- Perfect 10 — Vocals from Richie Branson
- Perfect 10 — Production from LEX the Lexicon Artist · Richie Branson
- Perfect 10 — Challenge from LEX the Lexicon Artist · Mark Cooper · Richie Branson
- Production Powerhouse 8.8 / 10 avg across judges
- Challenge Champion 9.4 / 10 avg across judges
- Perfect Card 30/30 from Richie Branson
- Sleeper Hit on 45 of 82 ballots — broadly liked, few #1 picks
- Full Package audio + art + lyrics + both writeups
- Storyteller 1,423 characters across both writeups
- Climber +6 positions from Round 3
TOTAL REACH — 35 plays rank 7 / 21
- VPC SITE 35
TOTAL LIKES — 8 rank 8 / 21
- VPC SITE 8
S.O.S (Steppin' On Shit)
Vocalist's challenge writeup
References: Emulated tha styles of several Bay area rappers including Keak Da Sneak, E-40 and The Pack. Tried to do Mac Dre but this beat was too fast to really pull off that pimp drawl on. A couple bars directly reference rappers from tha Bay, Lil B and his group The Pack and J Stalin. There are multiple references to Bay area rap as a whole with mentions of Thizz, gas, break, dip, yadada and just the Bay directly in tha blue dolphin bar. Double Entendre: Never been in a country club but I got BRICS is a triple entendre, tha base meaning of never having been in a club for rich people despite stacking cake off illicit narcotics, second meaning is "country club" and "BRICS" BRICS is a club for countries that stands in opposition to NATO, tha third meaning that is specifically for my club is Country Club Crest, tha hood Bay area legend Mac Dre hails from, which I've never been to. This one could be stretched a bit due to "the bricks" referring to tha projects and several people from tha neighborhood (allegedly) having tha aforementioned bricks of illicit narcotics. Steppin on shit is used to mean engaging with beef in a violent manner as well as literally stepping on poop in tha hook.
Producer's challenge writeup
DJ friendly intro Beat switch Half time on the change up Fake drop DJ friendly outro We originally had a memorable fill, a drum sample from the E-40 song Function but decided to drop it as we preferred the song without it
Lyrics
Steppin On Shit (S.O.S) [Hook} Big Ish-1, I be steppin on shit Big Northside, we be steppin on shit Always down to ride, wit my weapon on shit Wipe my shoes off, I be steppin on shit SOS! SOS! SOS! SOS! [Verse 1] Three blocc stooge, you can call me Curly Thizz face on, bitch, I feel like Furly Ski mask on, you should go home early 7-Oh Camino and tha teeth all pearly Sittin on fo's, hoes all gawkin Hit my brakes and tha wheels keep walkin Everywhere in this bitch, might be in your town I'm Them but tha NB stand for Northbound Middle of tha club lookin like a snack Ain't tha damn based god but I got that pack Just dropped a new tape and tha tracks all crack Dropped a new tape and tha tracks all crack Gas, break, dip, lookin like we stallin Barritz ballin, Cadillac crawlin Welcome to tha Slaphouse, feel like J Stalin Never been signed but tha label keep callin [Verse 2] Got more juice than a watermelon I ain't even started yellin Keep tha sort of product that you'll never see target sellin Them folks called tha boys, they ain't even started tellin Shindig on tha blocc and tha whole damn party felons This weed got me coughin, I do this often Dippin in tha bay swimmin wit a blue dolphin Real vi-ho-lent, on some hyphy shit Nough paper in my pocket write a mothafuckin bible with Pill pushin, you can call me tha doctor I'm saucy, like a pot of lasagna Give me that cheese, I need all tha ricotta (Gra)Gratatata, (ya)yadadawawa Funk season, this one gon hurt Turf talkin, draped in Dickies to tha dirt I'm yervin, so I do like this Never been in a country club but I got BRICS I'm on thizz, off heem wit yo hime Got her in tha backseat givin a BJ Here we go again, got me feelin like CJ Ya mama and auntie and me havin a three way Enormous, Northside Orcas I'm tryna die in tha pussy like Corkus I might turn a white owl to a tortoise I might pop another pill before tha chorus
JUDGES' BREAKDOWN
Klopfenpop
8.33/10 score rank #10 of 21VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 8CHALLENGE 9This is another great example of a track full of decision that are geared toward the live experience. I'm not from the Bay, but I feel like this song would absolutely go off in a Bay Area club. The production moves are solid, but could still be a little more ear-catching. Would have loved to hear a switch up where you chop that iconic sample in a more transformative way. That would go hard af.
LEX the Lexicon Artist
9.67/10 score rank #4 of 21VOCALS 9PRODUCTION 10CHALLENGE 10By far my favorite Tha Go track thus far. I was thizz facing like 20 seconds in. But not really a surprise, I LOVE hyphy bay rap. I am really appreciating Ish1da's experimenting with his range of vocal styles. This was certified hood shit with that heavy Bay influence. Solid writing and references. Only took a point off because you started dragging noticeably (not sure if this was an artistic choice or an issue with lining up the vox) and it took me out of it for a minute. You eventually get back on beat but that was a bit distracting. Scotty's production is flawless as usual, understated but not too bare, really effective. Perfectly met challenge.
Ben Tarkus
7.67/10 score rank #15 of 21VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 7CHALLENGE 8Can't deny the hook here is catchy af. Definitely found myself singing the chorus along with the song by the second listen through The beat felt a little lacking for me for it to be a true club vibe, but I think it works for the song nonetheless and the lyrics are strong enough to elevate the whole package.
Mark Cooper
9.00/10 score rank #4 of 21VOCALS 8PRODUCTION 9CHALLENGE 10I can hear a hyphy movement inspiration here. E40, Mac Dre energy all through this song. Cafeful with adlibs overpowering the main vocals. Production was dope. Not many teams would go in this approach but it's very appreciative and creative that you did. Good work!
Richie Branson
10.00/10 score rank #1 of 21VOCALS 10PRODUCTION 10CHALLENGE 10Yeah, this is a banger. Vocal performance on this one is incredible. Definitely can hear this in the club. Catchy hook. Beat is dope, love the switch ups. Melody and drums sound right at home in terms of what I’d expect to hear in the club. Great work.
Audience score and rank
AUDIENCE SCORE
Aggregated from 82 ballots cast by the public.
AUDIENCE RANK
Out of 21 teams competing this round.
- 45 voters ranked them in their top 10
- 22 voters had them in their top 5
- 1 voter picked them as their #1 favorite
FINAL BLEND
The final score was a 8.00. The song received an average voter score of 5.20 from the community, and an average judge score of 8.93.
The display score blends the audience and judges' contributions at 25%/75%. Here's how Tha Go Hamurai's 8.00 broke down:
(5.20 × 25%) + (8.93 × 75%) = 8.00
YOUR SEASON SO FAR
- Round 1 6.79 / 10 rank #13
- Round 2 6.67 / 10 rank #15
- Round 3 7.20 / 10 rank #14
- Round 4 8.00 / 10 rank #8 PERSONAL BEST
- Round 5 7.74 / 10 rank #14