Rhythm + Flow: Season 1, Episode 4 “Chicago Auditions” – Recap, Review (with Spoilers)

Chance is faced with the most 25 and under seen thus far, but them Chicago/Mid-west kids got stories to tell and damn if they won’t make you bop your head.

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Recap

You Stumbled, But You Going To LA: Kaylee Crossfire, Sam Be Yourself, Sasha Go Hard, Nikee Turbo

Whether you been doing it so long that Chance and the rest know you, like Sasha Go Hard, or you show you ain’t new to the game like Kaylee Crossfire, you can stumble. After all, between bouncing around too much like Nikee Turbo, or your energy not being consistent like Sam Be Yourself, you can show signs why the road to stardom hasn’t been smooth for you. However, following TI, Chance lets a lot of people go in either due to potential, or because they were some of the first who went up.

The Kids Are Alright: Ariyon, Big Mouf’Bo, Jae Ham

But, to much surprise, while those 25 and up struggled to a point, those 24 and under brought that fire. Big Mouf’Bo, for example, she didn’t have to audition with the rest. Chance heard her, with Lupe Fiasco, and said never mind her having to try out twice. She went straight to LA.

However, while Big Mouf’Bo was good, Jae Ham and Ariyon, both 18, with Ariyon still in high school and Jae Ham in his first year of college, they may blow you away. For whether we talking about Jae’s not relying too much on cursing or the n-word to get through his set or Ariyon’s, if he is going to be energetic, he needs better breath control, the fact they got it that together is impressive.

Always Saving The Best For Last: Jakob Campbell

Jakob, like quite a few, is a rapper who can tell a story with his lyrics. Also, like too damn many, he raps so damn fast you’d think he is trying to be the next Twista, who was one of the judges. However, between slowing it down when he needed to, throwing in a Jill Scott line, and being one of the first who seemed like he had an actual song ready for a video and to be marketed, you can see why he went last. He, like most of those who have gone last, just needed a platform that made it so he wasn’t one of millions but one of a few.

Collected Quote(s) & .Gifs

My biggest enemy is my inner me.
— Ariyon

[…] this ain’t nowhere where I want to be, but it’s bigger than what I’m supposed to been at.
— Ariyon

Other Noteworthy Facts, Moments, and Random Thoughts

• Why is this the only episode, of the home city auditions, that didn’t feature the city in the title card?
• They going to encourage some of them to change their rap names, right?
• Who going to monitor all these kids?

Review

Highlights

They Were Consistently Good & Chances Choices Seemed Sound

When it came to T.I. and definitely Cardi, there were a lot of people who went through that you had to question, “Could they really be successful?” Even thinking back to the LA auditions, there is the need to wonder if, at best, they could find a niche or not? However, to much surprise, for me anyway, Chicago had some good ass rappers.

Now, admittedly, maybe it is because my taste is more geared towards rappers who tell a story, have energy, and got meaning behind their lyrics, like Nas, but aren’t are chill as Common. But, be it the way this episode was edited or just who showed up, it seemed that as much as NYC gets props for starting things, and ATL is seen as the new Mecca, Chicago shouldn’t be slept on.

Royce Da 5’9” Seems Like He Should Be A Judge

Yo, to me, Royce is someone needed for he talked about technique and made this whole process less superficial. For with Chance so meek in his criticism or compliments, it makes Royce’s commentary, especially when it came to acts like Yung Water, show you how he might be more serious about his one-time role than chance. Someone who, let’s be honest, as a Christian rapper, is a niche. Someone who, has respect from his peers, hence them voting for him to get multiple Grammys.

However, who would look at Chance and see tastemaker, or see him as someone who could make them a lot of money? As spoken on in the latest episode of “Getting Ignorant With It” (coming out soon), while you have to respect his hustle, is he really someone, outside of Chicago, who gets much in the way of props?

Chance Bringing Storytellers Into The Contest

With that said, I must admit that Chance not focusing on who had the catchiest lines, just those who had a good story to tell, flow, and could work the beat, that did recover his credibility a little bit. It reminded you that each one is coming from a different mindset and while Cardi is thinking social media come up, T.I. is geared towards how commercial you are, and longevity, Chance, since he hasn’t reached the heights of Cardi or T.I., and considering the judges he had, seems more geared towards, can you find a niche.

After all, we got a whole lot of rappers like Cardi, and I’m sure many come to mind. Also, when it comes to trap, the drug game, and violence, you can think of a lot who may resemble T.I.’s discography. However, those who venture beyond that? Those people are usually word of mouth since they don’t hit the top of the Hot 100, unless they are doing a feature. So here is to Chance trying to give niche rappers the chance to expand and show storytelling, and the p in rap (Rap = rhythm and poetry – to my knowledge) hasn’t become lost.

On The Fence

Being Reminded That This Competition Isn’t For Everyone

I will probably not get past Yung Water, and it isn’t because I think he’d win or even get past the first elimination. My thing is, Nu Metal, or the kind of work we’ve seen with Linkin Park, Korn, and others, hasn’t really been showcased with Black and Brown artist. Instead, when it comes to rap, the farthest it goes, on the eccentric or different side, is what we see come out of Atlanta. Otherwise, as this show has showcased, the looks are similar, lyrics are similar, and a lot of people more so blend in than necessarily stick out.

Which is one of the growing problems with Hip-Hop/ Rap. It’s not that it needs more depth, it needs to be fun, or mumble rap has made annunciation seem secondary, the problem is that everyone looks similar, sounds similar, and people trying to step out of the box is solely through their look. Hence why Lil Nas X has been successful since, while “Old Town Road” wouldn’t have been a hit if people had to physically pay for it, as a track which could chart based on streams, you get easy access to someone who shifted the game a bit.

Not to imply there aren’t country rappers, or rappers with a bit of a twang to their music. It’s just, like Yung Water, those who do something different rarely surpass their niche genre and make it nationally, or internationally – in a big way.