Art of Writing League Magazine [THE PRESEASON EDITION].

[King Ra.]

Writer Biographies
(Split)


dead man
Ah yes, the venerable Blacketh. Black is the closest thing to a legend in the modern topical scene... this is no baseless evaluation, for I have literally never been to a league who does not know of Black. When it comes to lyricism, Black has an incredibly distinctive style that many a new writer have attempted to emulate but none have reproduced. With abstract concepts seemingly drawn from the topical writers' collective conscience, refined and reforged into a meaningful quote- then displayed in a cockily academic tone with carefully constructed flow, Black is a force to be reckoned with.

Originally Posted by Black 2.0

set in your ways. backhanded compliments, the negative praise
sketch a Monet interpretation - never having put a pencil to page
pressing erase everyday for motivation to play
found love a couple times, just to chase it away
it wasn't in a hopeless place. it was close and immediate
accompanied by distance and a host of inebriates.

Bleak
Bleak is not a newbie to the topical scene, but has not been competing regularly and may be rusty. He's still developing his style and getting his feet under him. His pieces are characterized by subtly surreal concepts and metaphors, smooth flow that places emphasis on end rhymes like many text-battlers. Sometimes his wording comes across as inelegant and forced, but also has the capacity to write poignant quotables. I would say people have a tendency to sleep on him in both topicals and battle verses.

Originally Posted by bleak

He lays at night and thinks of when the days were bright and vivid.
But thanks his stars for dank and bars, and God for lights he's given.
Answers to the question surface, without the heart to believe sense.
With faith in her he'll lose the way.
Instead he hides the spite that bites like sharks through the pretense.

Witty
What can be said about Witty? Another writer with talent who has spent the time to hone his talent and style. His style's marked by multis abound, a strong writing voice and carefully built stories- not to mention almost zero filler in his verses. Witty reminds me a lot of Eyedea. Sometimes his writing lacks clever metaphors or flips, but his style more than makes up for it. Witty I believe has beat almost every writer he's come up against at least once (in SV). Multiple leagues champed, somewhere around 20 OM HOF's, Witty's skills are undeniable. Witty struggled in Netcee's topical league, but I think it's due to being unused to be forced into a single choice for his topic. Should this league garner his attention, his record will show it.

Originally Posted by Witty

Inside each of the S.W.A.T trucks, they’re pleading for God’s luck
To bless their weapons, and make this demon come unstuck
Reaching their destination, they’re ordered to man their stations
Circling the house, they have to wait for instructions and practice patience
Not making a noise, they’re standing in place and they’re poised
As they kick the door down, and find him in the basement; destroyed

Innovator
Innovator is a very poetically inclined writer, able to interlace imagery with concepts and develop a piece succinctly. Most distinct thing to me is how appealing his language is. Sometimes his wording struggles, his grammar always struggles. However there's no doubt his developed drops are nothing to fuck around with. Innovator will probably be slept on and will probably turn a lot of upsets this season.

Originally Posted by Innovator

the people die by the dozen the gods have forsaken
us and we are taken by this haven of baren pavement
the only thing flowing is the blood as it courses through
the city's diseased vains as it grieves at the grim truth

Coup
Coup is a writer from RM I believe, where he did rather well for himself.. a lot of champ matches and a lot of contender matches. his writing is chock full of imagery and has a very creative take on topics in general. A lot of religious undercurrents in his verses but it works to his advantage. Strong concepts from what ive seen. He has a developed flow and will surely be a contender in this league, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Coup

Flat on my ass I look and see bats
I also note clouds cycle, sky wings
Flying in rains to drown something
Dense drops tap-dance my tongue
Reacting like acid, fizzing that blood
I burn and then remember once was
The rain, that water, that flash flood

Orc
Orc is widely known as one of the best modern text battlers, but got his start way back when in topicals as ..Hades! It'll be interesting to see how he makes his reappearance in topicals, but looking at his old work, he has strong metaphors and emotion. His years of refining his wording will help.

Originally Posted by Orc

..a poor bastard - my soul is surely damned
life is a journey, man.. and a journeyman must turn master.
apprentice of naivety, believe in me?
I WISH I COULD HAVE LEARNED FASTER!

Kuja
Kuja hails from RM, too. I've read a few of his verses and am very impressed with his storytelling skills... lyrically solid, but the storytelling and creativity of his verses are what really stand out to me, something a four line preview can barely capture. Looking forward to seeing his battles.

Originally Posted by Kuja

His ribcage beating as his heart inside carried on pounding
Peters mind was running around like a figure of eight
As every rational thought he had, started to silther away
Then the stench hit him, the smell of decay, rotting flesh
In a basement of some sort, maggot ridden, a hellish creche
He turned to his left, laid dying was the old man he had met
'this is the end, my young friend' he muttered under his breath
'We are the recipe, broken teeth & bits of bone mixed in with seeds
It seems Crow knows deep down what birds truely like to eat'
Peters was never seen again, what had happened no one was certain
A postcard arrived...
'Feeding the birds makes me feel like a better person'

HelloKitty
NYCSPITZ, a highly acclaimed topical writer who I truly know nothing about except he fiends after females of all kind in all places, and is not so good at chess. I remember a few of his verses from NC's, and while he no-showed a lot, he also dropped bombs. His verses are highly polished and he could champ the league early if he stays focused (doubtful). His style is a combination of multis, strong imagery, and nuanced plot advancement through strong statements. PancakeBrah still gets wet thinking about his win over HelloKitty. He is also no longer undefeated in rap forums chess, so now he has something to prove.

Originally Posted by HelloKitty

Suspended by invisible strings, firey roar merges with icy hiss
Sen-Shun's soul reflects in those black holes, the night's abyss
From below he climbs, hearing wooden sandal's unlikely clicks
...infinite moments where the paradox of time exists
He ascends - sensing third eye blocked he clenches mighty fists

Split Eight
he has glasses. unoriginal, unstylistic, lacking direction and lyrically weak. his style is a pathetic imitation of an authentic writer every week, with precocious rhyme schemes mixed in. may god have mercy on his halfling soul.

Originally Posted by Split

nothing

Matriarch
Matriarch a.k.a. HarMonica is fresh to NC's/ AOB's but either has been writing already or has a lot of talent. She has excellent control over metaphors, subtle wordplay that permeates her verse and often is thematically linked, and recently adopting imagery that grounds her abstract themes and makes them easier to digest. Also, as Cake noted, actually pays attention to punctuation- one of the best tools in the topical trade IMO. One of the best newcomers in the last year, I'd say. excited to see how she'll do, if she decides to show up. Boston WHATTUP.

Originally Posted by Matriarch

Lilith longing for equality’s a coarse display
deemed a demon just for reasoning the Lord’s way
sons of atom and evolution sent to month of may
- to be tempted by the jezebels of present day

Rayge
Rayge has dropped solid flex pieces before, he struggles with wording sometimes but has good concepts. I have never seen one of his topicals before, he could do well given his quick elevation in text battling.



Malachi
Malachi is very young but shows great lyrical potential, especially for being like 11. He's improved rapidly, and should he sticks around he'll elevate even more. According to Black, he should "not let these rap forums change him". DONT LISTEN PROPHET. CONFORM.

Originally Posted by Malachi

Disaster strikes when I bust a rhyme
A bastard that don't fit the paradigm of teen's mind at this time
Rapping black magic with passion
Temper tantrum with my six handguns

Objective
Objective is nice with it. He did well in the NWL during its existence. He has strong lyrical abilities and his storytelling is crisp. I wish I remembered his name on his other site so I could pull a quote that would do him justice

Originally Posted by Objective

That I went out on town and got blackouts from roofies.
The wack scouts the devil sent is camouflaged in booties,
I keep my eyes on em, but they still fuck me over for duties.
The reason I don't believe in cuties; *fuck sluts and watch a couple of movies.*

Rawnold MacDonald
MacNazi. Infamous. Quickserve Perfected. BlitzServe. Eating a blooming onion while paragliding down K2 being pursued by SAS heat-seeking drones for shipping homemade-genetically-modified ki's into the states through his Six-Sigma Blackbelt Kenyan connect, whom he ghostwrites battle verses for. These are some things synonymous with Rawnold McFondled.
Rawn is lyrical but also really wants to seem smart while flexing his street smarts. When you can get past these things, his verses are enjoyable and schemed particularly well. His tone is indeed academic yet real. He can win some matches on storytelling alone, but hates 'poetry bullshit', i can see topics working against him, because he hates every topic or verse i've ever given him.

Originally Posted by Rawn

I'm the Torah's horror, the Quran's quandary and bible's rival
a genesis as a testament to the book of revelations embracing Baal's revival
Salem's own angel dust addict doing tetrodetoxin black magic

ZenLand
An Open Mic upstart, ZenLand has character. Still developing a style, yet already has distinctive flair. His topics are well chosen and havea fresh approach, some of his individual lines could use some polish. He could be a sleeper success.

Originally Posted by ZenLand

To smash the courage of Heaven's sects by crashin churches
No time to yearn the loss cuz I'm burnin mosques and turnin the cross
On it's head, God is dead, It's time for the return of the boss
No more words thats false or being concerned with loss

Camp Bell
Camp Bell is another Open Mic frequenter who is heavily slept on. Fresh metaphors, fresh scheming, and doesn't bend his writing to please his viewers. If he can get used to being forced into writing for a topic and crafting a story he could be a rookie contender.

Originally Posted by Camp Bell

my tightened threads and ignorant rhythms, enlighten heads
a tyrant in the building, tyson's intuition, biting is for bitches
i'm fighting for my right to vibe in vents at lined event billings
blowing lime that hit ya mind then shits silly, pine in sin city
vice in my grip, its not in likeness of chris, i'm into gift giving

Mike Wrecka
Mike Wrecka/ Mic Wrecka, dudes been around for a minute. I remember him coming out of nowhere in the last few weeks of the NWL's existence and instantly shaking the rust off, dude's got nasty flow. KEEP THE SCHEME RUNNING B

Originally Posted by Mike Wrecka

a ruthless alliance, that's incredibly gifted,
deleting documents till u never existed/
we are a phantom menace, with sinister motives,
using various methods, to deliver explosives/
resistance is hopeless I can trigger hypnosis,
causing amnesia that exceeds the usual dosage/

cakecakecake
The brahest of pancakes. Very nonformulaic lines and dope wording, his hipster music influences affect his writing as well. IDIOTTTT was one of my favorite Open Mic pieces ive read. He excels especially in storyelling. he'll do really well if he can motivate himself to write, he can contend with heavyweights.

Originally Posted by PancakeBrah

And I see the reach of the road, from here, the base of the trail.
Baseless and bare, barren and broke.
And my face’ll just stare trying to repair it with hope, trust, and gold dust panned.
Like verses carefully wrote as comparative notes in my cold, clutched hands.

Genocide
Adolf Spitler, seasoned Open Mic veteran who has been around since text was born. Pretty much literally. Nothing more to say, incredible versatile writer. keeps it real.

Originally Posted by Genocide

I've had it and scarred, but running away can be as bad as them bars
Have you people ever actually sparred, or fought for your life?
I've overdosed once, woke up in the hospital twice
Or we can talk about the stores I've robbed to suffice
Christ, did it just to go and cop another shot of my vice

Nigma
Nigma, too, has been around for a good bit.. masterful at flexes and highly competent at storytelling. Nigma uses heavy metaphors and allegories as well as a natural, unique rhyming structuree to embellish his verses.

Originally Posted by Nigma

Blood and gore in my hand, squish a batch to pour on the canvas
Typin lines that form into gashes like backs hit with 400 lashes
My minds a sword or an axe in the hands of a Nord as he crashes to war
In the battle, I'm thwarting your plans using Morrowind tactics
Fact is I'm torn between a thirst for grey I claim is my worst of traits
I'm still ill as cursed plague, you pricks as sick as a cure for AIDs

Mr. Sinister
I do not know Mr.Sinister other than that people who've been around a long time remember me. His drops in the OM have been respectable, I don't know enough to pick apart his writing or anything. he's got good form.

Originally Posted by Mr.Sinister

Angel eyes analyze any artillery I author
While demonic thoughts lap my brain translating to a scorcher
Somewhat a hoarder... half the room's flowers, the others corpses
Heart of a lion, scientists' mind, lower half like a horses'
Shameful of my sins while simultaneously selling sour
Smoke combined with the layer in the air from metal showers

Tyson
Tyson is underrated. Scheming issues aside, dude has some good writing. He recently won a tight battle against Genocide in the BA. Tyson conveys ideas with ease and usually surprises competitors with on point rhymes and imagery.

Originally Posted by Tyson

At one point it was important to be the crude soldier I was
Now the war is over and I'm expected to resume morning folgers with love
They set fire to my dreams now I'm suppose to bloom roses and hugs
I shrug at that expectation drugs calm that ex fixation
Fuck who provided the inclination that its ok to sacrifice my soul for a nation

Frank
Frank is an enigmatic writer who can approach a topic entirely backwards and still come out with a dope verse. Solid rhyming to back great characterization and emotional range. Frank better show.

Originally Posted by Frank

The fog from the leafs causes a serene revolving Miserere..
Repeated life sentence we resolve sinner sinning sprees like reward beneficiaries
Living in the Lawn like honey I shrunk the kids - dwarf the imagery
Going to war with a blades of grass, cutting the head off a centipede
Hiding like a recluse reappearing confused in a spinners seize
The bank wouldn't reapprove me cause my bong cost was in the G's
Readjustment on the mortgage forged - double-crossing T's

Dystopian
Don't know him. Hasn't checked or dropped a verse anywhere.

The Eightly Show

Welcome, friends! to the increasingly posted, amateur-critically acclaimed interview sessions with your completely original Split Eight!
----------
>Sup Camp Bell, how've you been?

im good fam, cant complain. just watching meth videos on youtube (dont ask! lol)


>Fantastic! So, I vaguely remember you being on Netcees, but is it your home site? How long you been writing?
my very first site ever was letsbeef.com then goldmic, which i loved. so that would be it. i always saw text as a fun hobby, so its been on/off with me as far as writing goes


>Any major influences on your writing, music or writers?
id just have to say my fellow textcees and everyday shit we go through as people inspire me


>What do you think your strengths And weaknesses as a writer are?
my strength would have to be rhyming. weakness is consistency and patience, i have no patience to sit down and put deep thought into a piece, which is why my concepts are saw as being all over at times.

>Who do you see as contenders to champ the league early in the season?
it may be a surprise but zen and rawn are both cold in there own way, id like to see how far one of them make it. although im humble, once i heat up, id like to see myself be champed..who knows tho, theres alot of talent, may the best man win

>Any writers you want to collab with?
aww man...hell yea, im really into the flex/swag and flow type drops, so a collab with me, dull boy and Orc would hit IMO, i think i could hang with the both of them if i really put my foot into it, Nice also. theres mad people id love to work with really, those just are the standouts


>Have you ever competed in a topical league before?
umm, nah. this is my first, i almost didnt think i could do it but i need to challenge myself to get better which is the ultimate goal, i also want to branch out from just silly rhyme drops all the time

>How do you feel about your topic this week?
LOL. at first i was like "this dude tripping" then as i got high and stared at the pic, i just started writing what came to mind. the interesting thing about this is, its no right or wrong way. its really how we see the pic and what it represents. i think yall will like the direction i went tho

>Any dope battles this week?
ehh, the joe boston vs hollywood is hot right now. i think joe will take that when its all said and done

>You're cornered by a deranged serial killer. You can use one weapon from pop culture to defend yourself.. what is it?
maaan, id use siri to summon chief keef and the goons....GANGNAM STYLE!


>LMAO A FEEBLE ATTEMPT AT BEST. The killer snaps your arm like a sapling! Final words on this planet?
...am i being punk'd?!

>If you got paid $50/hour would you be a Gap model? Btw all ur friends would know about it
Gap, FUBU and U.S. Polo Association son!

>Awesome. Thanks for the interview, got any shout outs/ closing comments?
word, thanks for the opportunity. S/O to that bitch in figurative's Gif...hey boo! S/O to you for your work on the site and closing comments? "i dont usually go out like this but when i do, its with a bang......Stay Thirsty, My Friends"