• 57°

Rap ‘battle’ parodies Bob Jones-James Clemens rivalry

Marcos Canabal and Caleb Besaw filmed "Epic Rap Battles of Madison City." (CONTRIBUTED)
Marcos Canabal and Caleb Besaw filmed “Epic Rap Battles of Madison City.” (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison teenagers have filmed a funny, clever parody of the good-natured rivalry between the town’s two high schools.

Both seniors and friends, Caleb Besaw from James Clemens High School and Marcos Canabal from Bob Jones High School got their idea from the “Epic Rap Battles of History” channel on YouTube.

“They pit famous fictional and non-fictional characters against each other in rap battles, like Bill Gates versus Steve Jobs, Cleopatra versus Marilyn Monroe,” Besaw said. Joking around, Besaw and Canabal decided an intra-city rap would be hilarious. After school ended, the spent three weeks filming “Epic Rap Battles of Madison City.”

After opening at Bridge Street, the video shows campus and city scenes.

To view the video, visit http://goo.gl/ZEdrr. The video received more than 1,000 views in two days.

“We made the video for fun and to poke fun at people who try to make a big deal about how the two (schools) are ‘so’ different. We added Dr. Dee Fowler at the end to help signify, though we may be rivals, we’ll always be one school system,” Besaw said.

Canabal and Besaw laugh out of character during their 'epic rap.' (CONTRIBUTED)
Canabal and Besaw laugh out of character during their ‘epic rap.’ (CONTRIBUTED)

Besaw and Canabal wrote and rapped lyrics and operated cameras. Besaw dubbed Fowler. Other crew included Krista Taylor, James Clemens senior, camera; Patrick Quillen, Bob Jones senior, Fowler’s wardrobe and “Fowler’s baby-powder hair and mustache”; and Alex Black, James Clemens senior, portraying Fowler.

A bed sheet at Caleb’s home served as a ‘green screen.’ “The hardest part was editing. I had to match up the prerecorded song with the video,” Besaw said. “We wanted it to be controversial so that people would watch, but not too controversial so that we’d get in trouble.”

What reactions have adults and peers had? “We hope they laugh along with us at the lines and actions,” Besaw said.

At James Clemens, Besaw plays varsity soccer. Canabal is a member of Young Politicians. They both belong to Madison Youth Leadership Council.

More productions are underway. “The teaser is ‘Madison takes on something bigger than itself,'” Besaw said.

Bob Jones High School

Central Office chooses Sellers as top staff member

Events

Huntsville City Football Club to continue first homestand at Joe Davis Stadium 

Huntsville

Joint statement from the city of Huntsville, city of Madison, and Madison County on U.S. Space Command investigation

Huntsville

Strong, Rogers launch investigation into delayed U.S. Space Command HQ announcement 

Events

Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic to be held on Memorial Day weekend

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

At Age 89 Charles Terrell To Walk The 5K Cotton Row Run With Three Daughters Alongside

Business

Gun store’s proximity to schools sparks debate at city council meeting

Gun store’s proximity to schools sparks debate at city council meeting

Digital Version

The Madison Record digital version – May 24, 2023 – Special Graduation Issue

Events

Para-Cycling Road World Cup puts athletes and Huntsville on world stage

James Clemens High School

‘Teacher of the Year’ at Horizon goes to Rebecca Wilson

Events

Crews prepare for this weekend’s Alabama Jubilee in Decatur

Madison

Rotary Club honors Madison’s employees of the year

Events

Eats 4 Education food truck event to support The Schools Foundation set for Thursday

Events

Make Music Day Huntsville encourages residents to let their talents shine on June 21

Madison

Local churches join together to build new church in TN

Local churches join together to build new church in TN

Madison

Jets, Patriots baseball have plenty of college-bound players

Madison

Sparkman Softball makes deep playoff run

Sparkman Softball makes deep playoff run

Events

Local author Jennifer S. Kelly will share “Derby” stories at Madison Library’s Author’s Talk this evening

Huntsville

Calhoun to manage scholarships for Huntsville Utilities and TVA addressing lineworker shortage

Calhoun to manage scholarships for Huntsville Utilities and TVA addressing lineworker shortage

James Clemens High School

Meleighsa McLaughlin named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at James Clemens

Madison

Rocket City Trash Pandas win final three games of Barons series

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Para-Cycling World Cup Racing In North Alabama- Huge Event Memorial Day Weekend At Cummings Research Park

Bob Jones High School

Page credits others for ‘Teacher of the Year’ honor

Events

The 2023 Asbury Car & Bike Show planned for Saturday

x