2 minute maximum length
Vocalist may not use any forms of "to be"
(be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been)
No Punch Ins
(each verse must be in one take)
No Adlibs

Producer must source and feature prominently the sounds of nature
(sounds can be sourced or sampled)
Producer may only sample "Amen Brother" by The Winstons
(no other external music samples may be used)

Artwork Challenge (for fun):
MS Paint style art only!

VPC7 Round Three - Message In A Bottle

VPC7 R3: Message in a Bottle (Top to Bottom)

VPC7 ALL TRACKS

VPC 7

(Chorus)
Trombones versus Tetris guess Sirtet is,
Lighting up the flames when you least expect it,
ExtraDial just adds to the pile,
I guess Fireproof is gonna burn for a while, 'cause it's lit
Who's next spit, next to make a hit,
Next to flow so hard, I wanna quit?
Maybe next week we'll be prepared,
This is it now, don't get scared!

Dropping bars for round zero, Chip and Tune heroes
Raging at the bull like we're Robert DeNiros,
I fear though, it's overcoming my soul, I'm not whole,
The mask I wear is slowly taking control

I'm angrier than MC Chris, I clench my fists,
But take a deep breath before I throw my fits,
I have to fight against the rage so I write against the page,
Lacking wisdom of a sage at my age

My lyrical ability is killing me,
The agility with which I free a soliloquy
Vehemently is flabbergasting, astounding,
But I'm still trying to perfect how the heck it's sounding

So give it a listen or give it a like,
Give it a wavering thumbs up if you think it's alright,
I can take a diss even it is backhanded,
But please use vowels, or I won't understand it

Chorus

My name is AJB, but you can call me Tune,
I am a wordsmith DJ that'll make you swoon,
I'm crazy as a tack, but as sharp as a loon,
Ask Josh, there's none like me, whoops too soon!

A rune in the rough, a diamond in the dust,
With a new kid on the beat for when the gods have rusted,
Pumping out a round zero as fast as we can
With the chip hop to rip off Mega Ran

Let me introduce, Chip, Alex is free,
The youngest kid here with the oldest emcee,
You better say your prayers, no seriously,
He needs your help 'cause he's def getting none from me

Glad to see Whitney's Keurig is on it's way,
I'm sick of Ax's and Ryan's will they, won't they,
This is gonna be a disaster, but laughter,
Is the best medicine, if it sucks, rap faster

Chorus

I'm sorry, where am I? What the heck was I doing?
I'm in a room full of talent, I've got nothing to prove them,
Win or lose, and I can't be choosey,
But I can still cry on my couch in a coozzy

I don't talk trash, I just take it out,
Literally, it's getting kind of full at my house,
I won't burn a bridge, bet, that's the worst regret,
No strangers, just nerds that I have met yet

When I lay down my raps it's just simple math
I grab the mic, then I cut the competition in half,
And by competition I mean crowd,
Turning up the bass 'cause I'm lonely, it might get loud

I fall apart at the top, break apart in the middle,
But I've got Alex's beat to stand on a little,
If this ditty doesn't do it for ya, shoot, than I'll fiddle
With Justin Curry's violin and try again

Chorus

We're done 'til round one, so we'll see ya,
The rest of this song is just onomatopoeias,
Pop-pow, ka-chow, crash, whack, ka-chang,
Boom, beep, zap, whipoorwill, biff, buzz, bloop

VPC 7 Round 0

Chip & Tune Res-Q Rangers [AJB, Alex is Free] - This Is It Now, Don't Get Scared

Fandom: Gunstar Heroes 
Character: Gunstar Yellow

Fixed shot or free shot, I'll pull you outta that tight spot,
What I've got is skills to pay the bills, never much for that time cop
Stuff, my family more does than enough to keep our planet safe,
Of course I'm sure that's what they said about Gunstars 1 through 8

In the Gameboy Advance, I got my second chance,
The Third Eye is semi-charmed, we got super-powers and loaded arms,
So we're bringing harm to the empire, chaser lightning and force fire,
General Grey better retire, we inspire that haywire

Doc Brown runs the weapons, and I run the jewels,
And by jewels, I mean gems, so please don't be confused
I assist Red & Blue through each map and each level,
I'm in the details, guess that makes me the devil

I'm the pilot, call me the captain, feeling pretty under control until it happens,
We sneak up behind you, ZAP! Then everything goes dark with your tracking,
I'm back in to navigating my heartbeat is palpitating,
That start button could start something but you don't want nothing!

(Chorus)
We are the future, we are the super, so raise your glass here's to the blast, Gunstar Heroes
We are are the cavalry, we are primary, so place your bets, we are what's left, Gunstar Heroes

Maria Hill of the 3YE, if you need help can count on me,
Got my headset so you best bet that my threat level is dead red,
I'm one part Bulma, two parts Sailor Mercury,
Don't let my big eyes fools ya. I'll tear you limb from limb mercilessly

My sibling is gender fluid, non-binary so I've included
Their pronouns as they/them/theirs, Red is so debonair,
And my boy Blue is killing it with that sweatband, I'm feeling it,
If you take it off I'm stealing it, won't get it back so deal with it

My oldest brother was lost, he saved the world, but at what cost,
The price he paid was his life, he made the ultimate sacrifice,
Feeling like he betrayed us he killed the God who enslaved us,
Blew up his mech just to save us, so respect the peace he gave us

That giant boom made four new moons, five whoops I spoke too soon,
Each holds a gem tight, but the fifth doesn't look right,
That's no small moon, not tonight, it's the Empire's satellite,
So let's do what we do best: FIGHT!

Chorus

VPC 7 Round 1

Chip & Tune Res-Q Rangers [AJB, Alex is Free] - Gunstar Yellow

Fandom: Harry Potter
Character: The Sorting Hat

This one goes out to my man Robert Galbraith. 
Sorting gang. We're the worst. 

[chorus] x2
If I can sort you in then I can sort you out. 
You couldn't thwart all the things that I've brought about. 
How did Lord Voldemort find supportive crowds? 
See, you're taught to be naughty in the naughty house. 

[verse 1]
I set the wheels in motion. I sense your real emotions 
and send you reeling into the field I've chosen. 
Perchance evil potions, deeds of deep revulsion. 
I'll achieve my goals as long as I meet the quotient. 
I'm not even coaching, just picking the teams 
and filling Slytherin with all of the shittiest tweens. 
These kids will be in smithereens and no one intervenes. 
My little scheme tickles me till I split at the seams. 
And Dumbledore... 
Did you think that dumdum just stumbled through the door? 
Or got that gig on merits? Like being careless 
and looking away when children perish 
in perilous scenarios? Or get very close to some scary ghost 
with varicose veins and hairy toes, wearing burial clothes? 
I put him in with confidence 
that I would find the odd use for his obtuse incompetence. 

[chorus] x2

[verse 2]
Who divides and conquers spies and plonkers? 
'Tis I, the bonnet. "And why? It's wrong?" 'Cause I'm just bonkers. 
My best sponsors are mindless wanderers, 
floundering onwards unaware of what unkindness conjures. 
Blind, unconscious, while I write destinies 
and set trajectories. Yes I'm a hat, but I pick the accessories. 
Expressed unease, rest in peace. No one suspects a headpiece, 
but I've got the future all laid out in excel spreadsheets. 
Deadbeats and death eaters make up my faculty 
I pick the children like fruit off an apple tree. 
The alchemy of apathy as I essentialize, 
categorize and emphasize the differential lines. 
Never empathize. Just spread empty lies like how Mars and Venus, 
and vulvas, ovaries, balls and penis 
share an important link, and other sordid things. 
It's a boring kink, I know, but I sort of think...

[chorus]

[outro variant]
If I can sort you in then I can sort you out. 
You couldn't thwart all the things that I've brought about. 
How did Joanne Rowling find supportive crowds? 
See, you're taught to be naughty...

.5 Quartet [Vincent E.L., Ardamus] - Sort You Out

Genre: Role Playing Game
Screen: Character Creation
V Slot: Zolt Energy Serum (Doubletime)
P Slot: Forbit's De-Scronkitizer (Chiptune)

Picture you in some high tops, high heals, Reebok,
Tennis shoes, ten issues of fashion mag knockoffs
Stacked in the background, tell me how does that sound?
I don't know, but there's better flow than the last round

Pound for pound, you can change your weight,
Making them look like you doesn't change my fate,
I'm great, but greatness takes practice,
Change who you are on the inside, now that's attractive

But in case you disagree,
Take another look through our inventory,
Like what we see? Good! It's all free,
And can get new swag for every boss you beat

Please bedazzle responsibly, don't be forceful,
It's less about the chest and more so the torso,
Looking cute in your suit so let's play,
Doesn't really matter though, (no?) you're gonna die anyway

(Pre-chorus)
Protect your neck or your heart, it's à la carte,
Make a warrior or make a work of art,
You don't have to play hard, you just have to play smart,
When you're ready for that level, press start

(Chorus)
Feeling pretty slick in your new kicks, you don't wanna
Swing and never miss, if you do then we are gonna
Paint the town red, you got your new threads,
(How do I look?) Yo, your fresh to dead

Put your pants on and jacket, Don't give me flack,
It's not the entendre I intended so back it,
Backpack it or not, it's up to you,
But how else will you carry all that extra loot?

I texted you, but you didn't hit me back, you just ghosted me,
Now how do we make this track how it's supposed to be?
You want harmony in the kingdom?
Or rather my armory have harm to bring them?

Dropped the annotated to be animated,
Though I'm antiquated I'm elated to be making music that debated,
Rated A for aggravated but I've demonstrated
That I've mitigated all irritated folx and I've orchestrated

The best character design scene you've ever seen
It's surprising and kinda fits my rhyme scene,
So while you're driving in your souped-up coupe,
Wait, that's a different cut scene... shoot

Pre-chorus

Chorus

Radiopia. Once a vast landscape of diverse music and cultures, now segregated territories slowly descending into chaos as King Diamond appropriates each of our genres to fuel his own powers. It's up to us to stop him, but even as I stock up on gear and supplies, I can hear his voice echoing in my head.

Pre-chorus

Chorus

VPC 7 Round 2

Mechanical Peasants [AJB, Kyle Vice] - Fresh To Dead

Challenges accepted:
Vocals - (double time - Zolt Energy Serum)
Producer - (no snares in the beat - The Bear Hammock 29-F)

Game genre: Dating Sim
Screen: The Final Encounter

V: Oh, here we have it, the final encounter. This is a tough one, to be sure. Many have tried, all have failed so far, but maybe this is the one. 
A: It's a challenge, for sure, but we have a challenger. 
V: Oh, a true player. Let's see how it goes. 
A: Round one. Shoot your shot! 

I'm the final boss of the dating sim.  
There's no way to win, 'cause I can't take a hint. 
You're gonna fail and then you'll wanna play again 
Your loss, take it in, let the games begin.  
I've got all my defenses up, 
all tensed up and my comprehension tends to suck. 
Try to bend your luck with charms and methods of 
seduction, but we all know where you're ending up. 
Zone of friendship? What? No, twit, that's a prize. 
You're going home alone. Big fat surprise. 
Like Macaulay Culkin, without supplies. 
Always sulking, rip out your eyes  
if you don't wanna see the blank stare on my face 
as I dismiss your compliments as having terrible taste. 
I've had my fair share of dates, so I'm set, except 
I only found out in retrospect. (That's what that was?)  
  
V: Oh, you hate to see it, folks. Striking out in the first round. 
A: Well, let's see if there's any bouncing back from this. 
V: It is not looking too good right now, but it ain't over yet. 
A: Round two. Make your move! 

You know you'll be ill at ease, I don't show 
vulnerabilities. You've honed your skills, increased 
your ammo as sociable charmer, 
but cupid's arrows ricochet off my emotional armor. 
And my heart doesn't glow, so it's harder to get to. 
You try to connect, I'm just not gonna let you. 
With all the respect due, every romance Lothario 
measures on a scale from no chance to very low, 
no matter the scenario, even with careful listening, 
say you're getting hot, I'll hit the air conditioning. 
It's not your whispering nor a matter of discipline. 
I simply miss the gist of what it is you're propositioning. 
Not a single inkling. I just stare into space, 
unaware of infatuation you wear on your face. 
I've had my fair share of dates and before I left 
there wasn't one who wasn't bored to death. 

V: Ooooh! That's gotta hurt! Advances went right over the head *and* were countered with absolute tedium. 
A: This is a disaster, folks, and after so many successes. 
V: Well, there is one more round, so maybe not all is lost. 
A: Round three. Date!

I'm like talking to a brick wall, 
mindless conversations. 
A human bottle of rohypnol, 
minus connotations 
When we're walking through a strip mall, 
I'll exhaust your patience. 
What I'm saying's I'm an awful date, 
and you're gonna wanna escape from the jaws of fate 
before it all too late. They're already agape, 
frothing and starting to oscillate. 
Being my lawful mate is not so great, 
like a box of defrosted flakes. 
To get dad jokes like that for the rest of your life 
put me in a dress that is white and address me as wife. 
I've had my fair share of dates on repeat, the same 
every time 'cause no one's beat the game. 

A: Oh no, I think that's game over, folks. 
V: It sure is. The only way to move forward now is to start over from the last checkpoint at the beginning of the encounter. 
A: Press any key before the end of the countdown. 3...2...1...

.5 Quartet [Vincent E.L., Ardamus] - Beyond Reach

ch.
bury me with all my shit
don't want you to have it

v.
to whomever it may concern
no concern of mine
bury me with all my shit
leave no trace behind

holiday, a castaway,
murder and a suicide
heaven knows carusoe goes
on friday nights for homicide

someone get some just rewards
wilson ever get ahead
willpower makes you fucking bored
boredom makes you more depressed

just a desert, just desserts
guess what you deserve?
deserted and you know the worst
deserted with a kilo hurts

shallac a thousand blackest nights
stranger stranded on the sand
shiv 'em, shank 'em, saw, a knife
strangle 'em with my two hands

this little note, uhh
I hope it float, uhh
just like a body baby
just like a boat, uhh

and if it sinks, yeah
then burn a witch, uhh
or just another 
motherfuckin' evil bitch, so

don't call the cops, no
call no police, yeah
don't go send out, no
no SOS, uhh

just bury me, yeah
with all my shit, uhh
and all I got
my last request

VPC 7 Round 3

Thot Team Epic [Nursehella, Ultraklystron] - Bury Me (With All My Shit)

"GONE" by The Storytellers [The Paladxn, 0]
LYRICS:

I can’t believe, you and me… and this... tree…
Seeing stars corresponds to our his’tree.
Stuck on an island yet I just can’t see outside
Send up a signal in the hopes that you can give me a ride,
To the places that you go in your mind.

Staring in your general direction,
Your eyes fixed on the horizon, I
Know we can buy ourselves time,
If we can mobilize,
Coordinate insides,
Get coordinates States-side, ah, ha-ha!   [ =_( ]
We have to try, we have to try, oh-oh-oh!
If you and I, record it right then maybe we can
Chart atop the billboards while they
Chart a course to paint our story on

If we can get it going, going, going
Then we can get going, going, =GONE=

We wanna make it out of here
If we wanna make it out of here
Alive
We’ve got to collaborate
Our lab, low battery
Near midnight on Saturday
Not a lot of time
We wanna make it out of here
But no one makes it out of here alone
Message in a bottle going, going, going
So we can get going... =GONE=

The Storytellers [The Paladxn, 0] - GONE

Mouth all dry and shit

Don’t go looking for things
that you don’t wanna find might  just end up on this island  wash up with me on the tide 
Take it all in stride Feel the pain i feel alive 
I swear i tried but i needed my supply 

Like here i stand
deep
head planted in sand. 
Swear the pills get demanding 
like bitch go grab me a sandwich 
need a bandage
i took every one i could manage
and they just kept taking advantage
fell and i finally landed
on my face
locked in that dark place with no escape 
accept my fate
lost without my grace 
change my face till it erased
think i need my space 
but i still long for your embrace
attitudes i chase 
chemicals i taste
looking like some palm trees 
rotting at the roots
isolate me 
then you wanna talk about abuse
seen so many fall and still i thought myself immune
you like to accuse when you ain’t got no fucking proof 
shaking like a leaf spitting blood again
Guess I’ll just get it out the mud again
Cut em off  looking for some drugs again
Like he don’t love himself how she in love with him
guess that he plugged -ed in
i got a win and i rubbed it in
sitting alone at a pub again 
lining it up till i can’t walk a line
people keep saying You outta your mind
shit lookin fine
Feeling divine 
Each spiral is feelin like slowly reclining back to the bud again
sand on my toes snow in my nose inside the hole i created alone
just got too scared of becoming a drone
panicking family hitting the phone
i shoulda known not to go looking cuz i could get lost shouldn’t a pushed it and thought of the cost
proof in the pudding get fucking exhausting 

just snacking on this can of worms

Shawn Solo & Lex Lingo [Lex Lingo, Shawn Solo] - Things You Dont Want to Find

--plane crashed--
--first contact made--
--delivered a message--
--they do not come in peace--

they hide among the clouds
they lie alone in wait
they watched us all evolve
they watched us decimate

they gave us all the chances
they could ever offer
but we failed all the tests
why'd they even bother

time to 
burn this
world down, 
start it over

we deserve this
grab your loved ones,
hold them closer

watch the fireworks
light a burning 
pathway in the 
sky, take a final breath:
kiss it all goodbye

HOOK:
no stars in the sky
no god showing love
just arms in disguise
raining death from above
no stars in the sky
no god showing love
no chance to survive
just death from above


judgment day
finally falls upon us
you can't blame religion,
no collision of the 
comets, just you hopeless
parasites feeding on the 
earth, void of any worth,
undeserving, over-birthed

you could have heard them
if you only listened

we've conquered galaxies:
the sun, the moon, the stars, now we've
come to take our planet back
before you go too far

Easy fix.

HOOK:
no stars in the sky
no god showing love
just arms in disguise
raining death from above
no stars in the sky
no god showing love
no chance to survive
just death from above

Sailor Doom Remix [Johnny Hacknslash, Twill Distilled] - Death From Above

The truth begets marooned  adrift
Lost the plot
Listless lost the list, 
In My mission I’d become remiss
Clutched in my fist and It all just slipped
I even doubted my purpose
On purpose and watched it eclipse
Just watched it eclipse

Rather die seeking land
Than leave my bleached bones in the sand
Seek getting seen until the bitter end
Lost and never found 
Lost and never found 

So I fell in a well of my own design
Grief regret and weight of the lie
I told myself “I tried”
Truly did I? No.
I no longer ride the waves
The echoing phrase
lost and never found
lost and never found

Obvious Corruption [Obvious Lee, Cosmic Ray Corruption] - Never Found

[#raccune]
Message in a bottle, no not for me
I don't need to write a damn thing on that USB
I got a mermaid pregnant, start a family
And we live on this island for eternity

Don't type no lines, I'ma live my best life
I'm not hallucinating dude, that mermaid is my wife
In this fool's paradise there could be nothing wrong
Try and leave if you want, NoShoes, but I'm staying on.

Oh man, uh... I'm kinda not feeling that good. Oh I think I need to drink some water or something. I think I'm seeing stuff.

[NoShoes]

Gee. you probably don't even know shoes
washed up on many shores, the water knowin' these blues
no stranger to storms, they know there's nothing to prove
The plane's gone, this songs' words the last spit that I'll do
so many hugs that I've missed, opportunities dusted
bonds strengthened and broken, tokens familiar but rusted
taken blows from my friends when foes from yesterday trusted
Onward comes a slow death these bones soon barnacle encrusted
tell my kin that I love them. asure the mrs not worry
it's all been a trip, ignored the road for the journey
must have really done dirt, fate chose a deadlocked jury
now merely a flicker of what was a blazing hot fury
damn foolish of I, to say I've made no regrets
I'd have a lot more to say, if we'd just found a cassette
Not much longer now, my insulin pump's at 1%
if the ship comes in I'll miss it, my souls done got up and went...

Night City Glitches [NoShoes, #Raccune] - Tom Hanks

nonconformists they sing in chorus to poor performance
receive a warning yo Beefy sporting a stegosaurus
Oldest gen but still my importance remains enormous
Often dormant cause feeling boring just never for us

Why don't we find the one getting the rub
the one straight up covered in enemy blood
 the one sneaky coveting all of your love
and planted like roots in  he river, resisting the flood
And overweight generous stud
 addicted to Tanner like audio drug
neither of us ever giving a fuck
baby what up?

But maybe still nothing to see here
darkness surrounds us but stay clear
Jean-Luc'ing out in the frontier 
bucking with horns saying oh dear
faces they changing like Top Gear
check for a minute then out in a second
cause nothing could get me to leave here

So why you even trying?
said that I'd go off the grid and Beef not known for lying
finally I saw myself, the image terrifying
levels rising, body dying, I just care about the hiding
socially sneaky
I don't want em to see me
breathing in deeply
giving up easy
making up progress
laying out carpets  
eliminate profits
take out the targets   
make em regret ever calling you artist 

Return that shit to sender
Independent, no surrender 
Return that shit to sender 
Relocating here forever

Muscle Laughing Shrimp [Beefy, tanner4105] - Return to Sender

MUPPET RONIN - ISLAND NOT GOOD

YO
PLEASE HELP, KABUTO STUCK ISLAND
I UHH...HIT HEAD COCONUT, FORGET HOW RHYMING
ONLY KNOW CLIMBING, SURVIVING, MAKE KNIFE
ALSO DID BUILD SHELTER FOR LEOPARD HIDING
NO FOOD HERE, SPICY GROSS WATER
DRINKING HEAD BONK JUICE BITING ROAST OTTER
MISS FAMILY, WIFE, SON, DAUGHTER
NIGHT COLD, SCARY--BUT IN DAY, SUN HOTTER
ONLY HAVE ONE BOOK, CALL HARRY POTTER
CANNOT READ HARRY POTTER BECAUSE TRANSPHOBIC
DAMN, SCOPE IT--WISH WAS WOKED BUT
CANT READ HARRY POTTER BECAUSE HIT HEAD COCONUT
ISLAND NOT GOOD--DAMNABLY SHITTY
WISH HAD CRASH LANDED IN RANDIAN CITY
OR AT LEAST ON ISLAND WITH CONSPIRACY THEORY
TIME PARADOX BLACK SMOKE...UHHHH
WISH HAD INTERNET, STREAMABLE MEDIA
KABUTO NEVER SEEN "LOST" NEED WIKIPEDIA
MUST LEARN WAY OF MAKE RAFT OR BOAT
ALSO HELMET IN CASE HIT HEAD COCONUT
AND YET... KABUTO LOVE COCONUT
NO BABES HERE, ONLY GIRLFRIEND COCONUT
PLANE DOWN NO SURVIVOR N.T.S.B. OPEN SHUT
NO ONE ELSE HERE CALLIN KABUTO THE LOCAL NUT
JUST COCONUT...ONLY COCONUT
HEAD SWELLIN, DOESNT HURT, SYNAPSES ARE CLOSIN UP
SIT WITH COCONUT, LOOK OUT AT THE OCEAN DUSK
DONT LOOK NOW BUT...TRYNA COCO-NUT
U FEEL ME
K.T.C.
LISTEN, LOOK AT ME
LOOK AT ME
DONT LOOK FOR ME

Muppet Ronin [Kabuto the Coconut, Coconut Sullivan] - Island Not Good

Pardon my smiling,
AJB live at the island,
Live at the island

Plane crashed, marooned, spent 400 moons
With my best friend, but still I need some elbow room,
We never found our jet or any of the wreckage, strange,
How the hell do you lose a plane?

Stuck on a lonely island off the coast and I feel me roasting
Out in the sun, just about to see my ghost when
I notice something stuck in the base of a tree,
Grab a couple sticks, we’ll try to pry it free

Gotta give thanks, amen, we caught a break,
Single by The Winstons, flash megabyte 8,
We've got enough battery for just one take,
Oh that only says 4 megabytes... great

Turn up the juice, let's put it use,
I'll send an S.O.S to the world, you produce,
So get ready for the last thing you'll hear from us,
JK, we'll bump tracks for the next 30 years plus

Pardon my smiling,
Kyle Vice live at the island,
Live at the island

I built a raft out of mp3s and emptied me
Inside of the lyrics, but it crashed at sea,
Impractically, it didn't sound like trash to me,
But I didn't fit in the box for how it has to... grr

Screw iambic pentameter, try to fit a song in
These confined parameters,
Confined to an island I can walk its diameter
Faster than you can say, "Boom shacka-lacka-lacka!"

Jack Merridew, not scared of you, I don't care if you,
Can sing a High C, mmm,
I thirsty, I hungry, I tired,
I can't think straight enough to talk inspired

I use rap just to gauge my emotional state,
Over the past year life is… not great.
Want a song about an island? That's my life,
But I can't use the verbs I need to express that, come on, play nice

Mechanical Peasants [AJB, Kyle Vice] - Scurfy With Brine

Don’t ignore yourself
If you find that you harbor a passion
That might treat you well
For a while, but it causes disaster
In the end of it all


In the end of it all
I hate that I ever paid mind to those who buried their intentions
They considered careers in the arts too unrealistic
I had good grades so a safer career obviously made sense to
Those who lived in fear of risk, but I listened


Once I embraced my ambition
I thought I’d finally begun to ascend and
Live out the dream I’d resisted


Life went and cut me off
How much would I have accomplished
If I never ran away from what lived in my heart


How many lives could I touch
If I just
Trusted myself and did my art


If you choose to pay attention
Please don’t miss out on your chance to 
Make your start




Don’t ignore yourself
If you find that you harbor a passion
That might treat you well
For a while, but it causes disaster
In the end of it all


In the end of it all
I don’t believe I ignored any call
I just waited too long to get involved
Don’t mimick me 
Getting stuck in Opinions of others
Then wishing 
That you never stalled


Believe in yourself and embrace every fall
when you get back up 
New knowledge will stack up
And buff you so now you can keep standing tall


I needed way too much validation
Eventually I stopped ignoring my fears I knew that I had to face them
I stopped suppressing negative emotions and decided to embrace them
But now I wonder if the phrase “too late”
can Evolve into "channeling greatness"?


Do better than me

Deshko [Kadesh Flow, Ryako] - Dont Ignore Yourself

Stuck on this island, the trouble just piling 
up and then rising above the horizon. 
Nothing surprising under the bright sun. 
Fuck with poseidon, get struck by the trident! 
Son of the titans. Thunder and lightning. 
The undeniably crummiest timing. 
A couple of hyphens-- 
I suck at describing my struggle in writing. 
I wonder if I might become reunited with dry land, 
or if anyone can even find me where I stand... 
You wouldn't happen to recognize this white sand 
by chance? 'Cause I can't! 
The return address: Desertedness. If this ever surfaces, 
pretty sure I guess you've never heard of this. 
Purposeless! Better start preparing for permanence, 
'cause of the limitations I observe myself working with. 
I wanna leave, but it dawns on me I'll probably rot on this beach. 
If I thought I'd see other people, I'd believe posthumously. 
Ardamus keeps working hard on this beat, 
but I'd find it less awkward if he'd bother talking to me. 
In shock, or just seething 'cause he thinks I caused this debacle? 
Lost in his thoughts while mine get tossed in this bottle? 
Contents long gone, God crossed off of the gospel. 
Just gotta process the awful like hot sauce up a nostril. 
Nature, a hostel as hostile as possible, 
fatally harsh and too far from a hospital. 
Lots of unsolvable problems and obstacles. 
Consciousness distorted as if through a Boss pedal. 
Give me the bronze medal in shit going wrong! 
The minute we've gone, I'll sing the victory song. 
Time ticking along. Trickery! Contradictory! Wrong! 
Shorter hours; seconds getting unpredictably long. 
Don't know what we should do, 
except accept we've stepped into a Kobayashi Maru. 
Colossally screwed across the great blue yonder. 
A quandary we don't have the philosophy to ponder, 
finding the long shot our hearts grew fonder-- 
Better yet, new harbor. Hardly. Too somber? 
Two goners, doomed to wander a handful of square feet, 
lucky if we last a mere week.

.5 Quartet [Vincent E.L., Ardamus] - Flaskpost

[AJB] We made it to the end, and weÕre done
[Kyle Vice] That was fun!
[Huge Euge] Umm, actually I quit around mid-round one
[AJB] Rain the confetti, get the train ready, whatever floats float your boat, feeling strained like spaghetti

[Kyle Vice] Ticker tape parade, self-made, and self-quarantined
[AJB] Got it in spades, high grade like a War Machine
[Huge Euge] Killing it like Ezio
[AJB] Florentine
[Kyle Vice] Much like a ThanksKilling movie horror scene

[AJB] Keep it going when you're flowing that'll show' em that you're knowing
[Huge Euge] What you're doing, when you're new and you don't have a problem losing
[Kyle Vice] I am proving that I'm competent achieving this accomplishment
[AJB] I came here for the feedback, but I only want the compliments

[AJB] Honest it's, obnoxious since it's the first time I've rhymed for an audience
[Kyle Vice] I'm so ready for this to be over
[AJB] But we'll retain our composure

(Chorus 1)
[Kyle Vice] Pop the bottles, we're done, we made it through, last track, this one's for you
[Huge Euge] Thank you, thank you
[AJB] Congratulations on being dead last and stuff
[Kyle Vice] Man, that Round 3 track was tough
[AJB] Yeah, it was, pop the bottles, we're done, we made it through, Huge Euge, this one's for you
[Huge Euge] You're too kind!
[Kyle Vice] Congratulations on being dead last and stuff
[AJB] Wow, that Gunstar track was rough (we are the future, we are the super)

[Huge Euge] Popping on the track like a pack of three stooges
[Kyle Vice] Veteran rockstar and couple Huge Euges
[AJB] Technically a life model decoy
[Kyle Vice] AJB is really just a Eugebot

[Huge Euge] Oh boy, oh joy, more annoying than Ren & Stimpy playing with their log toy
[AJB] I employed you to do guest vox
[Huge Euge] Well I implore to pay me with bonds and stocks

[Huge Euge] This song rocks, but the beat is well outdated, your drummer you hired is Overated, like Tommy Ramone, I wanna be sedated
[Kyle Vice] If you don't like what we created, well...

[Kyle Vice] This is just an entry, you don't have to listen
[AJB] This is a test of the emergency broadcast system
[Kyle Vice] It's a PSA, you don't have to stay
[AJB] If you don't think youÕll like it
[AJB & Kyle Vice] Please go away

(Chorus 2)
[Huge Euge] Pop the bottles, we're done, we made it through, Kyle Vice, this one's for you
[Kyle Vice] Aww, shucks!
[AJB] Congratulations on being dead last and stuff,
[Huge Euge] Eh, your band name super sucks!
[AJB] Your band name sucks!
[Kyle Vice] Pop the bottles, we're done, we made it through, AJB, this one's for you
[AJB] Heck yeah it is!
[Huge Euge] Congratulations on being dead last and stuff,
[Kyle Vice] I think you've had just about enough

[AJB] Kyle Vice tried to play nice twice, okay?
[Huge Euge] But now he's got the mic, he's got something to say
[AJB] Something to play, I could do this all freaking day,
[Kyle Vice] If I may? 
[Huge Euge] Please, Kyle!
[AJB] Take it away!

[Kyle Vice] Kyle Vice cooking it, looking it up in the dictionary under "don't suck"
[AJB] I don't suck!
[Kyle Vice] We mustered all we can just to catch up
[AJB] In the home stretch, up to our necks in mess-ups

[Kyle Vice] So you better fess up, which of y'all doubted me as the first time MVP of VPC? Frequently my frequency is in sequence
[Huge Euge] Keeping it tight like a row of sequins

[Kyle Vice] It's not that I'm new to the game, or new to the fame, or everything I do is the same, I'm just new to change in pace, so face it, if we do something my taste, I'll melt your faces

(Chorus 3)
[Huge Euge] Pop the bottles, we're done, we made it through,
[AJB] Hey judges, this one's for you
[Kyle Vice] How do I look?
[AJB] Congratulations on giving feedback and stuff
[Kyle Vice] Yo, your words helped us out so much!
[Huge Euge] Pop the bottles, we're done, we made it through
[Kyle Vice] Sleater-Kitty, this one's for you
[AJB & Kyle Vice] Meow
[Kyle Vice] Congratulations on writing 'bout cats & stuff
[AJB] Here comes the tempo change, buckle-up

VPC7 Round 4

Mechanical Peasants [AJB, Kyle Vice] - The Last Track (ft. Huge Euge)

30 second intro.
Ardamus: check it check it check it….it goes like this….XOC is in the house….Vincent E.L. they're in the house...Ardamus I'm in the house….Point Seven 5 we're in the house and….(intro fades)


(Intro fades. Then intro of beat drops)
(Banter from Vincent E. L. and XOC? Optional)


Chorus:
Ardamus: I'm celebratin' elevating other paths
Never settle fo.r the medal when the devil stab a brotha's back
Break the bank, break it down but dont break ya neck
You can take a chill pill still while you take the check 
XOC: -Everything is changing I’m no longer what I thought about, 
steady rearranging, the complaining getting smothered out,
 begging for forgiveness, those are things I do not talk about,
 burying my past, take my future on another route -
Vincent E. L.:I've been depressed of late and estimate 
it's not my last time feeling less than great, 
but as I investigate my mind in its present state, 
I guess you could say it's better than yesterday. Arda, you good? 
A: Damn right, I'm good. Yo XO are you good? 
X: Damn right, I'm good. E. L. are you good?
V: All things considered, I'm good.
All: damn right yo it's still all good




Verses pt. 1
X:-Blessed be my day, cause I finally could say so, 
blessed be my day, I no longer have to lay low,
 blessed be my day cause it’s looking like a new one, 
finally can say I made it out of the confusion
A:Illusion, Enforced vision of course hit em'
core twitchin' rewired my whole support system
Hundid percent, come get me, run efficiently 
sippin' rum, having some epiphanies
V: Just when I think I've forgotten how to write, 
and any other thought is out of sight and inspiration's not about to strike, 
I hear this sound, and it's like I'm surrounded by 
astounding amounts to type and signs that life is finally right. 


Chorus:
Ardamus: I'm celebratin' elevating other paths
Never settle for the medal when the devil stab a brotha's back
Break the bank, break it down but dont break ya neck
You can take a chill pill still while you take the check 
XOC: -Everything is changing I’m no longer what I thought about, 
steady rearranging, the complaining getting smothered out,
 begging for forgiveness, those are things I do not talk about,
 burying my past, take my future on another route -
Vincent E. L.:I've been depressed of late and estimate 
it's not my last time feeling less than great, 
but as I investigate my mind in its present state, 
I guess you could say it's better than yesterday. Arda, you good? 
A: Damn right, I'm good. Yo XO are you good? 
X: Damn right, I'm good. E. L. are you good?
V: All things considered, I'm good.
All: damn right yo it's still all good


Verses pt. 2
V: It's a new dawn, new day, new life, 
loose ties turn to tight bonds when the glue dries. 
Up ahead, a promise of blue skies, 
as long as I choose wisely as I deduce where the truth lies.  
X:-Vision the imagery, 
talk about the balance and the symmetry,
Witness an existence with a past they planted into me,
Started as a child, when they promptly ran it into me,
You kidding me, left me here with years to fight the misery
A:- Oozin' out my pores, blood and sweat
Held back the tears with enough regrets
I'm slowin' down, speedin' up, the revelation
Happens everytime around the team when we're….

.5 Quartet [Vincent E.L., Ardamus] - Still All Good (ft. XOC)

Sorry to bother you. 
I know you've got a lot of stuff on your plate. 
You're brushing up against the date and look at the nothing you've made! 
It's tough to resuscitate your lust to create. You've been crushing it lately, 
but now you're getting crushed under the weight. 
Must be great knowing it's much too late to start. 
A game of art, not for the faint of heart. 
Play your cards, portray this as your "favorite part" 
and maybe they won't pay regard to the quotation marks. 
[Aw, poor baby...] I hear you're supposed to write a letter to yourself. 
I don't envy you, but at least you know you better than anyone else. 
You won't excel with every breath you exhale, 
but never put pencil to paper and you'll definitely fail. 
You're in the belly of the whale. Telling a tale 
you might as well be spelling in braille to an elephant snail. 
That's a hell of a way to tell em you're well on your way to dismount 
the intelligence scale looking delicate, frail and incredibly pale. 
Better get it together, level with Nebuchadnezzar, 
and tell yourself you're better than ever, 
and get the twenty that's left on the dresser. 
A generous treasure for selling a pheasant your feathers. 
An elegant gesture, but can you weather the pressure 
of penning an eloquent letter from behind the delicatessen? 
I don't know what you expect to get for sending a message except 
an exacerbated sense of emptiness. Depressed and upset 
at the sentiment settling in the sediment. 
Is it getting too meta to meditate on the genuine? 
Would you have to explain what every letter meant? 
You're writing to yourself. It's technically self-evident. 
You're reticent, hesitant to express your perspective and 
you've never said anything without any prep and editing. 
You're spending a minute twenty ingeminating the premise when 
you could instead with brevity pretend to be semi-intelligent. 

[Write. You cannot write. 
Write, on time. 
Three days until the deadline, 
still not having written a word? 
Write. You cannot write. 
You cannot...write words. 
Write. You cannot... 
...write on time.]

Dear waste paper basket, this halfwitted draft 
written past the halfway mark's definitely getting trashed, 
pretty fast. It is massively daft. 
Asininity about to hit critical mass. 
When you tell yourself you won't finish the given task, 
you're spitting scientific facts. It's simple math. 
At the risk of getting crass, you and your shitty raps 
are committing acts of lyrical Syrup of Ipecac. 
If they don't skip this track, you're getting ripped in half. 
Like the the napkin you scratch your inscriptions at. 
They will snicker and laugh, tickled pastel pink 
with nipple clamps and compare you to Nickelback. 
A triple pass of rewrites won't fix this gaffe. 
Your talent's as nonexistent as the middle class. 
You need to get off your ass, you haven't achieved a thing 
since bringing your babysitter back from Fribbulus Xax. 
Maybe it's for the best that all you're gonna do 
is send a dorky message to an audience of you. 
It's been a long time since you seemed promising and new. 
You're a disgrace to your name and your mom is gonna sue. 
Are you getting through to yourself or is it in one ear, 
out the other, as you sputter another opinion? 
Weird? Utterly, but it's been done, all you could think of. 
Enough, pencils down, it's time to give up.

Mechanical Peasants [AJB, Kyle Vice] - Scurfy With Brine

NerdcoreVPC