is this justin thing serious

Fame Forum

how clever it is that a rapper is in the finals. there's one problem: he's not any good. justin jacoby is simply a terrible rapper. these panelists must have absolutely no knowledge of hip-hop music.

really? I thought he was awesome. to each his/her own, I guess.

I don't think Justin is a bad rapper. I do think, however, the comparisons to Eminem are completely justified.

To be mentioned with a guy like Eminem is high praise, but his style is just not original - it's way too similar IMO.

To me, Johnny's comment about taking him to Europe was pretty back-handed. He was basically telling him the U.S. rap industry would chew him up and spit him out (which is true), so he'd take him to Europe.

Just a thought, but Eminem, 50 Cent, and Busta Rhymes are about ready to kill Ja Rule, a thug in his own right. What would they do with this kid, from the hard streets of Thousand Oaks?

I like Justin and think he has a much better personality than Eminem... I've always thought Eminem was a punk with a bad attitude...

But I agree that it will be hard for Justin to break out in that genre considering it's so competitive now, ad I think the Eminem comparisons will hurt him...

So true, you guys. Sorry rappers, but I have to say that rapping isnt the same as singing (like I said before its apples and oranges) and justin's strengths as a performer is best suited in a different arena. I just cant see justin compete against the likes of shannon bex and harlemm lee who, I personally think, have the best qualities among others.

I definitely place Shannon and Harlemm higher than Justin, but that doesn't mean I consider Justin last place... I prefer Justin to Serena, Garry, Allyson, Lauren, Jamisen, and others (I believe Justin was 5th on my list?)

Sorry to say this but I can't believe the judges don't catch him lip synching in the group numbers or for that matter when dances, keep a close eye on him, he seems out of place and why hasn't the producers given him the chance to sing when it comes his turn, cause he can't...original yes, but Fame material, triple threat as they say - NO!!! Although I don't like some of the things Eminem stands for, the man has talent and to compare Justin to Eminem, way off base there... that's my 2 cents

You guys are wrong. I am from Thousand Oaks and Justin just transferred to my school 4 months ago. He is from LA so he knows his ****.

I like justin he is so fine he is ok at rapping he is trying to be eminem but all I can say is I cant wait to put his poster in my room

I think Johnny was trying to say that Justin's act needs to be developed and refined, and tested with the European market, esp. since the industry is such a big one in the U.S. He does have talent, but i dont think he is in the same category as the rest. it is like apples and oranges.

I think Johnny's being nice when he says Justin could improve his rhythm. He has no sense of beat. At all. And I agree with whomever said it was apples and oranges. If they want an American Idol: Rap, do so, but I don't think he belongs in this competition.

wuzzled, you hit the nail on the head. Justin has a LOT of room for improvement here, but he has potential. However, this isn't his competition. Do remember that the winner gets a part in the FAME musical, and I'm not sure his voice would really work for it.

I've wondered the same thing - are they going to rewrite the musical to have a part for him like they do in every production number?

Maybe I'm just cynical, but I'm not convinced that just being the triple threat is all there is to it. I think they made a sincere effor to incorporate diversity in the racial/nationality backgrounds of the contestants - not that that's a bad thing - but in the same way, I wonder if they didn't promote Justin to the finals so that they weren't "kicking out the rapper." A different kind of diversity, you know?

But I just caught one of the earlier episodes on Bravo that I had missed the first time around, and there was another rapper who I thought was much better.

I think all reality shows are probably rigged to some degree.

I definitely agree that reality shows like Survivor, Joe Millionaire, and The Bachelor edit their shows to pull you in a specific direction. These shows are taped months before they are aired and, since the producers know the outcome, they can edit however they like. This keeps the viewership up.

This is a little trickier with "live" shows (such as Fame and American Idol). However, I do believe that the anyone who has a vested interest (such as a record company, producer or talent agent) has an idea who they want to win. I belive that the judges are then told to push one of the performers over the others (such as Ruben on AI - great singer, but he did have some off performances, which were never commented on).

I don't necessary feel that they are "fixed", but do feel that they are manipulated in such a way that those with a financial interest in the outcome come out on top.

Very well put, that is definatley food for thought. Nice response.

yep, that makes me wonder how Harlem would be a nightmare for these industry guys to market and why they would for sure prefer a shannon or alex to win : a no-brainer in terms of old school marketing tricks.
How do you go selling a little googled asian guy???
You have to invent a strategy for AAAAAAAAMERICA.
I don't think Mcdonald would be ready yet to put his bold head on it's Big Mack!!

damn ya'll r motha ****in haters! seriously, if u heard this cat rap in the studio, u wouldnt be hatin much longer... he is extrememly talented. i've heard his new demo song....a week ago and it is so tight! i could hear that **** on the radio...he and his crew are very talented...they wrote and recorded all their parts a couple saturdays ago and it seriously is workin for me...he do got the triple threat goin on..he got the looks, the personality, he can dance, and he can rap...and yes HE CAN RAP! so please dont judge the boy b/c u really dont know him..he got a heart of gold and he is tight!