surf is the most influential. And he's not the most popular either. I don't think his case is really that strong. Maybe URL Mount Rushmore, for sureSurf is the most influential battler
Grind Time exists because of what Pat Stay was doing with "Elements League"
Cal is the craziest rise fall rise
The Mt. Rushmore argument is pointless and headache inducing imo at this point an ALL TIME Champion #1-#10 panel would make more sense.
10 names makes sense than 4
To me Pat isn't there simply because there's other people within his same lane (Thesaurus, Diz, Ill) that had a bigger impact on that side of battle rap.
Cal just doesn't have the badges to be in the discussion. He's not that popular, influential, impactful etc...his biggest impact is being the guy who got killed in a viral battle. He's a dope battle rapper but to me, Mount Rushmore is for the guys who pioneered, made a major impact within and outside the culture and laid the foundation for modern battle rap.
To me
Locks:
Murda Mook
Loaded Lux
T-Rex
Contenders:
Dizaster (begrudgingly)
Aye Verb
Arsonal
Hollow
Back up contenders:
Tay Roc (Biggest wart is he is pretty much a strictly URL battler and he has never transcended the culture)
Hitman Holla (Biggest wart is he's not even the most important battler, historically, in his own city. But he's the most popular battler of all-time, which gives him some support)