For some people, writing might be an outlet for emotions, but for senior Ben Sherak, rapping is an outlet for cockiness and for a different side of him that he does not normally express in his daily life.

“Like my rapper named ‘Hunger,’ it’s about hunger for success and the blood of an opponent,” said Sherak. “Everyone has a dark side.”

Senior Peter Spears agrees that a different side of Sherak comes out when he raps. Spears said that Sherak is usually a “gentle kid” who becomes more “enthusiastic and ambitious” when he is rapping.

Sherak has always been inspired by rappers, such as MF Doom, Blu and Black Thought. When he first began writing his verses, he held them as role models.

Self-taught, Sherak read books about poetic mechanics and line schemes to express himself through rap in a more eloquent way. Sherak said that he tries to make his rapping sound “as clever as possible.”

“His verses are a ton of word play,” said Spears. “It’s very pun-y.”

Spears has helped Sherak with the majority of the beats; in doing so, he said that he noticed how Sherak was a writer before a rapper.

“When you first hear it, you can tell that there are many layers” to his rapping, Spears said. “As you listen again and again, you realize things you didn’t notice before.”

Still an amateur rapper, Sherak has not yet attended many events. However, he has rapped at Hab Fest, which, according to him, was one of the best moments in his music career.

Sherak said that when he comes up with his verses, they sometimes don’t mean anything. For him, it’s more about his emotions and feelings and finding ways to be passionate and energetic. Frequently, Sherak finds his words coming out in an attacking manner.

Senior Collin Blinder also sees the passion and energy with which Sherak raps. Blinder believes that Sherak has always been a “rapping genius.”

Spears and Blinder have shown their support for Sherak and his career as a rapper.

Sherak is currently working on his first album, Feast, with help from Spears. His song, “Take a Look,” is on YouTube, and has drawn many viewers.

Sherak shared his final thoughts on his rapping career with his freestyle verses.

“I’ve got a million mile-an-hour mind, style foul as formaldehyde. The style of rhyme is hard to find, cuttin’ down your power lines.”

Andrea Kim can be contacted at [email protected]