Snoop Dogg plans to kick things off differently for this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards. Today his team announced that he and NY battle rap legend Murda Mook will be hosting a rap battle the day before the main show entitled Snoop Dogg’s Gladiator School. The event will be held on Sept. 19 at Masquerade in Atlanta, Ga. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Some of the best male and female battle rappers from around the country will battle it out to be crowned champion. Uncle Snoop’s Army has also opened up the competition to fans. The Dogg Father is hosting an open online audition for hopefuls to earn a chance at the title. MCs can enter by submitting 30-60 second video of them spitting their best rhymes and/or by posting a video on social network with the hashtag#GladiatorSchool and tagging @SnoopDogg. Click here to check out the official contest rules. Submission are due by Sept. 14.

The current battle lineup for Snoop Dogg’s Gladiator School includes:

Females

E Hart (NY) vs. O'fficial (New Orleans)

Ms. Murk (VA) vs. Chayna Ashley (NY)

Phara Funeral (NY) vs. Couture (Rhode Island)

Males

TRex (NY) vs. Rum Nitty (Phoenix)

Young B (LA) vs. B Magic (St. Louis)

Hitman Holla (St. Louis) vs. Calicoe (Detroit)

John John (Atlanta ) vs. Arsonal (Ft. Lauderdale)

*Contest Winner vs. Wild Card*

In addition to announcing the Gladiator School, Snoop also released a clip of a new song he did with Pharrell. Check out this preview HHNM found below.

Previously: Drake Leads BET Hip-Hop Awards 2014 Nominations

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