There wasn't a lot of hoopla around the last Verzuz battle. The face-off between UGK and 8Ball & MJG, two of the all-time great Southern rap duos, was only announced a few days before it happened.

There are few things that can get me out of bed when I’m submerged in the plush memory foam, crochet project in hand with Detroiters on the television: my dog’s whining and a good Verzuz. If you ...