ROUND 2 · FEEDBACK

Mechanical Peasants

A bad wrapper and so-so producer. Meh.

RANK #16

DISPLAY SCORE 6.58 / 10

Full Package audio + art + lyrics + both writeups
Storyteller 2,888 characters across both writeups

TOTAL REACH — 83 plays rank 12 / 22

SOUNDCLOUD 55
VPC SITE 18
YOUTUBE 10

TOTAL LIKES — 9 rank 15 / 22

VPC SITE 8
SOUNDCLOUD 1
YOUTUBE 0

I Love Nerdcore

Vocalist's challenge writeup

Much like many other lyricists, I already like to pay homage to other rappers and musicians by pulling lyrical references into my songs, but round 2 felt like permission, so I went all out. I put together a bit of a found poem riddled with references, nods, and plays on the work of other artists. Essentially it’s my love letter to nerdcore. While not all the artists are considered nerdcore, they all played a role in my being a part of it. You probably did too, so thank you. 1. Intro: Secular Music – John Reuben 2. Verse 1 Bar 2: Pocket – Schäffer The Darklord 3. Verse 1 Bar 3: Thank you (feat. Manchild & Othello) – John Reuben) 4. Verse 1 Bar 4: Dreams & Boxes – Watsky 5. Verse 1 Bar 9 & 10: Artist Anthem 2022 – LEX the Lexicon Artist 6. Verse 1 Bar 13: Gifted Student – Adam Warrock 7. Verse 1 Bar 15 & 16 – Nerdsmiths – Mark Cooper 8. Verse 2 Bar 1: Nobody (feat. Watsky) – Spose 9. Verse 2 Bar 5: O.P. (feat. Richie Branson & Storyville) – Mega Ran 10. Verse 2 Bar 8: Cease Your Flavor – 2D6 11. Verse 2 Bar 10 & 11: HAX (feat. Mega Ran & MC Lars) - Beefy 12. Verse 2 Bar 12: Front the Least – MC Frontalot 13. Verse 2 Bar 13 & 14: Brinstar – Sammus 14. Verse 2 Bar 16: Anything It Takes - AX 15. Verse 3 Bar 1: Love Letters - Watsky 16. Verse 3 Bar 4 & 5: Color Lines (feat: Catch Wreck; Procrastination “Party in the USA” mashup) – Watsky 17. Verse 3 Bar 11: Color Lines (feat. Catch Wreck) – Watsky 18. Verse 3 Bar 13-16: Love Letters - Watsky For a full song playlist of references visit the YouTube link below: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqefhiHjXc_t4jCoxCGWFZkZrWPUt1DmQ&si=0zfdHFPTlM5LDA44

Producer's challenge writeup

Round Two Samples Dollar Bin Heaven And Hell Is On Earth Original Sample - 11s (Vocal chop)Track Usage - Constant behind hook and verses, filtered and added large reverb The Breakdown, Pt 2 Original Sample - Stem isolated guitar part, it’s pretty repetitive, I forget which specific repeat I grabbedTrack Usage - Repeated throughout the song, primarily in the hook with some variation in length to give it shape. Added to chorus just to blend the sections. Slight filter during verse chops Free Bin Hard Times Original Sample - Stem isolated drum sample, grabbed the first loopTrack Usage - Chorus drum beat. No additional processing, but converted to MIDI to double it up International Bin Scotta E_Ncoppa Original Sample - 3:14 Stem isolated clav hitTrack Usage - Behind hook repeats after verses. No additional processing Tools Bin Bleep Bloop Original Sample - 37sTrack Usage - 1:31 Behind verse, no effect. Chorus “synth”, heavy delay and reverb Other Samples Watsky - Dreams & Boxes. Original Sample - 1:53Track Usage - 21s Pitch shift and doubling effect. 2d6 - Cease Your Flavor! Original Sample - 0:47Track Usage - 1:38 Added delay Miley Cyrus - Party In the U.S.A. Original Sample - 44sTrack Usage - 2:34 Vocal doubling effect

Lyrics

Round Two Samples

Dollar Bin

Heaven And Hell Is On Earth
Original Sample - 11s (Vocal chop)Track Usage - Constant behind hook and verses, filtered and added large reverb
The Breakdown, Pt 2
Original Sample - Stem isolated guitar part, it’s pretty repetitive, I forget which specific repeat I grabbedTrack Usage - Repeated throughout the song, primarily in the hook with some variation in length to give it shape. Added to chorus just to blend the sections. Slight filter during verse chops

Free Bin

Hard Times
Original Sample - Stem isolated drum sample, grabbed the first loopTrack Usage - Chorus drum beat. No additional processing, but converted to MIDI to double it up
International Bin

Scotta E_Ncoppa
Original Sample - 3:14 Stem isolated clav hitTrack Usage - Behind hook repeats after verses. No additional processing
Tools Bin

Bleep Bloop
Original Sample - 37sTrack Usage - 1:31 Behind verse, no effect. Chorus “synth”, heavy delay and reverb
Other Samples

Watsky - Dreams & Boxes.
Original Sample - 1:53Track Usage - 21s Pitch shift and doubling effect. 
2d6 - Cease Your Flavor!
Original Sample - 0:47Track Usage - 1:38 Added delay
Miley Cyrus - Party In the U.S.A.
Original Sample - 44sTrack Usage - 2:34 Vocal doubling effect

JUDGES' BREAKDOWN

LEX the Lexicon Artist
7.00/10 score rank #10 of 22

VOCALS 7

PRODUCTION 5

CHALLENGE 9

This feels like fanservice created specifically for me. Lmao. <3 Stanning Watsky? The Cardboard Castles cover? Incredible. I love the unique way the writing challenge was executed: not directly referencing a tv show / game, but rather pulling lyrics (and sometimes even writing cadences) of other artists. AJB lifts the way Watsky references his favorite poets in "Love Letters", and uses it pay tribute to his favorite nerdcore rappers. I think that's such a cool way to "pass the inspiration on". AJB: The thesis is very clear and so is your approach and execution. It's very sincere and a fun switch-up from the braggadocio of "Green" which shows off range in your writing. I feel like your rhythm/timefeel isn't as tight here compared to "Green". And ironically, while I love the idea, I think borrowing cadences and bars actually slightly limits your ability to put forth YOUR unique writing style. Kyle Vice: You incorporated the samples, to mixed results in my opinion. Some feel more "integrated" than others. (Guitar strums and level up sounds were well-integrated; the prominent chopped synth less so). My feedback is the same from "Green": it's still too minimalistic. At times it's just a bass, drums, sample. I want to hear you experimenting with more layers, instruments, and melodies. If it's a Watsky-inspired tribute, throw some Cardboard Castles-style folk guitar chords in there.
Klopfenpop
7.33/10 score rank #17 of 22

VOCALS 7

PRODUCTION 7

CHALLENGE 8

I love an extra challenge! Making every bar a reference to another rapper's bar from another song is a cool idea. This is executed well. You are good at delivering emphatic bars, but I'd love to hear branch out your cadences to include some more naturalistic speech melodies. Having that dynamic and melodic range in a song can the hammered bars to more room to hit ever harder. This is a good blend of samples! I thought the chorale vocals was an organ until I read your notes. You used a lot of different samples in creative ways. I love the way you repurposed the Mario Mushroom sfx. A classic sound recontextualized like that will always catch the ear.
Ben Tarkus
8.33/10 score rank #4 of 22

VOCALS 8

PRODUCTION 8

CHALLENGE 9

Honestly my favorite part of this was the inverted Mario powerup sound. Probably the first time I've heard that, and I thought it was a great incorporation to the song to balance the other side of the beat. The love letter in this track is very wholesome and I immediately went looking for the references I knew I could pull out of Ran's, Sammus', and LEX's, but it seems Watsky has had a substantial influence on you based on how many songs you leaned into, and I hope they get a chance to know how pivotal they were for you!
Mark Cooper
7.33/10 score rank #13 of 22

VOCALS 7

PRODUCTION 7

CHALLENGE 8

Love the energy and the reference to nerdcore legends in our scene. Great delivery throughout the song. I enjoyed the passion and appreciated the effort creating this song. Clear strong vocals. Production was good. Love the Nintendo sfx during the hooks! lots of fun!!! keep going!
Richie Branson
6.67/10 score rank #17 of 22

VOCALS 7

PRODUCTION 6

CHALLENGE 7

I love nerdcore too! I caught that “I am not u on your level” bar immediately lol. Lyrics are solid, great execution weaving in all of the nerdcore luminaires. I think the hook could have been executed better. The “I love Nerdcore” bit is dope, just doesn’t feel as charitable as it could be. Love the sampling of the Mario big sound effect lol. Production is solid, I think there could a bit more melodic variety to spice things up, particularly the part after the “but I love nerd core”.

AUDIENCE SCORE

4.34 / 10

Aggregated from 72 ballots cast by the public.

AUDIENCE RANK

16 / 22

Out of 22 teams competing this round.

23 voters ranked them in their top 10
13 voters had them in their top 5
2 voters picked them as their #1 favorite

FINAL BLEND

The final score was a 6.58. The song received an average voter score of 4.34 from the community, and an average judge score of 7.33.

The display score blends the audience and judges' contributions at 25%/75%. Here's how Mechanical Peasants's 6.58 broke down:

1.08 from audience

5.50 from judges

(4.34 × 25%) + (7.33 × 75%) = 6.58

YOUR SEASON SO FAR

Round 1 6.33 / 10 rank #15
Round 2 6.58 / 10 rank #16 PERSONAL BEST

TOTAL REACH — 83 plays · rank 12 / 22

TOTAL LIKES — 9 · rank 15 / 22