Gaben Has a Stan: Russian Commentator Makes an Eminem Parody About TI Watch Party

Russian commentator and retired professional Dota 2 player Yaroslav Vladimirovich "NS" Kuznetsov has taken a unique approach to promoting his annual watch party, the Starper Hub. On 17th October, NS released a parody music video set to the tune of Eminem's classic hit "Stan." In this parody, NS humorously expressed his thoughts and emotions about not being invited to The International 2021 (TI10) while cleverly building excitement for his watch party. The whole song is centered around Valve’s head Gabe Newell, who is also called Gaben by the Dota 2 community.

NS Promotes His Starper Hub Watch Party Via Rap Song

Simply titled “Gaben,” the parody video captured NS’ playful and creative side as he utilized Emimen’s popular song Stan to share his feelings about not being invited to The International 2021 (TI10). This parody music video’s major purpose is to serve as a promotion for his watch party “Starper Hub.” 

The video takes an interesting twist as NS admits to having criticized Gaben in the past. He humbly acknowledges the improvements in Dota 2 over time and expresses gratitude for the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) seasons. He even playfully references Valve's handheld gaming device, the Steam Deck, noting its potential while still calling for some fine-tuning for running Dota 2.

The intermission scenes in the video add humor to the mix, with NS interacting with an unknown character who chastises him for pretending to be Gaben. The parody video continues as NS conveys his frustration at Gaben's silence, especially in response to his ideas.

In the final verse, NS becomes more critical, voicing his frustration with imbalanced heroes, but praises him for the exclusion of Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). He expresses a desire for Gaben to pay more attention to the Dota 2 community, offering his perspective on improvements and even a cheeky joke to send his credit card number for prize pool support.

The video concludes with NS feeling dejected and declaring the end of their friendship, planning to host his watch party for The International 2023, "Starper Hub" with a live audience.

The tradition of NS’ independent broadcasts surrounding Dota 2 tournaments began when he was not invited to cover TI10. The team at Ultimate GG stepped in to help him create the first unofficial broadcast in a studio format, marking the beginning of a trend that gained momentum over time.

They have been hosting watch parties ever since for major tournaments that happen in the Dota 2 esports scene. The watch party has seen the participation of renowned Dota 2 figures like Cake, Dendi, Daxak, SilverName, Nix, Eiritel, XBOCT, Alwayswannafly, and many others.

As the date for NS’ annual watch party draws near, fans eagerly anticipate another year of independent broadcasts, camaraderie, and the chance to enjoy The International 12 in the company of their favorite personalities from the Dota 2 world. Viewers can watch NS’ watch party Starper Hub on his official Twitch channel at 8:00 PM (Moscow Time) from 20th October to 29th October.