Beat: This is the only major problem I have with this battle. This beat is pretty boring, in fact, I can barely stand to listen to it without the battle, which is so weird considering how I'd say the exact opposite about last battle's beat. It's pretty repetitive too, and even when it does change a bit, it's still boring. It doesn't even fit the rappers well, so I can't say much good about this beat. 4.5/10
Impressions and Costumes: All costumes excluding Washington are pitch perfect, no pun intended even though I wish it was intended. Especially Billy Mays, I honestly look at Colin and the real Mays side by side and can't see the differences. The voices aren't as impressive. Billy Mays' voice has the right enthusiasm, but it's too high, and Vince's voice is too raspy. 8/10
Ben Franklin-Round 1: A bit of a predictable start, but it starts to get really good around the Rick James line. The death or taxes line is really good and the bird sh*t line is also pretty funny. Lots of people gush about the lyrical coffin line, and it's kind of clever, but you could use this line in literally any rap battle and it would make just as much sense. The Arthur Miller line let me get a question right on Jeopardy once, plus it's a good line. So while the verse doesn't have too many GREAT lines, it's got a lot of decent ones, and those add up. 9/10
Billy Mays-Round 1: The TV offer line is funny, and the table crushing gives it a great delivery. In fact, the entire first verse is awesome, but the second half is a let down. The lumpy pumpkin thing is kind of funny, but not very clever, and the only decent line in the second half is the shock line. I still have to give that first half credit though. 8.5/10
Ben Franklin-Round 2: The first line is great, but while everyone seems to love the second line, I don't really get it. What, he's going to pay to let Ben Franklin whoop his ass? The ''I'm Money'' thing is pretty good, but the last line is just a combination of two obvious jokes. Not quite as good as the first verse, but still pretty nice. 8.5/10
Vince Offer, the Shamwow Guy-Round 2: This is a verse that was way better than I expected. Vince was sort of just thrown into the battle for the fun of it, Ben Franklin had just had two awesome verses, and there was almost nothing to use about Vince besides his two famous commercials and stripper thing. But surprisingly, they managed to make an excellent verse out of what they had. The first line is too predictable, but then the next 5 lines are all just incredibly awesome and really funny. The losing a dad thing at the end isn't that clever, but this verse is pretty dang close to perfect, about as perfect as you can get with an 8-line verse. Vince might be my favorite rapper in all of season 1. 9.5/10
Overall: The beat is boring, I've been over that already, but the lyrics are some of the most clever ERB has ever done. I love the editing effects in this battle too. There's a lot of detail in the background and just tons of personality everywhere. One thing I never got and never will is why Billy Mays died in the battle even though Ben Franklin died in real life before Mays was born? That's one big historical error there. But I do have to say I'm impressed with this battle. It definitely has quite a few flaws, but it's got great lyrics, great costumes, great editing, and it actually taught me more than lots of the other battles did. 8/10
Ben Franklin's Best Line: You couldn't sell Rick James a bag of crack, you're out of practice.
Ben Franklin's Worst Line: I'm Big Ben Franklin and this shan't be pretty.
Billy Mays' Best Line: I'LL TAKE MY AWESOME AUGER, AND SEW YOUR QUAKER OATS!
Billy Mays' Worst Line: I'M LORD OF THE PITCH, AND LEADER IN HOME SALES!
Vince Offer, the Shamwow Guy's Best Line: Slap chop yo face, make a double chin salsa!
Vince Offer, the Shamwow Guy's Worst Line: You followin' me camera guy? 'Cause it's about to get furious!
Final Results:
Ben Franklin: 17.5/20
Billy Mays and Vince Offer, the Shamwow Guy: 18/20
Billy Mays: 8.5/10 (equivalent to 17/20)
Vince Offer, the Shamwow Guy: 9.5/10 (equivalent to 19/20)
Total Score: 56/70