'Platinum Hit' recap - 'Rap Heroes'

['Platinum Hit' - Season 1 Episode 3]

The contestants wake up to a new challenge; Nick was still depressed that Karen was eliminated instead of Melissa. Jackie wanted to fight back from her appearance in the bottom three last week. The contestants arrived in the studio for their Hook Challenge. Jewel arrived in a leather dress and announced that they would be writing about superpowers they wish they had. The big twist was that they had to rap. The guest judge was Rodney Jerkins. The contestants dispersed after being given their normal 30 minutes.

Sonyae had rap around her being brought up in New Jersey. Melissa claimed that 2Pac was an influence; Scotty thought her lyrics were hysterical. Scotty decided to use his video gamer influences for his song.

Melissa started with her "Instant Love" which brought smiles and laughs; Rodney thought it was like a Vegas act. Jes' hook sounded like beat poetry. Jackie called herself a cracker. Brian had a repetitive "down south" lyric. Sonyae wrote "Miss Make the Boys Cry" and Rodney liked the combination of her rapping and singing. Johnny's rap was a bit silly, but got positive reviews as well. After the judges conferred, they announced the winners from third to first were Jackie, Sonyae, and Johnny.

Jewel announced that the singers have to merge their rap with another genre of music. She wanted to make sure that the hybrids would reach the caliber of B.o.B and Hayley Williams, which doesn't set the bar that high. After picking the teams, Jewel announced they would only have the rest of the day to make the song.

Team Johnny: Johnny, Scotty, and Jes
Team Sonyae: Sonyae, Nick, and Melissa
Team Jackie: Jackie, Brian, and Amber

Johnny wanted to find more parallels for walking through walls so he suggested famous walls could be incorporated. Scotty wanted to merge operatic/soundtrack style and immediately had a hook for a chorus. In Jackie's studio, she explained that she wanted to be a fly white girl; Brian suggested that they pick a doo-wop theme to match the rap. In studio three, Sonyae wasn't sure of the genre she was looking for; Nick suggested an R&B/Rock Rap song. It was arguably the most typical suggestion made. Melissa stood on the side in silence and confusion; she didn't want to get between the arguments of Nick and Sonyae.

In studio two, Scotty wanted to make sure that the music was great; Jes and Johnny basically flirted with each other while Scotty looked. He would easily be sent under the bus if he tried to dissent. With time running out, Brian wanted to make sure the track worked well. Jackie and Amber tried to work on lyrics, Amber tried her best to bring more help. Melissa tried her best to help Sonyae and Nick, but Sonyae shot her down for being distracted.

With time running out, Scotty wanted to bring suggestions to Johnny's rap, but he was outvoted. Melissa struggled with piano chords, which upset Nick. Brian was so busy with his track that he didn't contribute lyrics.

After the day was over, Apartment 1 and Apartment 4 were having some fun winding down. In Apartment 2, Johnny and Jes spent time together distressing out. Jes admitted that Johnny was wonderful; she then proceeded to flirt. They kissed a bit, but it ended there. The next morning, Amber was worried about Kara not understanding the humor. Johnny nervously opened a bag and it exploded all over him.

Jewel welcomed the contestants to Kara, Keith Naftaly, and Rodney Jerkins. Johnny, Jes, and Scotty started with "Walk through Walls" and it was surprisingly better than I expected. The chorus was really strong. Nick, Sonyae, and Melissa had "Miss Make the Boys Cry" and Sonyae was the most natural in her execution and worked well with Nick. Jackie, Amber, and Brian were last with "Super Duper Rapper" and it was silly but really funny.

In the back, the contestants winded down with some beers. Scotty wondered who would be going home. Nick didn't like Jackie's song. As Jackie left, Nick continued to talk smack about Jackie's song and while Jes tried to defend her, Nick continued on.

The judges called Johnny, Jes, and Scotty and Sonyae, Nick, and Melissa down first. Both teams were the top two teams. Scotty thought it was hard to work with the couple. Keith didn't like the opera-style, but he was impressed by the shift of Johnny. The lyrics were good and the track told a story. As for Sonyae's team, Sonyae knew that her and Nick working together was tough, but they both knew that they wanted to win. Keith liked Sonyae, but the chorus could have used polishing. Kara liked the emotional value and relateability. Jewel announced that the winner was "Walk through Walls." Both teams went back and the six discussed which of the three would go home. They considered Amber hasn't won anything, but Jackie could talk her way out of a paper bag.

Jackie, Amber, and Brian were the bottom team. Brian explained that the song could have been a novelty song. Jackie explained that she and Amber worked together. While they all thought that Missy Elliot was an influence, I'm surprised that none of the team thought of Ke$ha as an influence. Rodney complained about the "canopy bed" lyric, which Amber wrote. Keith thought that Amber hasn't brought anything to the table. Kara thought that Amber needed to be a nurse. Brian was called out for his track being bland. Brian admitted that working with Jackie wasn't the easiest. Jewel thought that Jackie has been disappointing, trying to transform a hook into a song. Both Jackie and Brian tried to tell the judges that Amber brought the least to the table.

The contestants went to the back and Brian and Jackie started to bicker. Scotty then suggested that she went too over the top. She started to cry when Scotty was being direct. Nick then tried to throw Sonyae under the bus. Immediately, Sonyae screamed at Nick, giving him an earful.

After the commercial break Kara explained that Brian was reprimanded for his track, Jackie didn't transform her hook, and Amber didn't contribute well enough. Jewel announced that Amber was eliminated. Brian and Jackie were safe. Amber was in tears and told the contestants that they were all amazing.

Next week: Love songs. Nick gets upset with Jackie. Jackie gets sick.