Rating: 10+/10
Even if you don’t recognize the name, you know Reuben A. Buford May.
Known as the “Screaming Professor” or the “rapping dude,” May goes by the stage name “Reginald S. Stuckey” or simply “Stuckey.” He doubles as a rapper and professor in sociology.
While Stuckey certainly brings a presence to campus with his spontaneous performances on street corners, his career is so much more. His impressive discography on streaming platforms includes seven EPs and four albums.
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“My Good Name,” Stuckey’s most recent EP, dropped on Wednesday after a series of promotions online. The rapper was bold in his publicity for the project, addressing his energetic live performances as a part of his announcements.
“People out here acting like I done lost my mind,” Stuckey said in a TikTok video.
The video addressed a Reddit post concerned about him potentially jumping off a building on the Main Quad. He clarified that the only reason he was “hype like this” was because of the upcoming EP.
Stuckey told The Daily Illini in 2021 that he does “really, really enjoy” rapping outside. He started the practice to build his confidence, which is expanded upon in his latest work.
One unique artistic choice made by Stuckey throughout the EP is his use of distinct samples, listed as features on each track.
The EP opens energetically with “Filch.” “Filch’s” sample from Shakespeare’s “Othello” gives the EP its title, questioning, “You take my good name?” before launching into the song. “Filch” sets the tone for the rest of the EP, showcasing some of Stuckey’s best creativity.
Additionally, Stuckey interrupts any presumed profanity on the track with sound effects. Dolphin noises, as used in “SpongeBob SquarePants,” are consistent throughout the track.
Track two, “The Race,” sees Stuckey pumping himself up, proclaiming he is “back in the race.” The song focuses on Stuckey’s lyricism and is backed by a simpler beat to highlight his artistic choices.
“You can’t rush me/ Race to Mount Rushmore/ My advice to you, hush more,” Stuckey raps on the track.
Stuckey’s third track, “Ghostwriters,” samples himself as he asks his comments section for inspiration. He was searching for a word, which he seemingly found on his own.
On the strongest track of the EP, Stuckey uses humorous sound effects and rhymes with “onomatopoeia.” He showcases some of his best flow yet. Stuckey labels himself the “Boss Prof,” the title of his 2019 single and a fun play into his known personality.
“Flaws,” featuring the unknown “Evan,” uses simple statements to pass on the powerful message of “nobody’s perfect.” Stuckey boldly comes out with lines like “success, irrelevant” and “that is enough/ They got flaws, I got flaws, you got flaws/ That is all.”
The fifth track, “Great Name,” works off the EP’s title once again. Beginning with an audio recording of Stuckey being recognized by his former professor, the sample is used to make the beat, which plays throughout the trap.
“Imma show you how I’m him/ In the class, on the Quad, in the gym,” Stuckey raps.
The rapper uses the track to flex his three books, asserting that “others got more/ But they ain’t me.” He loudly portrays his confidence and desire for more. Stuckey calls himself the “number one prof” and says he’ll “do it like I will.”
Finally, “No Thank You” experiments with computer-generated horns and autotune, along with another remixed sample. This time from an unknown “Lexi,” the line “and no thank you” repeats over the beat as Stuckey raps about self-improvement and a failed date.
“My Good Name” proves Stuckey’s confidence, flow and commitment to being himself. There’s one thing we can say for sure — the rapping professor isn’t going anywhere.
