But it was in the small city on the South Australian coast more than seven hours’ drive from Adelaide that Kavanagh – rap name Manaz Ill - first began honing the skills that would make him one of the best battle rappers in Australia.

Battle rappers take turns in verbally attacking each other, using rhyme and wordplay to criticise and demean their opponents, before a panel of judges picks a winner.

Melbourne recording artist Matthew Colwell, better known as 360, was a success on the battle rap scene before he became an ARIA award-winner.

Kavanagh, who is visually impaired, listened to American rapper Eminem and wrote rhymes in an American “absurdist” style, inventing funny scenarios.

Discovering home-grown group the Hilltop Hoods helped him find a more distinctively Australian voice.

“I really appreciate the English language, I’ve always been really appreciative of wordplays, metaphors and similes, so that’s always played a big part in how I’ve written,” he said.

When he was old enough he moved to Adelaide and now Melbourne, the home of battle rap in Australia.

Mr Kavanagh has since recorded an album and competed on the world stage, including at a World Domination event in Canada.

Rapper Andrew Cairns, rap name Barry Bonza, calls 2007 the peak of the “golden years” of battle rap in Australia, when competition was strong across most of the country.

Interest has waned a little since then – although there are still leagues in several capital cities - but Cairns hopes to change that by bringing Don’t Flop, a respected British format, to Australia.

Featuring 16 handpicked artists from across the country, the winner will win a trip to the UK to compete.

When Kavanagh performs a demonstration bout at the next round of Don’t Flop against UK rapper Flex Digits, it will be the first time he has battled in more than a year.

Cairns said he hoped the competition would revitalise interest in battle rap and hip-hop culture.

With some of the legends of the scene coming out of retirement for the event, he admitted participants’ egos would be on the line at the second round at the Eureka Hotel in Richmond on Saturday afternoon.

Words can sometimes hurt, he said, even for battle rappers.

“People can be offended and take it the wrong way, but it’s intended as a respectful duel, using words and whatever information you have on your opponent,” he said.

“It’s not intended to get out of control but it does happen from time to time.”