BAM Column: Meeting Twinprov a lesson in patience and kindness
From left, Buck Vrazel, BAM and Clint Vrazel after the first public performance of the “Twinprov Star Trek Rap.”
From Tuesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Twinprov rapping entertains
Sometimes your first instinct isn’t the best one, no matter what your ACT test prep instructor used to say.
On a recent Saturday, I attended an advance screening of “Star Trek” at a local theater. I was a little cranky from getting up early, a little apprehensive that my Trekkie husband would hate the movie, and a lot tired of the rain. And the guy behind me was spitting on me.
Actually, he was teaching his companions beatboxing techniques. But it sounded like spitting, and it went on for 25 minutes.
I was annoyed, but instead of going with my first instinct – to turn around and launch into an aggravated, sharply-worded tirade – I opted to try a bit of patience and humor.
“You’d better not be spitting on my favorite hat,” I said lightly (though maybe a little irritably).
“No, ma’am, we’re professionals. And my head was turned to the side,” said the guy behind me.
“Professional what?” I replied.
The spitters, er, rappers turned out to be Clint and Buck Vrazel, local improv comics who specialize in laying down hot and hilarious beats. Having heard nothing but rhythmic sputtering out of the brothers known as Twinprov, I was firmly unconvinced of their funniness.
But 90 minutes into “Star Trek,” I had a change of heart. The enthralling film stuttered to a halt, setting off cries of alarm in the audience. Before a Trekkie riot could ensue, Clint turned grumbles into giggles with his William Shatner-esque cry of “KHAN!”
OK, so maybe they were funny.
After the movie, I challenged the brothers Vrazel to meet me in the lobby in five minutes with a new “Star Trek” rap and “make it good.” They volleyed by spouting a fun and furious two-minute song based on the film. I replied by reporting about it on my blog, so the twins and their friends in turn pulled a couple of late-nighters to revise, film and post the rap online.
Next I knew, they were performing in front of 400 people at another “Star Trek” screening and later cracking wise in a “Trek”-related video and podcast at the NewsOK studios. Now, they’re pondering new raps based on this summer’s other big movies, maybe “Transformers” or “Harry Potter.”
Because I checked my temper, I got to meet a couple of funny local entertainers. I hope they go far and I get to cover it – and maybe feel like I contributed in some small way to the fun they’re making.
-BAM
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