I wanted an expert opinion about the strength of David’s rap, so I reached out to Manley Miller who used to be a rapper of some renown in New Orleans.
(I’ve attached Manley’s 12-second wrap up of a Wizard Academy promotional video below, just so you can see he’s the real deal.)
Here’s what the Manster had to say:
Date: Sunday, July 21, 2013 10:06 AM
To: Indiana Beagle
Subject: Re: Expert Opinion Needed
When I listened to this song it gave me that walking down a dark alley with such attitude I just knew ain’t nobody messing with me. No fear. This song changes your mood from “Hope” to “Wish”. Instead of walking down the dark valley of life and “hoping” nobody messes with you, you start walking down the dark alley and “wishing” somebody messes with you. The song is a mood changer. Makes you invincible. It’s spinach.
Dave’s a great rapper because he rides the rhythm, uses word play and understands the hook. His rhythm pattern is Eminem-like. He’ll just need to learn to slow his pace a little and then he will be incredible.
I’ll transition to the aforementioned henchmen to give my decision
Might with precision
Highly cryptic but the Mayan listing
“Hieroglyphic-Eye” significant to buy-ins I won’t mention
(They) Might quote me “final-pension” Destiny for primal sensing
I go grinching holidays surround me hiding thy intentions
What do the clouds envision staring down at men and women?
It reminds me a lot of Eminem’s rhythm pattern in the song Lose Yourself
But I kept rhyming and stepped right into the next cypher
Best believe somebody’s paying the pied piper
All the pain inside amplified by the fact
That I can’t get by with my 9 to 5
And I can’t provide the right type of life for my family
Cause man, these goddamn food stamps don’t buy diapers
And it’s no movie, there’s no Mekhi Phifer, this is my life
You can hear that here – http://youtu.be/AF5WZ64bnIo
But you will notice the pace is much slower. Part of the maturing of a rapper is to slow their pace. This allows more people to follow along and enjoy the words.
For a study on pace look at
Jay- Z – 1994 – http://youtu.be/pu4UG8uLHZ8
Manley