A Sit-Down with Bleu and Jimmy Hoffa - Lets Beef

**NOBLE** · #1 03-13-2018, 11:43 PM

PRESENTS

HOSTED BY:

NOBLE

Welcome to what would've been a part of Episode 3 of the 2018 Text Grand Championship Magazine. I'm only releasing the interview portion where I interviewed @Bleu and @Jimmy Hoffa. We had this discussion right after the GC final battle opened and it was meant to drop before the round closed. However, that was around the time things started getting really busy for me at work so I didn't have much time. My apologies to both these guys for the super late release, but I figure it's better late than never. Also, with Bleu announcing his retirement from online battling, this last interview could serve as a sort of epilogue to an illustrious run at LetsBeef.com. Without further delay, let's get into it!

<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">First of all, Jimmy, I'd like to say congrats on making it to this year's GC finals. This isn't your first time being in the Finals, is it?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Thanks for the congrats, and nah this is like trip #5 or something. Just gotta keep adding more hardware to the trophy case, I guess.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">5 trips to the GC Final? Wow! Without touching on the Finals battle itself which has already opened, in what way has that experience, having made it to the end so many times, shaped your approach towards this Finals?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">No no no 5 trips to the Finals overall. This is my 2nd GC final, but overall my past experiences in tourney finals have shown to me that you always have to try to save your best work for last whilst also maintaining a level that's doesn't show complacency. I've noticed a lot of voters in the past seem to look down on the fact that one writer was complacent in comparison to their normal level and it really seemed like the battle was given to the other verse simply based off of complacency, not actual content vs content. So I've learned to be wary of that overtime just to avoid upsets.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">I see. Again, without speaking specifically about the final, which is open, what are your opinions on Bleu as a competitor and his performance throughout this tournament?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Bleu's probably the most respected on LB today, and for good reason. I've not seen a lot of bars from him that really wow me, but he comes to each battle at a consistently strong level no matter what, which is why no one really seems to be able to beat him. They lack the consistency (and most of the time, the strength of content) to actually stand a good chance to beat him. Very solid in the fundamentals and can craft bars on a whim because of it. His performance so far in the tourney isn't really what I would consider his best work (I think his verses in the Audio GC last year were probably his best so far), but he's been able to keep that consistent pace in each battle he's been in to where the other opponent falters. I feel a lot of it has to do with a lot of opponents over think at times when it comes to facing him (which I'm a prime example of considering I've lost to him, too), but overall no one's really been able to match the consistency and the strength of content in this tourney. With that being said, he's been able to do that across multiple tourneys, which is probably why he'll go down as the most successful battler on LB when he puts the pen away.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Any last thoughts you'd like to leave with the readers/voters?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Thanks for all of the support in not just my battles, but all of the battles across the GC. Hopefully next time we can make it 64 competitors and get the extra round of dope material. Also, if you have friends that are interested in rap, don't be afraid to recommend them to here. Whether they take it seriously or like this as just a hobby, the more people we have the better the community is. Thanks again, and AC's till the lames leave.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Thanks a lot, Jimmy Hoffa, for taking the time to do this interview. It's much appreciated!
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Not a problem, NOBLE. Also, #Hoffa4Mod
<hr>
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Bleu, a lot of people rank you as the GOAT or as being among the greatest to ever do this online battling thing. How do you react towards that?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">I don't really care about that at all tbh. I don't have much of a reaction if anything I don't know how to react other than to genuinely thank anyone who appreciates my work that much. I don't take pride in it necessarily but it's still an honor to be considered in that regard.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">You're currently 2X Grand Champion. You've also won a couple orange Custom Beat titles, which used to be a GC event when we had two Audio GC's per year (one custom beat and one acapella). You easily could've been a 4X or 5X Grand Champion by now if things had gone a certain way. What keeps you motivated in wanting to keep competing?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">My love for this art form and the community on LB although it's been crumbling for a while now. That's what I care about and that's the only thing that's kept me around battling honestly.. I've been lacking motivation to keep battling for a good 2 years now. Battle rap can bring about a dope community, and I met a lot of cool people / great minds during my stay on LB. I want this art form to keep advancing and living on because I really appreciate the potential for creativity and focus on more intricate writing than typical rap. Not to mention, a site like this is how I really got into writing bars so this format holds a special place in my heart.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Without touching on the Final, which has already opened, what are your opinions on Jimmy Hoffa as a competitor and his performance throughout this tournament?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">He's up there with the best of the text heads that are still active maybe not at the most upper echelon but still close to it. He's had solid fundamentals but his lack of creativity conceptually has held him back for a while now. I think he's been up to par with his usual level of performance throughout this tourney.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Are there any final thoughts you'd like to leave with the readers/voters?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">Be the best human being you can be and make the world a better place. And don't give up on your dreams. Keep LetsBeef alive if you got love for it still and keep pushing this art form forward when I'm gone, 1ove.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">That's real!
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Your time was greatly appreciated, Bleu. Thanks for agreeing to do this interview, and good luck on the Final bro!
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">No problem, b e z bruh

Well, there you have it folks! I know me posting this is about three weeks late, but I didn't want their time to have been completely wasted by not posting it at all. Hopefully you gain some insight and inspiration from this. It's been my pleasure hosting this year's GC and conducting these mini interviews. Peace!

**NOBLE** · 03-13-2018, 11:43 PM

PRESENTS

HOSTED BY:

NOBLE

Welcome to what would've been a part of Episode 3 of the 2018 Text Grand Championship Magazine. I'm only releasing the interview portion where I interviewed @Bleu and @Jimmy Hoffa. We had this discussion right after the GC final battle opened and it was meant to drop before the round closed. However, that was around the time things started getting really busy for me at work so I didn't have much time. My apologies to both these guys for the super late release, but I figure it's better late than never. Also, with Bleu announcing his retirement from online battling, this last interview could serve as a sort of epilogue to an illustrious run at LetsBeef.com. Without further delay, let's get into it!

<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">First of all, Jimmy, I'd like to say congrats on making it to this year's GC finals. This isn't your first time being in the Finals, is it?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Thanks for the congrats, and nah this is like trip #5 or something. Just gotta keep adding more hardware to the trophy case, I guess.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">5 trips to the GC Final? Wow! Without touching on the Finals battle itself which has already opened, in what way has that experience, having made it to the end so many times, shaped your approach towards this Finals?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">No no no 5 trips to the Finals overall. This is my 2nd GC final, but overall my past experiences in tourney finals have shown to me that you always have to try to save your best work for last whilst also maintaining a level that's doesn't show complacency. I've noticed a lot of voters in the past seem to look down on the fact that one writer was complacent in comparison to their normal level and it really seemed like the battle was given to the other verse simply based off of complacency, not actual content vs content. So I've learned to be wary of that overtime just to avoid upsets.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">I see. Again, without speaking specifically about the final, which is open, what are your opinions on Bleu as a competitor and his performance throughout this tournament?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Bleu's probably the most respected on LB today, and for good reason. I've not seen a lot of bars from him that really wow me, but he comes to each battle at a consistently strong level no matter what, which is why no one really seems to be able to beat him. They lack the consistency (and most of the time, the strength of content) to actually stand a good chance to beat him. Very solid in the fundamentals and can craft bars on a whim because of it. His performance so far in the tourney isn't really what I would consider his best work (I think his verses in the Audio GC last year were probably his best so far), but he's been able to keep that consistent pace in each battle he's been in to where the other opponent falters. I feel a lot of it has to do with a lot of opponents over think at times when it comes to facing him (which I'm a prime example of considering I've lost to him, too), but overall no one's really been able to match the consistency and the strength of content in this tourney. With that being said, he's been able to do that across multiple tourneys, which is probably why he'll go down as the most successful battler on LB when he puts the pen away.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Any last thoughts you'd like to leave with the readers/voters?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Thanks for all of the support in not just my battles, but all of the battles across the GC. Hopefully next time we can make it 64 competitors and get the extra round of dope material. Also, if you have friends that are interested in rap, don't be afraid to recommend them to here. Whether they take it seriously or like this as just a hobby, the more people we have the better the community is. Thanks again, and AC's till the lames leave.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Thanks a lot, Jimmy Hoffa, for taking the time to do this interview. It's much appreciated!
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=892872&dateline=1520149969" alt="Jimmy Hoffa" width="32" height="32">Not a problem, NOBLE. Also, #Hoffa4Mod
<hr>
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Bleu, a lot of people rank you as the GOAT or as being among the greatest to ever do this online battling thing. How do you react towards that?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">I don't really care about that at all tbh. I don't have much of a reaction if anything I don't know how to react other than to genuinely thank anyone who appreciates my work that much. I don't take pride in it necessarily but it's still an honor to be considered in that regard.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">You're currently 2X Grand Champion. You've also won a couple orange Custom Beat titles, which used to be a GC event when we had two Audio GC's per year (one custom beat and one acapella). You easily could've been a 4X or 5X Grand Champion by now if things had gone a certain way. What keeps you motivated in wanting to keep competing?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">My love for this art form and the community on LB although it's been crumbling for a while now. That's what I care about and that's the only thing that's kept me around battling honestly.. I've been lacking motivation to keep battling for a good 2 years now. Battle rap can bring about a dope community, and I met a lot of cool people / great minds during my stay on LB. I want this art form to keep advancing and living on because I really appreciate the potential for creativity and focus on more intricate writing than typical rap. Not to mention, a site like this is how I really got into writing bars so this format holds a special place in my heart.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Without touching on the Final, which has already opened, what are your opinions on Jimmy Hoffa as a competitor and his performance throughout this tournament?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">He's up there with the best of the text heads that are still active maybe not at the most upper echelon but still close to it. He's had solid fundamentals but his lack of creativity conceptually has held him back for a while now. I think he's been up to par with his usual level of performance throughout this tourney.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Are there any final thoughts you'd like to leave with the readers/voters?
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">Be the best human being you can be and make the world a better place. And don't give up on your dreams. Keep LetsBeef alive if you got love for it still and keep pushing this art form forward when I'm gone, 1ove.
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">That's real!
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=880334&dateline=1520240180" alt="NOBLE" width="32" height="32">Your time was greatly appreciated, Bleu. Thanks for agreeing to do this interview, and good luck on the Final bro!
<img src="https://www.letsbeef.com/forums/image.php?u=41814&dateline=1460191047" alt="Bleu" width="19" height="32">No problem, b e z bruh

Well, there you have it folks! I know me posting this is about three weeks late, but I didn't want their time to have been completely wasted by not posting it at all. Hopefully you gain some insight and inspiration from this. It's been my pleasure hosting this year's GC and conducting these mini interviews. Peace!