When 13-year-old Patches stepped onto the America’s Got Talent stage wearing a neat button-down shirt, blazer, and khakis, the audience and judges expected a polite classical performance or perhaps a quiet piano piece.
Hailing from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Patches introduced himself with charming modesty. When judge Simon Cowell asked what he would do if he won the grand prize of one million dollars, the teenager didn’t hesitate: he just wanted to buy tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway. He then announced he would be performing an original song he wrote himself about “the essence of performing.”
From Polished Schoolboy to Fire-Spitting Rapper
The moment the beat dropped, all expectations were completely shattered. Patches transformed from a mild-mannered 13-year-old into a rapid-fire rapper with staggering flow and unmatched stage presence.
Dropping clever wordplay, hilarious punchlines, and rhythmically complex bars, he directly name-dropped judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, and Mel B right in his opening lines. By the time he hit his chorus, the entire auditorium erupted, with all four judges standing up in absolute disbelief and delight.
“I Don’t Think Y’all Understand What I’m Kicking!”
Patches proved that true talent and swagger don’t come with a dress code. His sheer energy, confidence, and tight vocal delivery made his audition one of the most unexpected viral moments of Season 13, earning him immediate adoration from the audience and judges alike.
Watch the Shocking Performance
Experience his iconic rap audition on YouTube:
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