This is the second part in a two-part story. To read the first part, click here.

They each have their own peculiar strength. Ashkhan plays leader of the pack—a “good all around”—while Nick generates rhymes that just hits you. Then there’s Jake, who brings the deep cinematic beats, and Joe who diffuses mad flow. Jay may be “just crazy,” but it’s all mellowed down with Michael’s positive energy. Their differences stretch from attire to vocals, but a single commonality bonds and brightens them all: they are Team Venom.

Seniors Ashkhan Hojati, Jake Mazelsky, Joe Brown, Nick Brown, Michael Masselli, and Jay Ault spend their weekends spitting freestyle rhymes—usually while in the car—about problems, parties and moods. Really, whatever crosses their minds to give them that satisfaction of self expression.

“I rap to speak what I feel,” said Brown. “My favorite song of ours is ‘Just Livin’ because it’s about our life, our hardships—all the real stuff.”

Their coined label “Team Venom” arose out of some of these quick and impulsive rhymes that now “come easily” to them. “I was rapping one time, when I heard someone say they spit fire,” said Hojati. “I said, ‘I don’t spit fire, I spit straight venom. I give you goose bumps like John Lennon.’ That’s how the name came to be.”

Team Venom is working to produce a mix tape that is expected to be released July 21 with the assistance of a simple home studio. Their motivation stems from the successes of their idols, Eminem and Wiz Khalifa, along with the self respect gained from creating one lyric after another, without the help of a pen and paper.

The art of naturally spitting rhymes could not be more essential to the group’s integrity. “If you write stuff down, you’re out of the group,” said Maselli.

“Rapping is the fundamentals of poetry with musical devices, incorporated as one,” said Hojati. “We don’t write stuff down when we’re spitting. We come up with rhymes, and we go on fire.”