Funny story. Way back yonder during the wonder years of high school, a group of my friends would record songs and distribute them around school as “mixtapes” for the discounted price of two dollars a pop. While I haven’t heard these in years, I remember what it was like in my Griff’s computer room just watching the entire process transpire. None of them would ever receive a record deal, but at that time we all knew the next Jay-Z or Eminem was coming from that den in Ettrick, Virginia.
One day in particular was funnier than most. A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless (although I’m sure he doesn’t know this site exists), recorded a 32 bar verse, which wasn’t uncommon. However, the fact that the quality was worthy of two or three rewinds stupefied the entire room. Being the 16 year old musical encyclopedia I was at the time, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling I’d heard the verse before. Then it hit me. He’d taken the lyrics from a random Lil’ Flip freestyle that only he and I had heard weeks prior (during those days Flip was still respected). Calling him wasn’t my intention, but it was the right thing to do. Facing school wide embarrassment had this stunt ever leaked to the public would have forced him to transfer schools, or at least eat lunch by himself for a week.
Another instance occured when this guy I knew was in a cypher and bit a Jadakiss verse. As you can see, I was like the line judge in tennis, everyone one turned to me for a participant’s authenticity.
What does this have to do with Joell Ortiz? Similar to his Slaughterhouse sibling, he didn’t take someone else’s verse, he actually took his own and used it again in the now infamous “D.O.A.” marathon freestyle session on Green Lantern recently. Being an unwritten rule in hip-hop, especially coming from a group I consider the most lyrical at the current moment, this must be what it feels like for baseball fans to find out their favorite players were on ‘roids.
Not to worry, however, it’s not THAT serious, but a party foul nonetheless.
Joell Ortiz’s Recycled “D.O.A.” Freestyle Verse [Rap Radar]
