Questions | Answers |
---|---|
What happened between you and Sam Grizzle? | Sam Grizzle!?! Sam has always been one of the funniest guys in the poker world: huge personality! One day he asked me to save him a seat in a game while he went to eat. After 90 minutes, I made the casino stop taking his $9 every 30 minutes, cause so much time had passed, AND then he shows up and the game is full, DOH! So he wants to fight me...I say, well you better do it this week while my back is out, and suddenly I'm in my first and only fist fight ive ever had in the poker world! We both land punches, but next day not a mark on either of us (BEST FIGHT EVER cause no one was hurt). |
Could you have done more to help recover player's money on Ultimate Bet? What do you think of Russ Hamilton? What were your thoughts about the superuser scandal at UB? Are you still good friends with Greg Pierson? What cable networks can one find PokerCentral? | I was proud to have had a big role in forcing an investigation at UB, which led to $25 million being returned to the players. People said I should have left the site, and that would have been easy to do as I was wanted by Full Tilt. But I saw another pro get haunted for years because the site he repped DID NOT pay the players back. Staying was the right move, and I was happy when the players were paid back. I was also happy when evidence emerged a few years later that made it clear that I wasn't aware of what was happening. The poker world stuck by, but the evidence was nice and completely shut up the haters. |
Hi Phil. What's the future for online poker in the US? Should there be one? | Legalized online poker is coming; 100%! It is simply a question of when...Amazingly, one person has stopped legalized online poker: one person! Mr Sheldon Adelson: and he spends $100 million every year funding politicians...However, David Baazov (poker big hope) is fighting hard, and effectively, for legalization. I'm hoping for full legalization in California, and then many of us, and the experts, believe it will spread accross the USA. |
Do you realize your constant name dropping on twitter is annoying? why do you do it? although you come across as an alpha do you suffer from little man? | Put yourself in my shoes for one second. When you're lucky enough you hang out w great people, are you NOT supposed to talk about it? People tweet about what they do, who they hang out with, etc...And I'm lucky to hang out w great people. Saturday I MC President Clinton's Charity Poker Tourney in San Fran (whoops, looks like I'm name dropping again!) -Hmmm...Maybe this time I did name drop. |
How in the the hell do you deal with those beats where you are 90%+ with just the river left and wind up getting busted...well besides the obligatory bitching and moaning? | Obviously I whine too much because I'm the Poker Brat! |
But I try really hard to NOT let any bad luck I have at the tables affect me away from the tables. I have gotten better and better at this over the years, but I'm sure my wife will tell you i was bad at this in my twenties and thirties. I don't want that stuff to impact my relations w my friends and family in a negative way... | |
Is it true you started playing poker (and winning) against your college professors? | Yes, I did play against two professors at the Univ of Wisconsin way back in 1984! In that game, we also had Psychiatrists, lawyers, and doctors. None of them were under the age of 40, and I was 20. Each was a professional w multiple degrees, I was an undergrad. But i'm pretty good at this thing we call "Poker" |
How did this come about? Did one of your professors just invite you to their weekly poker game? I'd love it if this happened to me haha. | I started in the smaller games at UW, at the Memorial Union, and as I crushed that game, then I found the bigger games, until I made it into the "Docs game." I once won $2,700 in one night in that game, in about 1985! Seemed like a fortune to me then! |
Hey Phil, do you feel that the live poker scene has improved as a result of Black Friday? Would you actually prefer to keep things the way they are now, or would you rather see online play legalized tomorrow? | It is better for the poker world w online poker up and running in the USA. More people, more players, more endorsement money, more television. Bigger is better! |
As to the effect it has had on the live poker scene, i am sure that all of these players are ready for another massive influx of players. Poker needs legalized online poker in the USA. | |
Are there any elements of the game that you enjoy which the average person wouldn't think about (due to not having as much experience as yourself)? | Yes, the element of figuring things out that others do not see. I'm not as sharp as the characters from the "Mentalist" or "Sherlock Holmes," but I see things in everyday life that others do not, and I enjoy that. I keep my prism wide open, and sometimes I need 10 hours of sleep a night or more because of it. |
Are you still friends with Matusow? Where has he been? | Love Mike the mouth! He is OK. He survived a life threatening surgery on his back, and he is still playing high stakes poker, mostly in San Diego...Good guy, good heart, despite what it looks like on television... |
Hi, Phil. When did you first realize that you were the greatest poker player in the world? | I thought I was the best well BEFORE anyone considered me in that league!! Thinking you're the best, or listening people that say you're the best is dangerous for me. It's better to know I'm good, keep my head down and stay focused on winning bracelets. |
Tell us about the new channel - will I get it on Dish? | I'm excited about Poker Central! 100 Million people play our game, more than tennis and golf combined, and the future is BRIGHT BRIGHT BRIGHT! It's easy for me to imagine poker 24/7, a lot like the Golf Channel has golf 24/7... |
How has the game changed for the better and for the worse since online play has become less prominent? (We played together in Event 3 of the 2009 series, PLOH. Thanks for doing this.) | Great question! Sadly, the poker world in the USA has shrank a bit (not too much). With entries down at the WSOP from the good old days, a lot less television (I miss Poker After Dark), and less sponorship deals for US players. However, the rest of the world has seen a lot less shrinkage. |
It was really cold, okay?! Also, Rounders 2? Are you involved in the talks? What is actually going on there, if you know? | I talked to the writer of Rounders, Brian Koppleman, on his show. And was pretty sure Rounders II was going to get made. Rounders did $150 million on DVD, so why not? |
Hi, I am a Japanese. What is your image about Japan and Japanese poker players? | Because of the link that my kids have had to Japanese pop culture, I expected a quid-pro-quo re the popularity of poker, but I was saddened when I was told that poker was illegal in Japan! Still, tough Japanese poker players are emerging. |
Your career has stretched through the rise and fall of poker's popularity, particularly in the United States. What do you think needs to be done to ignite another "Moneymaker Effect"-style boom of poker interest? | A bigger BOOM is coming when the USA legalizes online poker again! We have witnessed this in Italy, France, and Russia when online poker was actually legalized, and the operators were shocked because they had 10 times as many people play (10X) than was expected. Ditto in the USA: coming soon... |
Have you ever sat at a table with Norm MacDonald? If so, what was like to play with him? | Norm and I just seem to have hit it off well from day one, although we don't see each other very often. I live in Bay Area, he lives in LA, and were both busy. Nice guy! Canadian... |
If you can only root for one team, Packers or Niners? Bracelet that means the most to you other than the '89 Main Event. | Packers AND Niners! Lifelong Packers fan, but my friend Jed York owns the Niners, I spoke to the team, and my other friend Jim Harbaugh used to coach them. Winning the 2012 WSOPE Main Events in Cannes (Bracelet 13) was amazing! |
Is your "Poker Brat" personna just an act for the cameras, or do you really lose control of yourself and your emotions at the table? | Unfortunately, I DO lose control sometimes! But a lot less than the world thinks or understands...If I lose it, then ESPN is there to play it over and over, but when I'm good they aren't using that footage as much. |
What is the funniest tell you've seen? | Nothing like the ones in Rounders or other TV shows or movies! But one guy always talked when he had it, and always shut up we he didn't. We call it "Hollywooding" |
Hey Phil! Where is your favorite place outside of Vegas to play poker? | My home game in the Bay Area. Filled w the "Masters of the universe," I love these guys and they have become my best friends. Other than that, the LA poker scene is vibrant... |
Hey Phil, I've always wondered how you felt about Tony G lying when he said he did not see his hand on The Big Game. Is this something you've forgiven him for? | I did not respect this move and thought it bad bad form. I forgave Tony G, because I forgive everyone so that I don't waste any of my time hating anyone. But I still feel like he owes me $16,000! |
Do you think you are the best poker player at the moment? | I'm pretty good! Let me keep my head down and focus and in 30 years lets see where people rank me in the pantheon of great poker players. |
What is your take on Phil Laak? | I love Phil Laak! He is a goofball, much like how me and many of us in the poker world are goofballs. Very creative guy... |
Questions | Answers |
---|---|
Great app undrtone. Just signed up. My question: how do you organize your music? Use Itunes? Other apps? Playlists? Examples of playlist names? | Im the worst at organizing my music. but for the most part I use Itunes. Because of my job I still buy music. I need the files to edit with. I am constantly making folders with playlists. But They are mostly job related. Example, if im working on an acura commercial or patron commercial. I just throw in a bunch of songs that I know would work then it just sits there ha. |
Do you have a personal preference between Kendrick Lamar and the new A$AP Rocky album? Do you hink either one is better for soundtracks? Also... 'sup. | I love A$AP's new album... I havent had a chance to fully digest it yet. But I gave it a "first listen" scan and think its amazing. Wavybone is a jam. Also diggin MAX B. Kendricks album is tough for synchs bc he is so lyrical. Thats not always the best for tv or film. However, I just put "Alright" in Ballers. People gonna love it |
How was the process in choosing the end credits song for Entourage episodes? Did you watch the episode first then chose the song based on the feel of the episode? | I usually put all the songs i think are "end credit worthy" in a folder as im listening to music in my personal life. When I get to those spots in projects im working on. I just go through them all until one makes sense. Some times I watch the scene and a light bulb goes off. "Oh this song would be great here." |
How did you get into your current line of work? The Entourage episode with Jay-Z's "Lucifer" made me a fan of yours. The timing of it was perfect. Probably the best tv ep outro song ever. | Thank u... that song is exactly how i got my job! My friend created the show (Doug Ellin) and we were driving in his car to go play basketball. I put in Jay Z CD (you guys remember those) and he said whats that song. I love it. Lets make that the end credit song. Then the show got picked up and I had a job. go figure. |
Has there been a song that you REALLY wanted to use to picture but got cut for various reasons? if so what is that track? Follow up: What artists are you listening to now that the public doesn't know about that should! | I tried to get Smif N Wessun "Bucktown" and "Sound Bwoy Bureill" in Entourage movie but couldnt because of samples. Also "I'm That Type of Ni**a" by Pharcyde... no such luck on any of em. I love this song called "Warm" by SG Lewis, "How Do You Love Me" by SPZRKT & Sango, and "Quite Like" by HER. |
How do you go about finding good new music, other than having people send it to you? | I constantly surf the web and source out passionate people who love music. i have a folder of over 30 kids and their blogs. I bet no one even knows about their blogs or how talented they are. one day when i become richmogul i hope to repay them :) |
Best concert you ever went to? | I dont know if it the word "best" applies. But the concert I had the strongest connection to was an Arcade Fire show at Coachella a few years ago. Not the last one but the one before... |
I love them live as well! By 'strongest connection' do you mean you balled your eyes out? | Nah just felt connected to the show. |
Good Afternoon, Thank you for doing this. How does an Indy artist get their music in youyour peers hands for projects like "DOPE" and "ENTOURAGE"? Also, in the case of Rapper "Saigon" did you find him and break him with those episodes? Thank you! | I didnt find Saigon. He was actually friends with a girl who worked on the show and she brought him in to meet the producers. Everyone thought he was the nicest guy and they wrote a storyline for him. you can post those songs to my app and tag me... ill listen. |
Best scene/music 'moment' in the Entourage Series for you personally? | My favorite was "In My Lifetime" remix by Jay Z at the end of season 6 i believe. I actually made a list of my 10 favorite end credit spots and why on Link to www.undrtone.com |
I saw Entourage last night, and loved it! How long does your process work? how do you know when a song is right for a scene? Awesome job! | Do you mind buying more tix? If we get to $100m i get a bonus lol It takes a while. there was actually 40+ songs in the movie. Most of them you dont even notice. its a lot of trial and error |
Do you have any kind of formal background in music through education or your career? | NO. I'm scared to learn how to play music. Once I learned how movies were made I started to hate them all. I really go by how it makes me feel more than knowing its technically "good" |
Is music your passion and if yes then how did you find that it was? | I always loved music. I never thought that I would some day work in music. I just told my good friend the music on his show sucked and some how wound up here today lol |
Favorite places to find good new music online? Specifics! And how do you organize your music? | See above about my folder of kids i follow... you may be one of them! i am not organized. i need someone to help me organize all my music. its hard!!! |
Where can we find a list of all the songs used in the film? | I dont have a list of all the songs but I could start posting them on my app next week... keep checking. I still want people to be surprised |
Who is funnier: Matt Salsberg or Ben Baller? Do you play PLO Cash? | I dont play PLO cash big. only small. I like heads up online best. Ben might be funnier bc hes not tryin to be funny :) |
Why do you think How to Make it in America didn't make it? | I have some idea of why but i think mostly because all you kids who loved the show didnt watch it on HBO. You waited for it on the Torrent sites ha. |
We should hang out, smoke, analyze music so I can get paid while doing what you're doing. How does that happen? | You can use my app. send me 10 of your favorite songs. reference that we spoke here. If I like them I will contact you. Maybe we can figure something out. |
What are your plans now that Entourage is done? Looking into anymore films? | Headed to the World series of poker and working on a radio show (coming soon) |
Hey Scott. Love the placements brother. Whats the best way to send you some links to music? My group just cut a record in Joshua Tree would love for you to hear it. | Joshua Tree sounds cool. I hope you had "fun" making it. you can tag me on my app Link to www.undrtone.com and i promise to listen... |
What are some of the accounts you follow on the secret Instagram mentioned in your Complex interview? Or are those a secret too? | That I will never tell but there is an underground music scene on Instagram that is amazing!!! |
What events are you playing at WSOP? Do u think that guy cheated in the 10k headsup? Do you listen to music while you play poker? | Playing millionaire maker this weekend. What happen in 10k? i missed it. i was working all day |
Where did you find the In It For The Kill Skream remix? | I wish I remembered. def on a blog. never thought I'd be able to use it on TV. |
Who are some of your favorite up and coming artists? | SG Lewis, Rationale, Allison Taylor and Elliphant |
I'm a huge Entourage fan and I think the credits songs enhanced each episode. What was your favorite episode and what song did you add to the end of it? | My favorite episode was the last one. we ended it with "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin |
Do you source music from sites like Broadjam and Music XRay? | Never heard of them. are they music libraries? |
I'm not a Music X-Ray member, so I can only speak about Broadjam: for a fee, they connect independent composers with licensing opportunities. Most of the opportunity providers are library owners and A&R folks. | Hmm. i dont know much about those but I dont like the idea of an artist paying a fee to reach people like me. Especially in this day and age. Social media. You can find us and guess what. I dont think they have an easier way of reaching me (or people like me) than u do. Good music rises to the top. save your money for making more music. |
Do you have a preference for the speakers/headphones you listen on? If so, which do you enjoy the most? | When im working I like to use my JBL LSR's |
What did you think of the TIDAL rollout? | I think there is room for everyone. |
Who are some of your favourite Australian artists? Love all your work, movie was dope and so was the music in it, cheers. | Tame Impala is great. They are in the movie and on the soundtrack. |
I thought the placement of "elephant" in the new movie was perfect...well done. | Thanks. the editor made me look good on that one. |
Out of college need a job, what you do seems like a dream come truu, how do you get into this line of work? | Luck... i answered above... it doesnt pay well but its fun :) |
How poorly does it pay? what kind of car do you drive? | Uber. |
Questions | Answers |
---|---|
Anyway what is one battle that you would show to people who have not seen a battle before? | One of the best battles to show someone unfamiliar with the scene is Kid Twist vs DumbFounDead because it just has a universal comedic appeal. If they like more "rap" type stuff then Pass vs Hollow for sure. |
what is your favourite battle that you have done? | My favorite battle that Ive done is probably vs DumbFounDead, maybe Hollohan as a close 2nd because that was my first trip to Canada. And of course the first jumpoff final in vegas. |
Also what battlers do you rate the most from Dont Flop? | My favorites in DF are Unan, Eurgh & Cruger of course, Soul, Deff, Matter, Shuffle T & Marlo. |
How much weed/oil/wax do you go through on any given day? - if you could get one beat from any producer today, who? | I pretty much strictly smoke wax now, i just reload my micro G maybe 3 times a day to stay vaped. Take a dab or two throughout the day as well. |
Alchemist is THAT DUDE. | |
Did the altercation with manik go any further than what was on camera? Was probably the biggest bitchmove in all of battle rap, catching feelings over such a non personal battle.. | The drama from the Manik battle was deaded outside the venue immediately afterward. Everything's all good, it just got heated. |
If you had your current frame of mind in regard to reacting to shock value bars, would you have reacted any differently in the 2v2 vs Po and Diaz? | My current frame of mind is no different now than it was then regarding bars about the deceased. |
Wait i do have a question actually. you had said to me once that taking LSD opened up your mind to be able to freestyle as well as you do. can you explain and expand on this? | As a youngster i did hella LSD lol. Honestly it just assisted/fried my brain into looking at things in a different context to the point of where I basically processed everything backwards when i would freestyle. Id see the punchline/payoff line and then I would just sort of subconsciously rhyme myself to that point almost on autopilot. Shit was fucked up haha. |
Well hello sir. My only question for you is ... when are we going to kick it again my old friend!!? | You BETTER be at WD4 bro. I miss hangin out with the Gawd. Holler at me fam. |
I won't be there unfortunately, but I'm thinking I might take a trip to California again sometime so I'll let you know. | Hell yeah lemme know fam. Youre always welcome in Cali. |
Did you ever battle eyedea (RIP)? Do you ever get angry at shit people say about you during battles? | Never battled Eyedea unfortunately. He was a huge influence Im at the point now where nothing bothers me at all in battles. If someone brings up my dad disrespectfully I just think less of them as a human now. |
Also could you brag a little? What's your best line/ battle you've ever had? | Best battle was vs DumbFounDead I think. |
Yo man, cheers for the years of entertainment. Your 05 Justice battle is probably my favorite of all time, and your Hollohan match is another I watch regularly. And who stole the tapes?! What did we miss? | I dunno who stole the tapes for certain hahahahahaha. We all have our theories tho. |
Excluding yourself, do you have a current Top 5 or any match-ups you would either like to see or be in? Do you have a favorite battle of yours? | Current top 5 as of Today - Real Deal, Aye Verb, Big T, JC, Daylyt. |
Have you ever done an online text battle and would you admit if you had? | Hahaha yes. I have. Way back in the day. |
Okay, a few more, haha. | He wrote all 3 rounds. |
In your battle with Solomon, do you think he came with mostly writtens while you were mostly freestyling? That seemed to be the impression I got. Also, how often does a battle linger? Similar to a bad beat, say if you think about a rebuttal you could have had that you thought of later? | A battle doesnt really linger, I dont ever worry about the judges votes or outcome. Unless theres money on the line. |
, I know the answer, at least the official one, but did you and Mac Lethal actually not discuss rhyme schemes and/or possible rebuttals before the battle? | No. We booked Mac's flight 8 hours before the event began. We didnt have time to do anything like that. |
How much do you profit on an average year from poker? What's your biggest tournament or cash game win in a single sitting? Do you think you beat Real Deal? | Ive averaged 55k a year playing poker since I started playing full time 10 years ago. Only had one losing year, two years close to break even and a steady increase every year since 2007 once I had more of a padding to my bankroll. The best I've ever done in a day is 38k in 24 hours. Beat up a cash game for 7700, played directly into their noon tourney which i chopped for 17k and then won almost another 15k playing cash after that just riding the rush. |
I beat real Deal, Two Times™ | |
How the hell do you make more profit now that 07? Games were crazy soft back then. | Because I started playing bigger and also got a shitload better. particularly in MTTs. |
Why do you think URL/Smack-style rappers haven't adopted freestyle or rebuttles as much as KOTD/Grindtime/Don't Flop rappers? | Freestyling is something that such a small percentage of the world can actually do. And pretty much everyone who is given the opportunity to write instead of freestyle is gonna maximize their writing. No point in straying from the script if it isnt better than what youve written. |
Also, what are the things promoters get right or wrong that viewers don't know about? | Promoters think this is an instant gold mine as far as throwing events and whatnot. They dont know how much work & time goes into putting things together and to building a big enough following to be able to make money off of it. |
What is your opinion of Lil Wayne as a rapper? | He has a few moments of greatness and a lot of nonsense. |
When will we see you in the URL? | When i get an opponent that Id really like to battle. |
Do you feel like the staff at the URL are very selective of who they let on their platform? Is it bad that they're doing that? | They are selective and its a good thing to an extent. Its about quality control. |
what does it mean personally to get co-signed by Drake? Does it push you further to write battles and make good music? | Drake's cosign is an incredible feeling honestly. For him to say anything at all is huge, and for him to speak highly of me is very surreal. Hes a great artist, one of the biggest in the world at the moment and the light hes shining on the battle scene as a whole is really a great look. |
Rematch Mac Lethal for a stack of flapjacks? | Only if it gets that many views. |
What do you think is the best overall TheSaurus performance? And best TheSaurus round? | I think my best performance in the written format was vs Dumbfoundead and anyone who was there live could probably attest to it. My best round is a tough call. I liked my 2nd vs DNA, i liked my 3rd vs Ness, my 3rd vs Madness. I'll put more thought into it and come up with a definitive answer. |
Hello TheSaurus! Great work first of all. What do you think about the foreign country rap battle fans? Especially the ones where English is not their main language, in terms of verse complexity? What is your Top5 In battle rap right now? Keep it up! | I love the foreign fans. I think the fact that battling is now on a global scale is such a huge/positive thing for the scene, everywhere I have gone the fans have been amazing. And the fact that they can process it all in a language that isnt even theirs is very impressive. |
Who's your favorite battler that is currently active? | Current favorite might be the homie Real Deal. or JC. |
How long does it take for you to rehearse your verses? | I can memorize verses in less than an hour if need be. All depends of the urgency of it. |
Do you think GrindTime will ever make a comeback? | Grindtime is done for from the looks of things. |
What's your opinion on the controversy behind Arcane and battle raps being bought? How is Organik trying to handle all of that? Are battlers pissed at Dizaster for exposing how often bars are bought? | The controversy has blown over for the most part. Basically Pat Stay is his punishment lol. Or its his way to prove that he really deserves to be champ. Either way i think its fitting. |
No one's pissed at Diz tho. Battlers dont buy bars. That was one exception. | |
Back when GrindTime had OT rounds was there ever a time you never got to spit a fourth round you had written that you really liked? Or was there ever an opponent that fell through you had some great material for? Basically please tell some old bars you never got the chance to say haha. | I wish I could remember any of that stuff but it was like 2 laptops ago haha. Im sorry man. |
Thanks for doing the AMA: My question is simply, how did you get so good at rapping? | Relentless practice & work and being lucky enough to be surrounded by some of my biggest positive influences in rap. |
What do you make of Mainstream rappers like kanye etc? It seems like all the underground guys spit way better than they do. | Im a fan of a lot of mainstream artists. Some of them might not have the same intricate writing styles or depth to their lyrics but they just plain know how to make amazing music that I can relate/vibe to. |
Shouts from Manchester UK. How come you have never battled on SMACK/URL ? | Ive yet to be offered an opponent that Id have heavy interest in battling. |
Mostly live or online? | I was a live prop for 6 years. ive mostly played live since i started playing full time. |
Biggest live win? (Tourney) | Biggest live tourney cash was about 17k. |
Cool hope to see you back at Don't Flop again soon dude. | I'll be back ina few months! |
How do you come up with your raps under pressure? | Im used to it. I came up in an era of battling where it was a 32 man tournament and zero preparation. Executing under pressure was the nature of the beast. |
How do the raps flow to you? Do you ever find yourself struggling for a word to rhyme with? | It just kind of comes to me naturally to tell the truth. Its like a rolodex in my brain. I say or think of a word or phrase and have access to a dozen things that fit the rhyme scheme. Acid brain. |
Props for doing this, and all you've done for the movement. Truly Team Legendary. Kind of a reverse of a previous question but, best one I could think of on short notice. Do you feel there were any specific battles where the opponent clearly beat you, but you were awarded the W? What do you think it was due to, if so? Also, do you follow proper-ish bankroll management for your poker endeavors? | I thought Matter beat me in Dont Flop but the judges gave their explanations afterwards and its all just their opinions anyhow. The Pat Stay battle is debatable and so is the Real Deal but who am I to argue with an esteemed panel of elite judges lol. |
Big fan here with a mediocre question: What's your favorite battle that you've been in? And who do you think (besides you) has the best wordplay skills out of all the battlers on the scene right now? | The DumbFouDead & illmac battles are probably my favorites Ive ever been in. |
As far as wordplay goes I think KG the Poet is underrated, obviously CHilla is crazy with it, JC is nice too but hes more polished overall. | |
Why does everyoje feel like they can call you Pete?? | Best question yet. Somehow unanswerable. |
Have you ever thought about getting on the Dirtbag Dan show? Shit would be hilarious. | Yeah itll happen when i can get to the Bay for a weekend. Ive just been in & outta town too much. |
How do you feel about Rhymesayers, Atmosphere, Eyedea, and Mac Lethal? Thanks for the AMA! | Always been a huge fan of Rhymesayers as a whole. Mac Lethal is the homie and a huge influence on me, always has been. Eyedea was a big influence as well in the freestyle era for me, not so much for his music. Brother Ali is probably my favorite artist under Rhymesayers honestly tho. |
You mentioned that Illmaculate was the toughest that you had to prep for- what battler do you think brought the best material against you? Regardless of your own performance. | Madness: You got a dirty mechanic's face, but cant fix a pair of brakes You look like you let yourself marinate in nair & mace And the result was your flesh is the same texture as carrot cake. |
Since no one else really asked, who are your biggest influences as far as writing goes? | Writing wise Mac Lethal was an early influence. Now its more like cats like Bender & only & ill. |
What do you look for first in a hip hop song? Structure, content, story telling, flow, wordplay, multies? Top 5 dead or alive? And top 5 up and comers (not battle rap) | Content, delivery and the beat. |
Since everyones been talking about your battles (rightfully so), talk a bit about your poker, what stakes do you play, what kind of ROI / hourly do you have, I currently play 10/20-25/50 PLO cash, and get extremely good results, how do you do, would you like to furthur discuss poker / have a player to discuss with? | I primarily play 1-3 & 5-5 NLH cash & whenever a well structured tourney series comes to LA or Vegas I try to play a handful of events. I was a $20-40 limit prop for a few years then moved on to playing on my own time and since then have had great cash results along with about 100k in tourney cashes live & online. Interestingly a lot of top pros follow the battle scene as well and Ive become friends with some guys who I look up to as players and earn a lot from. Its pretty crazy. |
Sounds ballin, did you play the WSOP this year? who are some of those guys, i could imagine galfond, laak, esfandiari probably? or am i way off. | Yeah I played 4 events. ive played the main event the last 4 years as well. Jeff Madsen is a homie of mine. Negraneau is a fan, a ton of online pros as well. |
Earn or learn? | Lol i meant learn but both i guess. |
In your honest opinion who is the top battle MC in the world at this very moment? Not just KOTD but across all leagues. | Tough call. I prefer Aye Verb but I feel JC is on his way there and Id put Real Deal in that class as well based on consistency and how well written & executed everything tey do is. |
What happened to your battle with rone? did that good stuff get postponed? | It was cancelled, i believe for budgetary reasons. Hopefully will get booked elsewhere or even thru them in the future. |
What are your thoughts on the whole Diz/Caustic/Arcane situation? Do you think there should be a rematch? | I wouldnt mind seeing Caustic battle Arcane. A Diz rematch vs Arcane would be interesting too tho in all honesty Charron deserves the next title shot no matter who has the chain. |
What battlers music is the best in your opinion? | Only One & illmac in my opinion make the best music or at least I listen to theirs the most. |
Whatever happened to Bo-Rat?? how come he doesn't battle anymore? i remember you guys had a couple classics back in the scribble days. | I kick it with Bo regularly. He lives here in LA and dropped an album a few months ago called Bo Knows Rap. He just got over the battle shit eventually like a lot of battlers did. |
Would you ever go and battle on GTN? | I would. For 10k. |
Your 2 on 2 vs Po and Diaz, anything you'd like to change about that battle. | Id like to change... THE OUTCOME. |
I follow you on twitter, and see your a poker fanatic, any tips when playing with buddies? | Play aggressive, stay relentless. but dont overcommit w/ big raises. Just small ball their life away. |
Is singing something that comes naturally or can I improve my vocals without auto tune? | Singing can be taught. Autotune wont teach you how, itll just clean things up a little. |
I'm English and a massive fan of Don't Flop, (obviously) King Of The Dot, URL, Basementality, etc. and you are the reason i got into battle rap. Must have been a while back but I saw one of your battles and was immediately hooked on written battles. Anyway I have 2 questions -What is you favourite league to battle in and why? -If you could battle any UK rapper from Don't Flop, who you haven't battled already who would it be and why? | I still think KOTD is my favorite league to battle in but DF is very close. There are both pretty even honestly. Toronto is one of my favorite cities in the world and they always show me love. And the DF crowd is currently the mot passionate in the world, they are incredible. I have a new DF opponent locked in, youll find out who it is soon! |
Is it an English rapper cause there's a long list of guys I wanna see you face In DF, what would be your top pick to battle from these guys? Arkaic YouthOracle Dialect Mr 13 Bamalam Eurgh (again) | It is an English rapper. |
How do you feel against battling Loonie, How would you prepare for him when most of his battles are in Tagalog? Also, what is you're favorite poker game specifically (NL/ Pot Limit Hold Em'/ Omaha?) | I feel great about the battle. Im not doing anything particularly different to prepare. I dont really even watch my opponents battles before I get ready. iw atch other performances that hype me up. |
I prefer NLH, Razz and Omaha 8 O/B. | |
When was the worst time that an opponent of yours humiliated themself? also curious how frequent intergender rap battles happen, i never see them. | Thats kind of a tough one, I dunno that ive had an opponent humiliate themselves too badly. Maybe the way Diaz acted after the shove hahaha but we're all good now so I dunno if that even counts. |
Intergender battles happen rarely. I believe Ness Lee vs Bonnie Godiva is happening in Sept on iBattle. | |
Is there any connection or skill parallel between rap battling and playing poker professionally? | I guess its made it easier to figure out what approach people are gonna take against me and thus how to dissect that or at least try. And my memory, which is used in different ways for each but still used a lot in both. |
Sup saurus... What do u think of rmbva.com? | Im down w rmbva. Foreman is the homie, has been for a long time. Shoutout to RMBVA. |
Also, any advice for an aspiring alternative rapper? | Practice relentlessly. And listen to constructive criticism with an open mind. |
As a battle legend you've lived through Battle Rap's transition from more freestyle-over-instrumental oriented battles to more theatrical and rehearsed monologue oriented battles. You've managed to make your lane in both of these forms of battle rap. How do you feel about the transition and which was more enjoyable for you? | I will always enjoy the freestyle format more than anything because there was just a different feel to it. I still love the direction battling is taking and I understand completely because there simply arent enough good freestylers to keep everyone entertained for the longevity of the artform. |
You've said you can write down your lyrics once and they're basically committed to memory? Would you say you have a photographic memory? How has your memory played a part in your life outside of rapping? | By the time Im finished writing a verse its basically committed to memory. My memory is borderline photographic but not fully. I cant memorize phone books or anything. It definitely plays a part in poker, going thru hand histories with opponents & whatnot, it makes life easier in a few ways and allows me to cut some corners on tedious things. |
Also, who are the 5 dudes in the world that you think may have a chance of beating you in a pure freestyle battle? Is there anyone that you consider better than yourself? | I'll be honest - I dont think there are 5 people who can beat me in a freestyle battle. Charron & NoCanDo would have the best chance of anyone and Ive beaten them both. There was a point where Hollow freestyled avidly but I dont think he does as much now. But realistically thats about it I consider plenty of people better than me at battling especially in the written format. I have no need to tell them who they are tho cause they could be potential opponents so fuck them. |
What are your goals in terms of making music? How much harder is it for you to write songs vs. writing for opponents, and why? Waiting for your next album to drop!! | Ultimately the goal is to make music that people can universally appreciate on some level. I wouldnt necessarily say that song writing is harder than battle writing but the process is different. The song writing process is more relaxing & therapeutic whereas prepping for a battle is a very aggressive and energetic process, motion creates emotion so to speak. New album coming soon! |
Yo TheSaurus! In your opinion, what's the best flip/rebuttal you've ever done? my favourite is your "I fathered this whole scene!" line, I forget who you were up against though. | Do you know how much this shit is worth in middle earth? |
Is freestyling a skill that needs to be continually honed and worked on, or is it once you've got it, you've got it for good? | You definitely have to continue to freestyle to stay good & sharp but other things definitely factor in like state of mind and being well rested and clear headed. |
Like, if Justice competed in a freestyle tourney tomorrow, would he still be able to kill cats? Or is the sword not sharp enough? | Justice is still a dope rapper in general and Im sure he still thinks of good battle lines on his own. He could come back and do well but I doubt he would do so without testing the waters first. |
Long time fan, Ive got three questions for you. And lastly, Soul Khan quit battle rap to focus on his music, he stated you cant do both and have a successful music career, do you agree? | I can see his point and I agree to an extent. To have a full on music career you have to put all of your time into touring & promoting yourself as that kind of artist. |
How do feel about what some people are calling the demise of Grindtime? A lot of Grindtime artists have moved on to KOTD, how do you feel about league loyalty? | I feel like Grindtime's falloff was inevitable because there were too many people running the show and all of them had their own ideas & input but one league can only be pulled in so many directions before it breaks. |
Any comments on the changing demographics in battle rap? | It has its pros and cons as anything does. Im in full favor of new fans at all times but of course there are gonna be ones that rub people the wrong way haha. |
Where do you see this whole battle rap thing goin in the next 5 years Peter? Thanks butt. | Well my dominican friend, I think that making it to the mainstream is the next step. With Bow Wow bringing URL over to Freestyle Friday on BET and Nick Cannon bringing Conceited onto Wildin Out they are taking huge steps in integrating battling into mainstream hiphop culture as opposed to a smaller sub culture. |
What percentage of your bars that you write for any particular battle would you say end up in your final verse? (How much you throw away/keep) | I probably use about 75% of the material I actually wrie. tons of throwaway bars/ideas that dont make the cut. |
Whats the best piece of advice you've ever received? Great AMA, you sound like a genuine dude and your battles are always fire. | The best advice I ever got was from my mom - As long as you do something that you love for a living you'll never work a day in your life. |
Any further talks yet to get you on that URL stage?? | We gon see, we gon see. |
Thanks for doing this pete! Been watching since wrc, you and illmac started this for me. My question is as follows... Why can someone like dumb, the Palmer squares, and fabolous make multies sound so clean and natural. Where as hopsin and 100 bulletz make them sound awful and forced? | I dont know how to really answer the first question because everyone just processes things differently. |
Also, when will we.see frees over beats again? | I dunno if freestyle battling over beats will ever make a comeback but one can hope. |
How do you prepare for a battle? Not so much how do you prepare your bars, but on the day of the battle how do you get in that "I'm the baddest motherfucker alive and everything I say for the next 3 rounds is gonna be fire" head space? Or is confidence just something that comes to you naturally? Cheers, been a big fan since WRC! | I watch Aye Verb's 3rd round vs Hitman Holla. I do a lot of pacing around pre-battle and i generally shut the rest of the world out. |
The battle scene has seen a lot of changes since 2006 and even the earlier days of Scribble Jam. Yet you've managed to stay near the top all that time. What's next for battle rap? | I think the next step is taking battling to the mainstream, which it seems to be doing with URL linking up w BET and with Wildin Out having Conceited on there now. Its only a matter of time before it goes bigger than that. |
What battle did you have the most fun writing for? | I had a lot of fun writing for DNA. And Ness Lee. |
What was your favorite bascheme/round used against you in any battle. | Pat Stay's 3rd round is the most entertained I think Ive been by an opponent against me. |
In that 2 on 2 in canada where you almost punched a guy, what had you so heated? | Rich mentioning my father and then the fact that we told Diaz to stop talking 4 times during our round. |
Will you be more inclined to attend Battle of the Zae 2 if there is a make-shift Texas Hold Em setup behind the venue? | Nope. Id go to Bay 101 after either way. |
Big Fan Thesaurus, been following you and KOTD/URL/GT since you and Arcane battled at WD1. My question is what do you think the best line anyone has ever used against you? Thanks man, and body Loonie for all of us. | Wow. that is really tough. illmac's "Actin like a lil bitch right now" was fucking amazing. Lets go with that for now. |
Hey, would you ever consider doing a show in Syracuse, New York or something? I'd totally see that. | Id consider doing any show as long as the booking was done properly and everything. |
Are there any rappers who you have a dislike towards? Like, you can't respect. | I honestly get along with just about everyone in the battle scene. There's no one I have beef with or ill feelings towards or any shit like that. I think theres already a built in mutual respect among most battlers just for the fact that we're willing to step in the ring. But Im friends with a ton of these cats outside of battling too and i just generally get along with people pretty well. |
EDIT: One last question. How do I develop my flow so words flow nicely and I don't have to have them on top of each other? | As far as developing flow that just comes with practice and comfortability. |
Have there been any incidents with lines being too personal? I saw that you mentioned Rich, and I don't know who that is. What would I search on YouTube to find that battle? | PoRich & Diaz vs The Saurus & illmaculate. |
If you could go back and do it again, what would you do differently in the PoRich/Diaz battle? The shove clearly hurt, but i feel like you and iLLmac were off that night as well. | I honestly wouldnt do too many things differently. Maybe prep for an extra day. But I dont feel like they beat us regardless. |
Wasn’t online poker supposed to be legal in California by now? The PPA sure thought so. In 2013 John Pappas, the Executive Director, mentioned that, with support from a dozen key tribes, he would be surprised if a bill wasn’t passed by early 2014.But 2014 saw no formal laws breaking through the ball of red tape and greed. Online poker is massively popular all across the world. While it was legal in a widespread manner for many years across the United States this is no longer the case. If you are looking to play online poker in California, there are some offshore global poker sites that you can check out. This guide walks you through everything you need to know You can play for real cash if you are at least 21 years old and physically located in one of the states that allow online poker. These states are Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. you must meet all geo-location requirements to play for real money. you can fund your wsop.com account from anywhere but you cannot play unless you are physically located in nevada. wsop.com nevada is only playable on pc and mac. it is not playable on mobile devices. bring your laptop to take advantage of all the online action. As for what other goodies will wait you if you are in California and want to play poker online, well apart from all manner of different poker game tournaments and cash ring games, you are also Are you ready to play for real money at WSOP.com? If you are 21+ and are physically located in the state of Nevada, then you are eligible to play in the exciting real money cash games and tournaments that we host at WSOP.com, subject to eligibility in our End User License Agreement. If you have already downloaded and installed the WSOP.com software, you can upgrade to a real money account by WSOP Moves Online, But Location Masking Could Be Minefield for Organizers. Posted on: June 11, 2020, 07:56h. Last updated on: June 11, 2020, 05:05h. Can you play on WSOP.com in CA? No, WSOP.com is currently only available in Nevada and New Jersey, where it functions in a shared liquidity market. That also includes its software partner 888poker’s offerings in New Jersey and Delaware. Since GGPoker isn’t available in the United States, you’re going to have to leave the country if you want to play the next round of the WSOP Online Series. The question is, should you travel All of the poker rooms we've told you about above are fine destinations for real-money online poker in California, and we can't really say that any one is the best. The most satisfying place to play for you personally will depend largely on your own preferences and the styles of poker you're most comfortable with. We do have a set of considerations that you may wish to keep in mind when making
[index] [4063] [889] [8002] [3918] [6801] [9581] [5755] [3226] [7341] [682]
GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu plays in his very own GGPoker online tournament! $100K was guaranteed for the final table of just 8 players who qualified ... Music video by Barry Manilow performing It Never Rains In Southern California. (C) 2007 Arista Records LLC, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre - California Love (Full Video) from the album "All Eyez On Me" (1996)🔔 Subscribe to UPROXX Video and ring the bell to turn on notifications... This US States learning video for kids explores California! Also known as the Golden State, California is a state with amazing places like Sacramento, San Fr... The difference between first and second place in the 2019 World Series of Poker Main Event is $4,000,000. Dario Sammartino has been engaged in a grueling hea... There's nothing I love more than playing and talking about the PS3. It seems many of you (and YouTube) felt the same way! PlayStation 3 is a great console an... Play Poker at Ignition: https://geni.us/IwIEPxX Full Review: https://geni.us/lvbnn Bonus Codes: https://geni.us/SNQOG If your looking to play the wsop app for real money you will unfortunately be ... slideshow and lyric video of Phantom Planet's hit single "California" Made famous as the main theme for the show "The O.C" Can be found in the album, "The ... At WSOP.com, anyone can play and anyone can win. Dreams are dealt on daily basis. And no matter who you are, there's always a seat waiting for you. Dreams are dealt on daily basis.
Copyright © 2024 m.top10casinoplay.lat