Two men who shot and wounded another man over a fight that erupted during a rap battle were each sentenced Friday to 16 years in prison.

Markis D. Terrell and his cousin, Rufus G. Majette, both 24, are “violent offenders who both committed a most heinous act,” said Dane County Circuit Judge William Hanrahan, noting that each has an extensive criminal record and has failed at past attempts in the juvenile and adult justice systems to straighten their paths.

Both were convicted by a jury in June of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and possessing a firearm as a felon for a July 3, 2010, incident at the Kennedy Heights apartment complex in which Darreyll T. Thomas, 25, of Madison, was shot in the neck.

A criminal complaint charged that Thomas insulted Terrell’s rapping ability, which started a fight in which Thomas punched Terrell four times, knocking him down.

Terrell went to an apartment and returned with Majette, who shot Thomas in the neck. He handed the gun to Terrell, who fired three times but missed Thomas, the complaint states.

Both men fled Madison. Majette was arrested in New Jersey, and Terrell was caught in Ohio.