Uh-oh. We just got word that there’s a rapper from Newport News, Va., who calls himself P.I.C.A.S.So--which is pronounced exactly the same as the name of local celestial brain phunkmaster Pikahsso.
One big difference: Newport News' P.I.C.A.S.so is a born-again Christian rapper, and Dallas' Pikahsso is...well, just a peaceful dude. So the good news here is that this homophonic coincidence probably isn’t going to escalate to 50 Cent vs. The Game Part II.
Nonetheless, we've decided to head off any potential conflict and decide who gets to keep the handle with a little three-part contest...
Name Pikahsso’s moniker is difficult to spell, but P.I.C.A.S.So’s has way too many periods in it--so it takes forever to type. Plus, Pikahsso has about 700 variations on his name, including Piktionary, Pikahssablanca, First Round Draft Pik and Osshakip. On the other hand, he doesn’t have a backronym like Pursuing In Christ And Seeking SOuls. We pick: Pik
Sample Rhyme In “Faleyuh,” Pikahsso rhymes: “Is it the truth about my life you know? / Do you wanna hear it, well here it goes / My lights are overdue and I know that it’s true / that I ain’t really about shhh / You sure you wanna hear some more?” In his song "Shine," P.I.C.A.S.so raps: “Everything will be aight / Just keep believing and putting your trust in Jesus Christ / It’s a dark world and God said that we the light / So be the light and just shine, baby, just shine, baby.” We pick: Pik. No disrespect to J.C., but Pik’s painfully honest self-examination is far more interesting than sentiment lifted off a card from the “Religious” section of the Hallmark stand.
Production Pikahsso’s main beat composer, PPT partner Picnic--who’s worked with Devin The Dude--has an instantly recognizable sound that mixes funk, disco, '80s pop and more. P.I.C.A.S.so, meanwhile, is selling his old beats for $25 apiece. His track “Dance Off” has some pretty cool percussion, but otherwise what we’ve heard isn’t nearly as memorable. We pic: Pik. Again.
So it looks like Pikahsso gets to keep the name. Maybe the now-anonymous gospel rapper from the V.A. can come up with a backronym for M.O.N.E.T. --Jesse Hughey
