[King Ra.]

WEEK 7 PREDICTIONS


AOWL Championship: Frank (5-1) vs. Red glare (4-1)
The championship match returns this week & this will be a very, very interesting bout. Frank (2x AOWL champion) once again will defend the title, this time against quick riser Red glare, who has been on a tear of late. Riding on 3 straight victories, he should be fully prepared for this match. Luckily for Frank, all no show losses were wiped away due to a change in the site url which prevented some participants from signing in. So he remains undefeated. Does Frank still have the motivation to continue his reign as champ? It most certainly seems like it. He will have to be on guard because Red looks to be building up a lot of steam. Who wins? I'm becoming a fan of Red's work each week that passes by & he has the skills to be a champion. He will have to bring all of that here if he wants to the first to take Frank off the throne. A valiant effort will commence but for some reason, I believe Frank will be very difficult to take down in this match and possibly the others to come ahead. PREDICTION: Frank, 12-8.

AOWL #1 Contender Match: Zygote (4-1) vs. Adonis (3-0)
This is going to be a fierce match up right here. zygote has been rolling this season & all roads seem to be leading to a possible rematch against Frank (that's if he manages to get past Red). Let's not count out the other guy here. Adonis has came into the league and made his mark. His 27-3 vote edge is ridiculous, showing that his pieces are usually uncontested. This match will reveal much for the power rankings & who can potentially be the next AOWL champion (if Frank ever gives that up). zygote is one of the most flexible writers around which is why he usually fares very well no matter who the opponent is. Will his quick drop be enough this time around? Both have already posted their verses. I'm guessing they dropped some pretty heavy stuff. I like Adonis' writing style. To win this he will have to be very creative. Off to an impressive start to the season but this match will be the first thorn on his path. PREDICTION: zygote, 10-7.

Kuja (2-3) vs. ZenLand (3-3)
This one could be another sleeper match. Kuja enters this week coming off a loss to his partner, Cereal_Killa, and looks to get back to .500 against the Zenmaster, who pulled off a pretty impressive victory last week over c.d.m. That wins keeps Zen in the thick of things. Kuja just experienced his first battle this season which ended in votes. This one will definitely end the same way. Kooj is the more polished writer and is known for his storytelling (peep week 1's no show verse). So the Zenmaster will have his work cut out for him. This is a White division showdown & the winner here will gain sole possession of 2nd place. Zen has shown some of his skills this season, but not quite consistently. He still has some work to do, but is definitely getting up there. If he can manage to put together a good piece with great mechanics, this one won't be one sided. Toss the coin. It's heads. Which means unleash your inner Zen-ness. I see this one being close but I see Kooj constructing a solid story to take this one from Zen. PREDICTION: Kuja, 7-5.

Malachi (0-2) vs. Patrown (2-1)
Malachi has been out of action since week 2 and now returns to the league after a semi finals no show in the Ultimate Writer tourney. He is still fresh to doing topicals & the hiatus may affect his performance somewhat this week against his opponent, patrown. Patrown has been up and down writing wise & we haven't really yet to see how good he can be. I don't see Malachi getting into the playoffs this year with the enormous amount of talent & experience here in the league, but if he wants to get in the win column, this is one of the weeks to do it. A win for Patrown & losses from Ink & Vinzr will put him in first place in the Black division. A division with dead man & TYSON who both haven't really been active of late. It's there for the taking. Should be a smooth win, unless he slips up & Malachi drops a dagger..... it's possible. Seriously. PREDICTION: patrown, 9-0.

Topicaldood5 (1-0) vs. Innovator (2-4)
The Vator like Mike Wrecka has written for every match this season. & after a quick 2-0 start he has loss 4 straight match ups, 2 of those could have swung his way as well. Despite the losing streak, he continues to improve and fight. His opponent this week is riding high off of one of the better verses last week. TopicalDood5 (probably alias of the year in the AOWL) is no push over. His debut was a solid win that ran Dagel crying on his way out AOB's door. That's not to say he will do the same to Inno, but you get the point. Vator has seemed to sunk a bit with his writing, as the topics are getting more challenging but he has mad potential. It will be difficult this week to pull off a win against Dood. But this can be a stepping stone for the coming weeks as the playoffs near. Not this week homie. PREDICTION: TopicalDood5, 11-0.

SLEEPER MATCH OF THE WEEK!!!: Mike Wrecka (3-3) vs. ZeeDee (2-1)
Mike Wrecka has loss 2 straight matches & a title shot which was right in his grasp. It's back to square one but this week could be the difference between getting back to the top or lingering with playoff hopes. His opponent this week is ZeeDee, who is coming off a knockout loss to IAmBenT. Both of these writers, despite writing some very good pieces, were not able to top the opposition & this match is labeled as the Sleeper of the week. Mike Wrecka has had a pretty tough schedule this season but he has been able to hold his own. How much more does he have in the tank to continue putting together solid verses? He's one of the few who has dropped every week this season. ZeeDee gave us a gem last week & we see what he is capable of. This looks to be a story vs. concept type of match. Hard to pick a winner. While I really enjoyed ZD's piece last week, I feel Wrecka will not quit. I see him pulling off a win here & getting back into the thick of the race for title contention. PREDICTION: Mike Wrecka, 9-5.

Exoduzt (0-0) vs. Objective (0-2)
Objective returned from a hiatus last week only to lose to Ink but I'm sure now he is feeling the blood flowing through his veins as he enters this week. His opponent, Exoduzt, is another newcomer & will look to kick things off on the right foot. I don't know much about him like fellow new member, Que, so it's hard to say how much fire he will bring in his match. Objective can be very hard to beat at times, and when he is on his A-game, he can contend with the elite. Exo will have to bring some good content & flavor to pull this off. Though Objective took a step back last week, I see him getting right on track here. PREDICTION: Objective, 7-5.

c.d.m. (2-4) vs. Ink (2-1)
c.d.m. was riding the wave of two straight victories before suffering a loss last week to Zenland. While it puts a halt to him getting to .500, c.d.m. is still a threat to anyone he goes up against. This week, he faces Ink, who made his debut 3 weeks ago & is on a 2 match win streak right now. A win for Ink coupled with a loss by Vinzr would jump him to 1st place in the Black division, while moving him up a bit in the rankings. But winning here won't be easy. Veritas has been one of the more consistent writers & can put together a very well written story. As I am typing this up both have dropped already. It's open for votes. I thought Ink's piece last week was fresh but he will need something more to topple c.d.m. Your time is not yet, good sir. PREDICTION: c.d.m., 9-3.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK!!!: Vulgar (0-0) vs. Witty (3-2)
Yes, yes. This match will be a doozy. I asked Vulgar a week or so ago would he be joining the league this season & he said he was taking a break from competition. I guess the writers bug bit him because he makes his debut against Witty, who is starting to show some consistency in attendence. This battle will send ripples throughout the AOWL. Vulgar recently posted a new piece in the OM, and he doesn't look like he has any rust to shake off. Witty is ready to bring something to the table as well. A win for Witty will put him in closer distance to Frank in the Green division & possibly begin to open a path to get a title shot. Who wins? Both are so talented & while Witty seems to be picking up steam, I see Vulgar starting his rise in this match, in what should be a classic. PREDICTION: Vulgar, 9-5.

Cakecakecake(0-3) vs. Nigma (3-1)
If there is one competitor who has failed me dearly this year, it would be the Cakester. 3 no shows so far (the 4th was wiped away due to some participants having trouble logging in last week) & not a verse to really showcase his talent. He can definitely write & if he wants to get in the playoffs, he will have to string some wins together in these final 6 weeks. Nigma is returning after a slight break away from writing & looks anxious to get it done this week. This match has mad potential to be the BOTW. Only question is: will Cake show? Hard to tell. With that said, this Cake will be in need of much yeast to rise up. Prove to me that you can show up to a battle. I got Nigma here with a no show dub. PREDICTION: Nigma, by no show.

Vinzr (3-1) vs. Que (0-0)
Vinzr suffered his first loss last week to Adonis, a minor setback, but will look to regain his footing here against league newcomer, Que. Little is known about him but as with everyone in this league, don't be surprised if he is just as talented as the majority. This would be a nice win to kick things off for Que. Vin has a 2 match lead in the black division & is still a threat for the title if he can maintain his consistency. This may be an under the radar match but I got an itch that Vin will comeback much stronger this week & continue his ascension in the rankings. PREDICTION: Vinzr, 8-3.

Split (3-2) vs. IAmBenT (2-1)
This match should be one of the ones to your eyes on. Both competitors are very talented writers hanging under the radar. IAmBenT is coming off an impressive win over ZeeDee & is riding on momentum. Split's season has been roller coaster like & we haven't truly yet seen him at the top of his game. If he shows & brings it, expect this one to go back & forth. A win here for BenT would be huge & probably propel him into the top 10. A win for Split will keep him in a good position to catch zygote in the in the Red division & above the .500 mark. Hard to pick a winner here but based on what I saw last week from BenT & Split's up & down start, I got IAm pulling off another impressive win. PREDICTION: IAmBent, 8-5.



OPEN MIC FEATURE #3


"Visiting Friends"
written by Cake & Matriarch

Every track I listen to. All this time, sifting through
torrents, mp3's, files, traces, vinyl, mission fueled
binge. To paint a smile on my face. Switched to new trends.
Miles Davis, Bitches Brew. Guitar string picked 'til it bends.
I Can See For Miles. With my new prescription lens,
thumbing through catalogs. The gray tinted film,
I've frayed and splintered the ends.
Plastic Ono Bands, Californications, nostalgia. I visit friends
on bloodshot hung-over days lost. Dazed, lost.
Led Zeppelin, teenage angst and the delayed cost.
Teenage Dream. Lush, the dream pop.
Phoenix, hipster scene. Crystal Castles, homage.
I Wish You Were Here. Drum kits blast, the barrage.
Baroness whiplash the garage. The Flaming Lips
skipped tracks as collage. College. Another fugue state,
Riff Raff and Minaj. The populists' due weight.
Eddie V picked fast, with guitars, and became God.
I'm hot for teachers. A cappellas and busted speakers.
Riffs from hell. Like the Sleigh Bells album, the front was sneakers,
and their chops are stellar. To be dramatic,
music's been tied close to the struggles.
And every music fan knows 'Repeat', always overrides 'Shuffle'.
I've had...four? iPods. And countless iTunes generations.
The boom bap me new track steez,
to the indie rock aesthetic and Classic veneration.
I wear out wavelengths.
Single song obsession, every interpretation my brain takes.
I eat every snippet I've found. The hisses, the pounds
off drum kicks or bass notes. The hunting of every
trick in it's sound.
Until I can't listen again,
Unless it's to relive. I said, I'm just visiting friends.
I want to visit again.
After another hundred rhymes.
After writing this little gem while gripping this pen.
After listening to Deerhunter's 'Spring Hall Convert' at least a dozen times,
I'll want to visit again.


digital fixtures - mixed of vintage volume ensnared
captivating! Janis played with prim euphoric impaired
we shared a truth at seventeen: Love belong to the fair
beauty queens. music scene. proms and bonding affair
pondering where - this juxtaposition will take us
fully aware - that luck's a fucking glitch in the matrix
Simple and basic. Design of a conspicuous crazed bitch
rhythm’s abrasive - inventing villains in veiled pitch ..
of high notes, connoting violent twisted descent
momma asked me “where are you?”
.
.
told her “I’m visiting friends..”.
To the bitterest entropy - it’s the sweetest revenge
hello darkness, my old buddy, pleased to meet you again.
It’s 60’s peace and pretense. deep in weeds and free sex.
at sixteen, we walked the valley just to pique an interest.
dissecting dim dichotomy between figments and friends
Friday night’s charades of youth - sometimes it’s fun to pretend
Function? Defense; Entertaining plight of a soloist
who’s lack in social grace-fully fight just to fit into trends
spirits of greatness - playlists are bricks in the wall
Pink and purple rain drops - my drizzled dictions of Fall
constricting richest - appalled! detecting deep disturbance
rotten. soiled. problems boil down beneath the surface
Heeding words of Ms Ian : “music is captured perspective”
not just 'aesthetic' per se, but more as gathered objective.
Such as laughters and sentiments
trapped in a pessimistic chapter that never ends
i’m visiting friends
enter da stage take a Bowie - ‘Oh i’ll see you again!’
Maybe a hotel on a dark desert highway?
Or Hell House of the fall of Usher - Going My way?
Led poison Zeppelin left without a Quarter for fair
A choice. The stare. listen, we'll talk when I'm there
I'm at the club for 50 cents...
Sometimes it's fun to pretend.
Momma asked "Where are you?"
Told her "I'm visiting friends".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe0n5mqkf6c



A WORD WITH THE KING- PART II.... INK DISCUSSION


King Keith: First off, introduce yourself to our wonderful readers.

Ink: Wsup!! It's Ink aka. Mr. If-You-Beat-Me-Its-Cause-I-Didnt-Try.

King Keith: Is that really the case? Or that's your way of keeping making your opponents feel worthless?

Ink: Haha nah.. Well time is always a factor, and sometimes I don't have enough of it to give a decent verse.. But I do try to give a good showing each week out, out of respect for my opponents.

King Keith: I hear you on that. So how long have you been involved in topicals & writing in general?

Ink: I first started writing when I was 11 or 12... I took a hiatus of a couple years and came back to it at 16 or so... I joined aznraps at that time.. This was a few years after Jin Tha MC blew up, so the sites traffic wasn't as crazy as it used to be, but it was still pretty active. From there I just did my own thing until I joined RSTL.. and now I'm here. I spent most of that time just really finding myself and my style... now I'm at a pretty comfortable place in terms of my writing identity.

King Keith: The competition has been getting increasingly tough as the weeks move on. You've had 3 matches so far. What's your take on the level of competition & the league overall?

Ink: This has been the most impressive league by far. The competition here is far better and everything is just running really well right now. Props to all the mods, and even to the other writers for taking care of their voting. Everyone needs to contribute in order for text leagues to thrive and it's great to see that here.

King Keith: No doubt. So this week you're up against c.d.m. I believe you both have dropped already as we speak. Nonetheless, riding this 2 match win streak, how do you feel about your match?

Ink: Man, talk about having to be political in my response here haha... Well it's two different approaches.. c.d.m. came at it with a very factual "this is my message and i'm going to fucking tell it" approach.. I took a less direct storytelling approach.. I would say I feel fairly confident about the outcome. And he probably does too. So we'll see when the voting closes.

King Keith: Should be a good one. I won't be able to read it until after this mag is posted later tonight. Which match ups do you have your eye on this week & any predictions you have?

Ink: Hmm.. There are a few that particularly peak my interest:

Zygote vs Adonis: There are a few artists where.. when I read their material, I feel like we drink from the same river... Adonis recently radared as one of those people, so I'm looking to see what he drops this week. He's been on a streak and I think he'll continue it this week.

Cakecakecake vs. Nigma: I'm watching this one, mostly because I'm curious to see what Cake has... He's noshowed for all I can remember, but it sounds like he packs a serious punch when he wants to.

Split vs. Bent: I'm a fan of Bent's style, we wouldn't be in the same crew if I wasn't.. Split is nice, but I don't think he'll overcome Bent this week. Actually, I don't want Bent to lose until we match up again so I can exact revenge lol

Frank vs. Red Glare: It's the championship match, so I gotta keep an eye on it. I'm leaning towards Frank taking the win to face Adonis next week.

CK vs. King Keith: For the same reason I'll be watching Bent's battle.. CK is a monster, and he's going to eat this week.

I haven't seen any of Exoduzt's work either, so I'm a bit intrigued by what he'll bring to the battle this week.

King Keith: Nice lil snippet there. Do you feel you have a shot in these final 6 weeks to hold the title? And how are you feeling about your chances of making the playoffs?

Ink: Hmm... It's hard to say. I know I'll have to sign out for a week for a trip.. So that leaves me five weeks.. They're both possibilities I would say, especially the playoffs, but they're not things I'm particularly striving for... I use the league more as something to keep me writing weekly and I'm satisfied as long as I can keep that up.. My real goal is to get something published.

King Keith: Wow. That's something you don't hear much. What exactly are you trying to get published?

Ink: A book of my material... Some of them are perfected versions of verses I wrote for leagues like this one... Most of them are never released stuff.. As of now, it's going to revolve around the concept of little moments and everyday items.

King Keith: I wish you the best of luck with that man. Well that concludes our discussion for this weeks mag. Any shout outs, fuck yous or thoughts you'd like to share, spill it.

Ink: Shout outs to Nom. Cause he needs to get his ass over here to complete the trifecta. And CK you still owe me a match! Good luck to everyone this week, let's see some HOF worthy verses. And I don't mean by BrassBody standards.

King Keith: Lmao.





Well this marks the end of another edition of the AOWL magazine. Once again, I apologize for the delay & I promise the coming magazines will be posted much earlier & more in-depth. 6 more weeks til the playoffs & this league continues to develop & grow when others are barely scratching the surface. So a big big shout out to all competitors for keeping this league alive. Let's continue to do the damn thing. Shout out to Adonis for the No Show Love breakdowns this week. Shout out to Cereal_Killa & Ink for the interviews. Be on the look out for Split's midseason competitor breakdowns. Also look out for the Power Rankings update & next weeks topic preview. This the King signing out. Holler.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwqSuEEn4vI