For the second interview, Babuc, Genius' top pop editor, hits up serein, another top pop editor. They are notable for their rap battle beef that happened prior to the IQ battle, which Babuc won by gaining 10k IQ before serein. However, it seems their beef has cooled down a bit as they get together for a nice interview.
BABU: Let's start simple. How are you?
SEREIN: I'm okay, I guess. I realize that okay is typically not an amazing indicator of emotional geography, but it's probably the most accurate answer I can give.
BABU: Alright, but I hope you can be definitively good soon! Anyway, just how long have you been on Genius?
SEREIN: I've been on Genius for a little more than a year! My career here started January 8th, 2015, and I was editored on July 23rd that same year. I hope I have several more years in me to go!
Although serein tends not to show his face online, I managed to find information on him online and leak it.
BABU: Nice! I know you like Beyoncé. So, what's your favorite Beyoncé song and album?
SEREIN: That's gut-wrenching. Wow. Okay. It's hard to say what my favorite album is but I feel like if I had to pick I would say Beyoncé. In terms of the most playbacks it's definitely that record. If you ask me what I think is my favorite era of hers I'd say 4. My favorite song of hers really varies by my mood. I'd say…“Countdown” or “End of Time” for the happy days; “Mine” for generally okay days, and “Jealous” for the not-so-okay days. Lyrically, “XO”.
BABU: Cool. Obviously, you're a pop editor who some have claimed to be better than me! Shocking. Regardless of that whole debate, what's your favorite non-pop genre and favorite non-pop artist?
SEREIN: I honestly enjoy so many different styles of music so it's hard to necessarily say, “okay, x genre is my favorite”. If you forced me to pick one, probably alternative (if you consider that non-pop) or R&B. Favorite artist in alternative is Florence + The Machine (despite her pop crossover); for R&B I'd say Janelle Monáe. Bleachers is also a personal favorite.
BABU: Interesting that you say Janelle Monáe and Bleachers, as they both worked with Fun. on their album Some Nights. I have it…it's pretty good. However, they broke up, so that ship has sailed. :( Speaking of ships…Scopelights or Michaelangelo?
SEREIN: Asking the hard-hitting questions here! Wow. Let's put it this way: they both make me happy. Michael & Angela have such a playful, dynamic friendship – they never fail to make me smile, despite how controversial it is (Angela's boyfriend vs. Michael seems to be a consistent topic of discussion, at least in my experience, in the editor chats whenever Angela's online). Scopelights' relationship contains the dynamism of Michaelangelo but also a high degree of mutual support and professionalism (which is existent in Michaelangelo, as evident in their Devil Wears Prada/Rock Cleanup work together, but is less prominent). They're my #goals on this website – dedicated, kind, supportive, intelligent, humorous, personable, and always amazing to work with/talk to. Essentially I'm avoiding the question because I love both of them to no end.
BABU: Cute. You know what else is cute? Kinik! Explain your involvement in that.
SEREIN: See the Babuc kinik history tate on the last interview for most of the background on kinik! Kinik is slowly moving into elitism and I've began to reject the movement, though I am not ashamed of being apart of the original genesis & propagation of the concept. To combat its progression, I have consistently procrastinated my photoshopping of the To Pimp A bu*terfly album cover in the Kinik Clique. I do love all of the people that are apart of it, and am proud to consider myself one of them. Babuc doesn't fangirl or even particularly like Beyoncé despite being a pop fan, while serein is obsessed with her. This is thought to be one of the motivating factors behind their beef.
BABU: Cool. Anyway, regardless of our fake beef, you're honestly one of the best and definitely one of the most high-profile pop editors. So what are your personal and community goals for Pop Genius?
SEREIN: I want to see Pop Genius (and frankly all the other communities on the website) grow out of the shadow of Rap Genius, which remains the dominant platform of the website along with what the general public a**ociates Genius with. Not that I have any problem with Rap Genius at all – in fact I think rap lyrics have consistently proven themselves as among the most in need of dissection and discussion – I just hope that Pop Genius builds its own identity past the umbrella of Rap. My personal goals for Pop Genius center around my interaction with the rest of the community – I sometimes feel like I'm not…in conversation with the rest of the Pop community as much as I should have. I talk to a circle of editors+ and that's the main gist of my interaction with the community. I don't like that. Whitehats are just as valid, just as amazing, and I want to increase my presence amongst them.
BABU: Brb plagiarizing that. Anyway, if you could reach #1 on any artist, who would it be?
SEREIN: Outside of Bey (Elizabeth, I AM COMING FOR YOU SISTER), I'd say…Gaga. I'd love to snatch that crown from Chihuahua0, no matter how deserving they are.
BABU: Yeah, both Elizabeth and Chihuahua have astounding IQ counts on Beyoncé and Gaga respectively. Anyway, now for a more personal, yet kinda rude question: How did it feel to lose to me in the iq battle? Do you have anything you'd like to say?
SEREIN: Babuc's a scrub (a guy that can't get no love from me). I sort of gave up at 2k because I was busy and tired.
BABU: Oof, that TLC reference. I heard they're coming back with an album—maybe they'll go on tour! If you could see anyone on tour, who would it be? TLC? Yoncé? Maybe someone else?
SEREIN: Beyoncé, for the entire experience, Kodaline, for the gorgeous vocals, and maybe Gaga because watching her sing live on YouTube always gives me chills. Perhaps Sia; she literally raises goosebumps on my arms.
BABU: Nice job on not misusing literally. It gets misused so much it's practically a meme. Not a Genius meme, though. Speaking of that, what is your favorite Genius meme? Obviously, kinik and barrk don't count, because they're the obvious choices.
SEREIN: That's super hard. I'll go with YEAHTIM, if you can consider that beast a meme.
BABU: He's not a meme, he's a lifestyle. Speaking of lifestyle, everyone knows you're in high school. So If you could get an automatic a on a final for one cla**, what cla** would that be?
SEREIN: AP World History, maybe? IDK, it depends on my grade at the end of the semester haha.
BABU: Aww, I like history, but it is pretty hard. Good thing you're doing this to get it off of your mind. Actually, how does it feel to be the second person interviewed behind MichaelLowry?
SEREIN: I feel privileged and blessed! I have been inaugurated into clearly a very special group of people & I feel lucky to be apart of this project. I never volunteered to be part of this in the first place – people just added me and I'm just rolling with it now.
BABU: I added you haha. Now for the big time questions: what are your thoughts on Eminem and Kanye West, respectively?
SEREIN: I dislike that he uses his alter-egos to disguise his apparent h*mophobia and his fans back him up saying, “oh, that's not him”. I realize he's worked with Sia & Elton John & all that, but I wish he'd stop encouraging this culture of h*mophobia in hiphop which is frankly just toxic and very backwater. Also,I'm sick of Babuc hara**ing baelights about him. Stop yourself, girl. “Lose Yourself” is a good song (the Detroit-based gospel version is k**er), and I'm not going to get the “mom's spaghetti” parodies out of my head haha.
BABU: Brb plagiarizing that, even the part about me hara**ing streetlights, because I totally do. Sorry Niday.
Anyway, Kanye?
SEREIN: #FingersInTheBootyAssb**h. Just kidding, I have some respect for Kanye, albeit his egoism (which, I guess, transcends all hiphop). Sometimes I feel like he needs to back the hell down with what he does but as an artist, I'm a supporter. I'm in love (partly because of Tyrant haha) with his track “Wolves”.
BABU: Keep your love lock down…your love lock…sorry. Anyway, the question we've all been waiting for: EXPLAIN YOUR DAMN USERNAME.
SEREIN: A serein is a meteorological phenomenon in which fine rain falls from a cloudless sky at twilight. The imagery is gorgeous, and at times I feel like it symbolizes myself in an inexplicable way.
BABU: Inexplicable way? More like inexplicable rain! Hahahahahahahahaha…yeah, that was lame. I like puns, obviously, so let's close this off with a punny question. What's the best pun or reference you've ever heard? For example, I hid one in here: I know you're a Beyoncé fan, so this ends with the sixteenth question as sixteen equals 4, one of her albums, times its chronological appearance in her discography, 4.
SEREIN: Saw this on tumblr and haven't forgotten it: “Rick Astley will let you borrow any movie except one. he's never going to give you Up."
BABU: Oof, that was terrifyingly bad. The pun, I mean, not the interview. I had a great time! Thanks for coming!