[King Ra.]

No Show Love

Got no showed? Well have no fear. This is a new feature in the magazine which will show you a bit of love. You'll never have to feel like you wrote for nothing ever again. The no show drops were very dope this week. These guys certainly brought it. I will shed a little light on each piece.


[6] Camp bell
No showed by Rayge but we expected some no shows this week. Camp bell had a very short drop that went off like a gangster in a shootout with an opposing gang member. It reads pretty nice though it had some hiccups. With the picture he was given, I'm certain it was a challenge.

my whole existence has been cold and frigid
sitting wit bosses since '65, not a sinister type, jus living my life, one sip at a time
the lonely witness with the gold appearance and boldest spirit since midas died
i've rode wit niggas in drive-by's as strays find lives of only children, the driver side

[5] pohfig
The Fig dropped a V-day special (if that's what you call it) and it was actually pretty cool. Though it lacks really in any interesting content/concepts compared to the others that dropped, it was a solid piece all around. Maybe this was just a warm up & he knew his opponent would not drop. Didn't see much connection with the picture, the only instance being near the end when the guy character leaves, but that is not that close.

She finally sees what she's done and to my disbelief, she begun
Rubbing it and bent down closer and gave a lick with her tongue..
Then spit on it once and when it stood up, the pain was so throbbing
I couldn't fuck if she had two twins and a train was an option
My head's shaking and bobbing in my refusal to stop her
Futile to blocker her and my performance should be reviewed for the Oscars
Punching her pillows as if to give Gina more credit and props
When really I'm wishing she'd stop and take her head off my cock

[4] Kuja
Kuja is one of my favorites in topicals because he can tell a good story, and his piece this week was not disappointing. Titled 'Old Nick Complex', he dives in 3 rooms, with 3 characters who seem to be possessed by a voice, the last character ended up burning the whole complex to bits (oops! SPOILER ALERT). You should read it for yourself. Kuja will definitely be a force in the league.

Once an urban nightmare, now masked in a concrete jungle
A reminder of the battle, the pain & constant struggle
Once a vision, the future, born from an artist’s impression
To avoid congestion, mankind’s ascension closer to heaven
No blood was spilt; the complex was built with manpower, bricks & mortar
Finished with home comforts, polished fittings & running water
The residents became the towns envy, smitten & smug
With the world at their feet & the stars written above

[3] Witty
Witty is an established writer & it's disappointing that his opponent Cake did not show because this could have been the match of the week. In any case, Wittster left us a solid gem of a writer, trapped in a battle in which he can't seem to stop writing. One thing about Witty is he structures his pieces so well & it really brings out his stories more.

As he sits and faces a new day, his face is a blue/gray
The gloom in his basement raises his mood's flames
As the last withering flower decays in the bouquet
He meant to give his wife, and he hates that it's too late
He's standing and pacing, finding his place in his new fate
The choice he made took faith, it raised and removed weight
Now he can't regret, he has to face it and look straight
Into the eyes of grace, and the taste on his new plate

[2] Nigma
Nigma has been quietly on the rise when it comes to topicals. His drop this week shows that hands down. An interesting scheme but the imagery & detail was very rampant in his story. Who knows how things would have turned out if Tyson showed but I'm certain this piece would have been hard to beat.

But now suspicions hammered home, three nights and days we battled on, I'll have no more
Between the tanks within a shrapnel cove, shadows black as coal there was a glassy glow
"I do not move, I am a stone" my finger twitch the trigger, then a massive jolt
The bullet travels home, the sound of cracking bone as it pass his skull
Small entrance hole but back exploding with his last of thoughts
Hours after all this happened I walked down and grabbed his scope
In my assassins tome, last chapter closed
My name is Vasha, Russia's lasting hope

[1] HelloKitty
Didn't I mention Mr. NYC is a darkhorse to be AOB's first ever topical league champion? He most certainly is & his piece garners my #1 spot for No Show Love. His flow/rhyme scheme is unprecedented & his piece did not lack this at all. Not only was the flow on point, but the technical aspects of his verse were practically flawless & the content within caught me off the the bat. His opponents will have much on their hands this season.

A moth alights upon one who's seen fairer days
the color of death - rises as his sclera fades
Thorns surround memories like aloe vera strains
and death's dew contrasts his soul's sahara blaze -
such a curious countenance...a chimera's gaze.
Road to ruin which so many human eras paved,
Death grips his scythe and offers a prayer of saints.
Back then he stopped crime and shunned classless acts
Nebulous thoughts crystallize when life flashes back:
Intuition godlike.

OPEN MIC FEATURE #3

'YOU' written by zygote

You wake up tired feeling like an empty shell.
Mind blanked emotions numbed,
You think maybe today you should kill yourself.
Go to the bridge and jump,
Human scum.
You sit up and look around.
See a girl passed out on the ground.
She looks kind of young.
Fuck it. You don’t care.
You run your hand over your head,
You feel the dry vomit in your hair.
You get up from your mattress bed,
Eat a piece of cornbread.
You yawn it’s not worth the effort.
Fucking idiot. Last night remembered.
You try to think ahead.
What were you supposed to do today?
You always feel like this,
Hopefully what you have to do will go away.
You go to take a piss,
Start and realize you need to shit.
Damn today has started bad.
You try to think how it feels to be mad or sad.
You feel like only nothing can exist.
Abyss.

What the readers are saying....

Split- "this was powerful.... i think that the very simple word choice gave this a poetic feel"

Genocide- "Very strong.... You continue to be in my eyes, one of the most well ballanced and technically capablee writer I've seen."

Figurative- "It leaves no room for interpretation, just the relatability of the reader with what's presented here. A powerful piece this is."

WEEK 2 PREDICTIONS

Malachi (0-1) vs. Coup (0-1)
What's the deal?- One of these battlers will enter next week with their first victory, the other will still be winless. Both Malachi & Coup suffered knockout losses week 1, though both showed promise. This will be an interesting battle.

Who wins?- A match up that can easily go either way. Malachi is still fresh to topical writing so many will probably give the edge over to Coup. I do these predictions for a reason: to see some surprises. I picked Coup last week to pull off a win over Zen & that didn't happen. Malachi says he will bring it this week. I believe in the kid. Prediction: Malachi pulls it off, 5-3.


Hmph (0-0) vs. Red Glare (0-0)
What's the deal?- Two brand new competitors join the league who, I'm most certain, are not new to the topical scene. I don't know much about either, but if week 1's matches were any indication of how good this league is & it's competitors, then I believe this match will not fall short of such.

Who wins?- I don't know either one so this prediction is solely based on a guess. I see this match being very close. My hunch is, it could be just as good as any of the spotlight showcases. We will see. I'm going to choose the guy with the stare though. Prediction: Red Glare wins debut, 5-4.


Mike Wrecka (0-1) vs. Camp bell (1-0)
What's the deal?- Intriguing match up of what looks to be two very different styles. Mike took a loss at the hands of Frank & is looking to rebound. Camp bell was no showed but dropped a lil piece nonetheless. But will that be the warm up to making it two in a row?

Who wins?- Camp bell is one of the newer heads who has impressed many with his rhyme schemes. Mike is no pushover, however. Based on their pieces last week, I'd say Wrecker has an advantage, especially coming off of that match against one of the primier writers. But don't think Camp bell won't be just as good. Prediction: Mike Wrecka sqeaks by, 6-4.


c.d.m. (0-1) vs. Rawn MacDon (0-1)
What's the deal?- Both of these gentleman took hefty losses last week. c.d.m. was a late addition & though he put up a valiant effort, it wasn't enough to woo the voters away from the dead guy. Rawn took a surprising loss IMO, I was expecting a solid win to kick off the season but his piece just didn't satisfy the readers enough.

Who wins?- If anything is certain, it's that one of these guys must be driven to come much better this week & win. Veritas requested a rematch against the dead man but it was rejected by league officials, but he understood the reason & said he'll take whoever. That right there is the fire. I guessing Rawn will have to use week 3 to recuperate & catch his first win. Prediction: c.d.m. gets on track, wins 7-2.


cakecakecake (0-1) vs. Innovator (1-0)
What's the deal?- To my disappointment, Caker did not show last week in what was potentially, the BOTW against Witty. This week, he faces The Vator, who cruised to a 6-2 victory over Rawn. Cake must redeem himself. Another no show or loss would put him at 0-2 to start the season- if he is to chase the dead man, he must win & do it consistently.

Who wins?- I picked against Vator last week & all roads lead to me doing the same here. Cake is a giant of an opponent & if he happens to show, this will be no cakewalk. Vator nonetheless showed us some mad potential & he could definitely give Caker a run for his money if he can put together a very good story. Vator, I hope this motivates you. You can be 2-0 with solid wins under your belt early in the season. Prove you're one to not take lightly. Prediction: cakecakecake shows up to victory, 8-2.


SLEEPER MATCH OF THE WEEK!!!
Zenland (1-0) vs. zygote (0-0)
What's the deal?- zygote steps in week 2 of AOWL & I'm certain he is ready to prove that he is the best. This weeks opponent, Zenland, is a confident writer looking to rise the ranks & be a force in the league. This will be his chance.

Who wins?- zygote is known to drop lightning fast & when he drops, watch out for the strike. He is a great writer who can just about switch style/technique & given time. Zen will have his hands full but he can put up a good fight if he can piece together a solid drop. Everyone loves a good underdog story but zy should take this one, barring a better story from Zenland. Prediction: zygote wins, 7-0.


SPOTLIGHT MATCHES

Genocide (1-0) vs. pohfig (1-0)
What's the deal?- pohfig is coming off a no show win but his opponent Genocide is coming off an impressive win over Orc & he looks to begin a consistent streak here. poh is obviously a veteran, and it is believed that he is Pent, whoever he is, this will be a good match judging from their pieces last week.

Who wins?- This is a difficult match to pick a winner from. It can easily go either way & preference may be the deciding factor. I thought Geno did a great job with his picture last week, incorporating it's content & making a very well written story while poh's bit didn't really have any connection to his picture at all. I'm gonna go with the one who is consistent & maybe even motivated. Prediction: Genocide wins a close one, 7-5.


Orc (0-1) vs. King Keith (0-0)
What's the deal?- If you want to know what's the deal here, peep some of the others predictions in the chat thread. What I can say is this will be a good battle. Orc shook off some rust last week & I have some shaking to do. Don't sleep on this match though. No prediction.


Witty (1-0) vs. Split (1-0)
What's the deal?- These matches just keep getting better huh? This one is oozing BOTW potential, though another match IMO gets the honors, but this one will be highly interesting. Witty was no showed by Cake, and who knows how that would have turned out if that went down. Split is coming off a sort of "warm up" victory over Malachi. Is he ready for primetime?

Who wins?- Difficult to choose a clear winner. This one should be close come voting. Witty dropped a really nice piece last week & I've mentioned before, his verse structure & storytelling ability are up there with the best. Split is a unique writer, I believe he can definitely excel in ways that could seperate him from the rest. Idk how this one will go, but Witty was not phased in showing last week against Cake, I'm thinking he will slip by 8 in a close bout. Prediction: Witty wins by a bit, 8-5.


dead man (1-0) vs. Nigma (1-0)
What's the deal?- dead man continues his quest for topical dominance & this week he is pitted against a riser in Nigma, who was no showed last week by Tyson. The question is can Nigma put together a verse that can contest Black & possibly give him what would be an unexpected loss?

Who wins?- If there is one guy who can go undefeated, it is Black. I don't see him losing in this one, at least barring he happens to not show. Nigma is a solid writer without a doubt but this match may prove to be a bit too much to pull off. Back to back KO's? Prediction: dead man cruises, 7-0.


HelloKitty (1-0) vs. Kuja (1-0)
What's the deal?- I know these two remember those ol' TS days? This match has that feel. HelloKitty looks to make it two in a row as he faces off another favorite in Kuja. Both of these guys were no showed last week, unfortunately but that didn't stop them from putting together great pieces to read.

Who wins?- Based off of what I read last week, Kuja can definitely make waves with his storytelling capability. I've always admired this ability & it'll be interesting to see what he comes up with this week. NYC on the other hand dropped what I thought was the VOTW though he got no showed (and yes, I felt it was better than dead man's jawn), and it seems he is ready to make major noise this season. He can easily do that. So do it, sir. Prediction: HelloKitty wins it, 8-2.


BATTLE OF THE WEEK!!!
Strikta (0-0) vs. Frank (1-0)
What's the deal?- The previous matches could be BOTW but I chose this one because of the added flare. Strikta, making his season debut, calls out Frank & got what he wanted, and this match up should be as good as advertised. Some question whether Frank will show or even put in the effort, but I think otherwise.

Who wins?- Both of these gentlemen are highly motivated, though you can never be sure with Frank. But I don't believe he will let this one slip by. Strikta is a good writer & if he brings it as he says, this has the makings to be a classic. A win by Strik would probably drive Frank to slack.... but I'm going to say that this will keep Frank's mojo going longer than we all may think. Prediciton: Frank edges it, 8-6.



A Word With The King Part II

King Keith: Welcome to A Word With The King. Introduce yourself to our readers.


Zenland: It's ZenLand, a.k.a Delsym, a.k.a That Guy That Everyone Doubts Will Win Because I'm New But Fuck Them. Ya dig?


King Keith: I'd dig if I had a shovel, son. I believe I predicted you to win last week though.... okay, checked last weeks mag- nahhhh. Lol. Do you believe you're an underdog this season?


Zenland: Haha shovel. I'm absolutely an underdog but honestly it's all good. I believe I can give anybody a run for their money and I'm bound to surprise some people this season for sure. BELIEVE IT!!


King Keith: That is the spirit, good sir. You cruised to a 7-0 victory over Coup. How do you feel about the win & what are your thoughts on the critique given?


Zenland: Well honestly Coups a cool cat and I was pretty surprised it was 7-0 I thought it'd be a hell of a lot closer but as far as the critique goes I appreciate all the feedback. The feedback I noticed the most was Frank's and he gave some good pointers as far as setting up topicals so I appreciate that...even though he said he wasn't sold on me as a writer lol


King Keith: That's Frank for you. Take those words & run with it like the Gumpster. So here in week 2, what matches do you look forward to & who do you have winning?


Zenland: Honestly all match ups this week look good but dead and nigma and split and witty are the ones that I think have potential for BOTW besides my own battle of course


King Keith: The size of your conceit is grand, son. Grand. I like your fire though. How do you feel about your match up against Zy this week?


Zenland: Haha I'm truly humble I promise, but I think I got him personally. Reading his post was dope though(even though I just now realized that was his verse) but I think his way with the picture could throw some people off or pull votes towards him. It could go to either of us. May the best Z win.


King Keith: Indeed. This marks the end of our discussion. Any last words or shout outs?


Zenland: Well I gotta tell you topical bastards to go drop feed on my OM piece The Cave and go vote on mine and zygotes battle. Peace and afro grease niglets. (Zenland was not told of his open mic feature in this magazine.)







Well that's it for this weeks mag, folks. Hope you guys enjoyed it. The league continues to get better & better & we're only two weeks in. Next edition we will try and raise the standards even higher. Shout out Split & Genocide for their contributions. Shout out to Malachi & Zenland for the interviews. Definite shout out to all those participating in the BEST league on the net. And they say text is dying. Writers NEVER die. Remember that. Holler.