You’ve never heard of the rapper Token? You will.
The first time Ben Goldberg rapped in public he was 13 years old. It was July 1, 2012, and Goldberg was behind the Middle East in Cambridge, part of a swarm of 30 or so kids who intercepted Hopsin, a Los Angeles-based rapper who had just performed on the downstairs stage, as he headed to his tour bus. While Hopsin signed autographs, Goldberg stepped forward.
“Yo, I’m going to rap for you,” Goldberg told him.
This wasn’t a premeditated decision. He didn’t weigh the consequences of embarrassing himself in front of someone he idolized, not to mention a crowd of his peers. But Goldberg, who had already given himself the stage name Token, was confident. It was as if he had spent the last three years building to this — countless hours in his room, pen to pad, constructing intricate rhyme patterns. Hopsin was known for the complexity of his flow. He’d have to appreciate Goldberg’s style. Besides, how could Goldberg not take advantage of this opportunity?
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