When 13-year-old Magic Johnson, also known by his stage name “Patches,” took the stage on America’s Got Talent, he appeared to be the epitome of an academic overachiever. The seventh-grader, who is from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, proudly cited an incredible variety of extracurricular activities, ranging from wrestling and judo to fencing and Chess Club. He clarified that his nickname sprang from the fact that he sewed a fresh patch onto his fleece jacket for each new activity he participated in. Given his intellectual interests and courteous, quiet manner, the judges were clearly getting ready for a performance that might involve a theatrical monologue or a science experiment.
But when Patches revealed he would be singing an original rap song called “The Essence of Performing,” he defied all expectations. There was a striking contrast between his naive appearance and his abrupt, self-assured poetic flow. Patches had a clever, exuberant performance that was half comedy and half true musical brilliance, dropping lines about being “the hottest in the game” and “spitting bars like we’re tripping on a KitKat.” His confident stage presence demonstrated that his several patches were earned for both performance and academics, and he was adamant about winning one for America’s Got Talent.
The judges were left feeling bewildered and amused. Heidi Klum said, “I did not expect that,” and Howie Mandel described him as “fascinating” and “hilarious” because of his unexpected fusion of humor and intelligence. Simon Cowell agreed that the audience obviously wanted to see more of him, even though he admitted he had “no idea where this is gonna go.” With a brilliant concluding sentence that spelled out his nickname, Patches celebrated his victory after receiving four unanimous “Yes” votes. In addition to winning over the judges, this unexpected rapper gave one of the season’s most deliciously startling auditions.
