Steve 'Flash' JuonIn many ways I respect Braeden b/k/a Beetlebat. There are many things I found relatable off the jump when I first discovered his music. He’s a small content creator on YouTube (same), he’s making what he wants without chasing clout (same), and he goes out of his way to admit a lot of what he does is for his own amusement or entertainment (same). We can’t all be the size of MoistCr1tikal or PewDiePie, so if you’re not having fun doing it, what’s the point? If you ask a lot of famous creators the fame isn’t worth it anyway. It comes with constant anxiety about growing your subscriber base, keeping your established fans happy, avoiding major controversies and constantly second-guessing an algorithm you can’t control. I for one don’t need those headaches.
I can’t tell you “Beginnings” is a legendary album or that “On the Regular” is a great rap song, but at least the honesty is there when he says “All of this stress surrounds me/I just wanna be what I wanna be.” I kind of feel like Scott The Woz is rapping to me, and that’s not so bad (hey all). The failing of his approach when he imitates the tropes of flossy rappers on songs like “Fresh.” His vocal tone is not suited to saying things like “I’ve been popping with the team.” It sounds forced and hollow. The beat is nice though and he wins me back with bars like “If I’m being honest I didn’t think I’d get here.” Alright Braeden, you get a pass.
It’s the contrast between the beats and the person rapping over them that constantly causes confusion though. “Turn It Up” has genuine THUMP befitting the song’s name, but there’s a complete disconnect when I hear this seemingly earnest YouTube creator say “when I walk into the club, I’m fin’ to turn it up.” I hope Braeden understands I only mean this honestly and with no malice — it sounds like the world’s nerdiest version of Three 6 Mafia. It makes me laugh and at least that’s a positive emotional response as opposed to a negative one, so I just can’t hate, but I really can’t take it seriously either.
At the end of the day that’s where I have to leave off with “Beginnings.” I don’t have any regrets about listening to his release, but I think I’d enjoy an instrumental of “Turn It Up” as much or more than the song featuring lyrics, and that’s not the impression you want to leave people with as a rap artist. Then again I genuinely don’t get the feeling he wants to be a rap artist… or at least not a famous one who blows up with a viral TikTok song and suddenly finds himself doing commercials with Ben Affleck. So alright then. He’s not great, and he’s not trying to be because he’s out here having fun, but he’s accidentally better than being God awful at it. I think that’s good enough.