Sozzy

*Sozzy* is an upcoming episode in Chapters.' third season, subtitled **Bad Things Happen At Noon**. Starring, Written, and Directed by Mike Barkhoff, it acts as a 'diss' short film aimed at rapper GMKTRE.

## Plot

Tre tries to figure out how to change a rhyme scheme in one of his songs while on the phone with his buddy/manager. He admits his plans to smoke weed and work out. He then asks his buddy, Hogan, to make arrangements for the beat producer at the studio, Sozzy, to stay an hour later to produce for him.

An hour passes and Tre gets a call from Hogan who tells him that Sozzy is mad. He asks Hogan to beat Sozzy up if he cannot talk a new agreement into fruition, before getting on the phone with Sozzy and pleading with him to return to the studio. Sozzy refuses, however, and tells Tre that he is disrespectful and will not succeed with his mindset, ego, or work ethics. Tre collapses and falls into tears.

## End Card

An end card appears, where it is clarified that the video isn't intended to be taken entirely "rudely" but rather as a friendly warning. It then points the viewer to listen to "Close" by J. Cole - a song in which J. Cole mentions the death of a drug addicted friend who was so caught up in drugs he didn't notice when his life was about to end. It concludes - "With love, Live Free".

## Production

Barkhoff decided to do this short film after meeting GMKTRE and disliking his approach to welcoming collaborators, having a high ego that made GMKTRE unappreciative and "unaware of who to thank and who not to."

Barkhoff stated in an interview: "I fucked with his music, then I showed him this site where he could make shirts to sell. He thanked me, but told me to share it. Didn't ask me, and, most of all, I told him I'd support him and he knew about Live Free and showed no mutual support line. It may seem petty, but there's a point where it's more or less just me trying to say "Hey, if you do this to the wrong guy in this industry, you're really fucking yourself." It's nothing but a friendly wakeup call. I won't reply if things escalate."

Barkhoff also discussed his meditation techniques delaying him from making the film, as it was written in January 2021. He continued in the same interview: "I really just needed to do it. I'm not a confrontational guy. That's not what this is. It's not me wanting to start an Eminem and whoever beef. Just me trying to save the guy some career."

Barkhoff also notably wore the shirt he received from Bizarre Essentials when he became a promotional partner with the company in early 2021. This has been perceived as either a diss to the company or a subtle hint that Barkhoff is suggesting promotional partnerships create more ego for an artist or anyone performing such duties.

## Reception

"Sozzy" received critical acclaim and was noted for it's inventive qualities of making a quote-unquote 'diss track'. It was the fastest growing Chapters. installment of Season 3 in terms of viewership at the time of release. Clarke Accloades noted it as "a perfect example of why Barkhoff is an auteur and why Chapters remains so fresh three seasons in." It received a 10/10 rating on IMDb, currently the highest rating of Season 3, and making every season of the series have a 10/10 episode.