AOWL MAG WEEK 6: Midseason Review

[Split]

Midseason Assessment and Highlights


Well folks, it has been a very interesting few weeks here at the AOWL. Our inaugural season really kicked off with a bang, with high interest and an even higher member count. While my attention was mostly focused on the Open Mic at AOB for the first few weeks after the site's inception, it became clear that a Writer's League was necessary to the OM's growth and to recruiting new textcees.

We've had our ups and downs- from the incredibly strong Week 3 to the disappointing and magazineless Week 5. A few writers have gone missing and a few are just coming into our league, but it's clear that the AOWL is only growing stronger. Props yo. So, special treat, I've gone back and ranked *my* the most memorable matches.

HIGHLIGHTS


5. Week 2: Camp Bell vs. Genocide
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...OCIDE-WINS-5-4
@Camp Bell
Dope match-up here that showed Camp Bell can throw hands with the vets, coming down to the 5-4 wire in favor of Genocide. A great read from a veteran and a newcomer.


4. Week 4: IamBenT vs. Ink
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...MBENT-WINS-5-2
@Ink @IamBenT
A match-up from two fresh faces from the ISTL, this week 4 battle impressed voters around the league, and was one hell of a welcome battle.


3. Week 5: Witty vs. nO gOoD!
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...OPEN-FOR-VOTES!!!
@Witty @nO gOoD!
while nO gOoD! likes to play the "Im not that great card", both wrote excellent stories in a fine display of multisyllable rhyming and emotional foreshadowing. Another match between young and old (relative to writing history), and absolutely worth peeping my Gs.


2. Week 2: Mike Wrecka vs. Frank
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...FRANK-WINS-9-1
@Mike Wrecka
This was a lot closer than votes dictated, and both dropped fantastically original takes on the topic. Watch and learn folks.

1. Week 1: dead man vs. c.d.m
http://artofbattling.com/forum/showt...D-MAN-WINS-9-0
@dead man @c.d.m.
Can't tell you guys how much I liked this match. Most of us at the time were unfamiliar with both/ did not know their respective aliases, so this match really blew up out of the woodworks like a 15 megaton bomb. Dead Man won, but both established themselves as contenders in the AOWL's long haul, as well as perhaps dropping one of the best battles thus far in the league.

Midseason Writer Power Ranks


This is independent of the actual "Power Ranks" stickied in the forum, this is my assessment of the AOWL's 8 members who I BELIEVE are most likely to nab a spot in AOWL's 8-man Playoffs, regardless of record.

8. Vinzr
-Can you say "Consistent"? You can't argue with a winning record. Vinzr as of now has a perfect one, and never struggles with punctuality. Not too many spotlight matches as of yet, but don't doubt his ability to put up. win or lose this week, Im betting he makes it over more-established but less-consistent textcees.

7. ZenLand
-Zen is going places. Notably the playoffs.

6. dead man
-occasionally less than active, always manages to snag a spot regardless. also has been nice with it all season.

5. Kuja
- Kuja's got the walk to talk his talk, yo. Doesn't quite have the record, I still think he will

4. Zygote
-Zygote avoids no-showing by writing immediately when he sees the topic. Not only is this an incredibly effective scare tactic, but it also is an efficient way to keep his foot in the door. In an interview in Netcees' Writing League I think I said "the best way to earn a spot in the Playoffs is to write every week, no matter what", and despite being an unpolished writer I managed to do exactly that. Zygote will make it, mark my words.

3. Mike Wrecka
-A strong contender who has not been given his dues, Wrecka's been hot on the trail to the throne since week 1, and it's a matter of time before he gets a crack at it. Despite taking losses at some inopportune times, I see no reason why he wouldn't be a shoe-in for our top 8.

2. Pohfig
-no doubt Pohfig is a force to be reckoned with. When he wants to champ a league, he seemingly always does (check out this week's Interview with Adonis). And it appears he'd like to champ this one.

1. Frank
-Frank, our current champ, has shown more dedication and enthusiasm to this league than I've ever seen from him. Not putting him at the number one spot would be foolish considering his record and his dedication. Undefeated.



note: if I was going by potential alone, this list would be completely different.



OM Feature #3: "The Cold.", Whys Ways

Originally Posted by Whys Ways

Quadriplegics playing hot-cross Jesus
w/hop scotch genies, leap frogging demons
I'll eat your tots, teeter tottering thesis
Over a water logged allegiance of dry humor
Why you stare at my eye tumors? Wise loser
Nostrils can't catch the brute-ness I've fumed up
Remember us on your couch, mind's shroom-fucked
Nothing on, whilst our tongues down each other's tonsils
This is for the run-away points of a hundred convos
The war stricken environment of our beloved condo
Peep this chaos I'm melting in- day job of skeletons
Demoralizing oral hybrids hang off w/gelatin
Baller's blood boils to get the weight off then sell again
Tv clicker tour guiding our brain washed intelligence
My mind on vibrate as the skull shake
Was running outta steam then the cigs stole pace
Was going too slow to even pull brakes
Wasn't nothing to show for on this full plate
Whole weight nothing, Atlas, roll blades
Whole lot'a nothing going on behind this dull face
Been in this old cage, digging like mole caves
Don't matter what the toll say. Watch the coals blaze
As I burn bridges to stay warm on cold days
You must be retarded if you think I'ma fold ace
Garage shut- I like to sing
Rev the car up & die w/me,
..like the start of HotTub Time Machine
The stars just shine for me
I'm prank calling the hospital, insane golem
A-bombing as my Brain's thawing
Yo I hang-office space, talking in tank crossings
Blaze chronic in plane cock pits
This is to those Heath Ledgers trying to sleep better
The grief getters, scraping hearts on cheese shredders
Release setter, staining blood within each letter
At peace? Never.. This the cold.. Why you keep sweaters
The past? i pet it & nurture- blank out.. edited version
Lost my precious, that regrettable perfect
Can't even remember when my head isn't hurting
The moment our eyes touched was a special occurrence
Used to do shit to you while you slept like a medical surgeon

Cypher Post of the Week

Originally Posted by Figurative

Self inscripting artist, I'm a walking eisel.
A mind that traffics graphics to the static canvas that I often think to.
Dip my tongue into the photogenic essence
That i swing relentlessly at all the senses of my common people.
The cruelest evil came a creepin, left me image-less,
fusing in my pallet; mixing colors for my bristles tip.
Imagination set and established in steaks of gray,
forced to recreate this physical plane i can't envision with.
Amidst the hardship, the brush stroke strikes the plight of my mind.
My art sharpens in the heart of a stark darkness.
A carcass of work, fights to find an eye for an eye.
Exploiting life: these lands of milk and honey are harsh arctics.
100 trillion photo receptors, crafted in the cosmos,
and not one can bend any light the planets swallow.
Cynically diss existence that can turn on you rapidly.
Know these lands in their majesty's a mirage you can't actually see.

The Eightly Show
Welcome, to the 3rd ever edition of The Eightly Show, with your host Split Eight!


This week we'll be featuring league contestant Adonis!

Sup my man.
=Chillin, just voted on the Zygote/Frank champ match...good shit.

Alright, so to start off with some background.. your home site is ProjectRhyme, yea? How long have you been writing and when did you begin?
=Nah, actually B-boys was my homesite and it crashed. Then like everyone else from bboys we eventually wound up @ProjectRhyme and took it over. I only write for leagues, so I been writing for like 12 years but I maybe write 20 verses a year at the most including 7 years off in the middle.

Did you choose your name because of your alleged sexiness?
=Haha, indeed I did. Also my name is Adan, pronounced "A Don" so that too. But I will post a pic, on phone now and don't got it.

In your opinion, what is the greatest strength and greatest weakness in your writing?
=Greatest strength is diversity with topics. I pride my self on being able to write about anything. Greatest weakness has been flow. Although that's what PR says, I say my greatest weakness is writing like I rap.

What was your opinion of the experimental topics last week? Any type of topic you'd like to see us try?
=I loved the beat thing, actually that's the only reason I came here. I got wind of it and never heard of anything like it, so yeah, here I am. I've been collecting images of book covers with dope titles or covers and would love that. Also the quotes this week is cool. I got many ideas won't bore you now. Later

**Editor's Note: strongly considering the book cover idea, please send topic suggestions to my PM Box! :) **

On a similar note... how do you feel about the way the league's being run so far this season, and is there anything you'd change?
=I've been here a week so IDK to be honest. I would change my record to 10-0 if I could change anything though.

You won last week with a decisive 7-0 victory, how do you feel about your matchup this week with Mike Wrecka?
=Yeah, 7-0 is unheard of in any league so I'm proud of that. I love the verse I wrote this week. I posted too soon, wish I wated for minor touch up as well as not enabling my opponent to play to my weaknesses in said verse.

Any predictions on how the Champ match will swing? Anyone you think is a threat to champ the league, that others may be downplaying?
=Just voted, so won't sway. Pohfig is a truly elite writer and if he wants can win any league at any time. Also Blacketh, forget his name here. But dude is ill. Don't know anyone else.

Explain to me in exactly six words why bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks.
=Fucking, sucking...taking dicks, only. Big??

You can change any celebrity's voicemail message to anything you want. Whose is it and what do you change it to?
=Lil Wayne...he's supposedly on his death bed right now, I don't believe it but, it would be....weezy F baby, I'm fucking Baby...yes homo...I swear he's bye.

Boat shoes are for faggots. Discuss.
=Nah, I live in killa Kali. Boat shoes is the new trend. You ain't cool, unless you pull a hoe in boat shoes.

THANX FOR THE INTERVIEW. any closing comments or shout outs?
=I have hiigh hope and want to be the end of season champion...so you, behind the computer screen. Remember. VOTE FOR ADONIS!!!

No Show Love
**COMING AFTER DINNER CUS THE DINING HALL CLOSES AT 7 SORRY**

Closing Thoughts


Thus concludes the Midseason Review edition of the AOWL Magazine. Hope you liked it. Next week will feature round two of writer bios... and that's all I can tell you. Good luck with your matches!
SPLIT OUT