Random to Fans: Let's Make a Deal!

Image via WikipediaEveryone makes deals – Roosevelt, Faust, Monty Hall – but none as sweet as the one recently offered to fans by hip-hopper Random. Observe:

Okay, I have an announcement to make.

I can't lie, I want to win this Online Hip Hop Award-- and I need the
peoples' help.

I get asked everyday if I'm gonna make a new Mega Ran album.

So, I'll make a deal with you guys.

IF I WIN...

I promise to record a NEW Mega Ran EP (tentatively it'll be titled
"Mega Ran 9") using only the music from Mega Man 9.

Best of all-- it'll be FREE to anyone in my Mega Ran group or members
of my forum:

http://randomhiphop.proboards.com/index.cgi

FREE!!

So, all you have to do is vote for the next 5 days, right here:

http://onlinehiphopawards.com/index.php?page=nominee&nomination_id=1761

And help Mega Ran get into office, and I'll show the love right back.

I haven't even announced this to the world yet, and not sure if I will.

BUT-- You're the first to know.

what are you gonna do with the knowledge? and the power?

let MC guns-hoes-and-drugs win the award?

NO!

you're gonna make the right choice....right?

http://onlinehiphopawards.com/index.php?page=nominee&nomination_id=1761

There were some weird issues preventing me from getting the votes I
needed yesterday, but they seem to be revolved.

remember-- I win, you win.. WE Win.

now tell someone!!

I'm Random and I approve this message.

And there you have it, my friends. We've been bombarded with messages telling us to vote for months now, and, while they were actually far more likely referring to the November presidential election, the same holds true here. Let your voice be heard!

Help out your boy Ran, and he'll hook you up with more Mega Man inspired tracks. That's a fair deal if ever there was one.

Nerd News in Brief

We are, as a nation, totally fucked. I mean, at least from a financial standpoint.

Yeah, we even broke the National Debt Clock.

In case you missed that: that big ass clock in Time’s Square that reminds us how deep our national debt has become ran out of digits!

Soon we won’t even be able to calculate it via traditional means. It will surpass our meager human ability to quantify. Our nation will simply be purple elephant canoe grass stain in debt.

You heard it here first.

• So Dope: Earlier this week I got a pre-release copy of T.y.T.’s new album Jelly Brain, and I must say that it comes highly recommended. I’ll be talking about the release in more detail later, and, of course, playing a few tracks in upcoming podcasts, but, in the meantime, hit up T.y.T.’s MySpace for purchase details. It’s a wise investment.
• Milk & Doo Doo: My pal funky49 is all set to release the video for his new single "Milk & Doo Doo" in style on October 25th at the Hip Hop Soda Shop in Tampa. (Well, with as much style as possible when talking about a song with doo doo in the title.) The video release party will feature live performances from Emergency Pizza Party, Rocket Propelled Geeks, Magitek, redvoid & funky49, and, of course, the premiere of the video itself. Full info available over at funk’s site.
• Fayetteville’s Finest: The always fabulous Oneups will be playing at the Boom Boom Room in Fayetteville this Friday (October 10th). The show starts at 9:30 PM, and the entry cost is $25 or $10 with a student ID. I humbly suggest that you attend, and that you also be a student.
• Alpinekat and the Burg: Nerdcore made an appearance in Canada’s The Globe & Mail this week via an interesting avenue: Katherine McAlpine’s Large Hadron Collider rap. The piece also mentions Front, the Hawkman, and Halifax’s own Wordburglar. Burg says nice things about Nerdapalooza there at the end that can’t help but make attendance smile.
• Lev Watches the Watchmen: Matt has charged himself with keeping Church and me up to speed on the developing big screen adaptation of The Watchmen, alternately exciting us about its potential greatness and cautioning us against Hollywood’s tendency to fuck with classic comics. Still, after he linked me to Lev Grossman’s post about the 26 minute special screener, I can’t help but be a little more excited.
• Music + Comedy: Church hipped me to this great interview with my favorite instrument of Da Debbil Schaffer the Darklord over at The Apiary. It touches on Schaffer’s musical past, his arrival at the term "rappist," and a fun story about performing at a Christian college. Good times!
• Do the Margaret Thatcher: MC Frontalot is currently holding a dance contest. Totally not shitting you about that. All one needs to do to enter is record their own interpretation of the dance mentioned in Front’s new single "Wallflowers," post that sucker to YouTube or Vimeo, and then alert his Royal Frontiness. Fabulous prizes are at stake here, so dance like no one’s watching!
• If I Don’t Tell You Sanny Will Cry: There’s a new edition of Vagina Deep in Podcast available for your listening pleasure. This episode sees Nina and Sangriaa wrapping up their Top 10 Sexiest Guys in Nerdcore list (which, sadly, I did not make), playing some fun songs from across the musical spectrum, and talking about their bajingos.
• Top o’ The Muffin to Ya!: If Drunken Podcasting Month has a winner, it’s the folks from Brilliant Gameologists. This tabletop gaming podcast, which is pretty fuckin’ awesome even when the hosts are sober, put together the vilest, most profane, and completely enjoyable drunken podcast I’ve yet to hear. Do yourself a favor and take a listen.
• Carpool Lane Outlaws: At long last my pal Jarod, of AlienBobz, has favored us with his footage from Optimus Rhyme’s farewell gig pre-PAX '07 gig. 8 tracks are available, with more on the way. To take us home today I’ve chosen "My Piroshky," but be sure to check ‘em all out.
  

To the Victors

The past several weeks have seen the Rhyme Torrents community abuzz with excitement concerning its first ever 2-on-2 battle rap tourney. It was a very ambitious undertaking, given the RT legacy, but I really have to give it up to all the competitors. It was my honor to be among the panel of judges for this competition – although, admittedly, I had to sit the crucial final two rounds out for obvious reasons – and now that's it's all said and done the most dynamic of duos has stepped forward to accept the crown.

Rubiks Dudes, composed of the Midwest's MadHatter and the Northwest's MC Gigahertz, came correct from day one. They managed to bring to each round of musical combat a brand of aggression and humor that translated into a hard-fought but certainly warranted victory. Congratulations to both artists for a job well done. In a contest full of lyrical heavyweights - Myf, Epic1, T.y.T., ZeaLouS1, The Ranger, Maja, etc. – they really managed to prove their mettle.

If you missed this clash of the nerdy hip-hop titans, or if you'd simply like to relive the competition, you'd be a fool not to check out Rhyme Torrents 2v2 Tournament - The Mixtape! It's a free download from DON VITO and the RT crew that's certainly well worth your time.

Rosemary’s Maybe

After my fairly lengthy absence from these Intertubes, I am finally beginning to get back in the groove – a groove which, I have been assured, is in the heart. Thankfully, my return happens to coincide with that geekiest of holiday seasons, Halloween.

Long-time readers of the blog surely realize that this is the time of year that I really shine, but n00bs might not be familiar with my seasonal rituals. Therefore, I shall drop some science.

First and foremost, each October listeners of Radio Free Hipster are promised 2 podcasts wholly dedicated to the spookier side of geeky music. I’ve already completed the song list for part one (Ep. 53); it’s an episode all about monsters and creatures of myth, and it features mc chris, Heightened Titans, Zombies! Organize!!, and Simon Iddol. Part two (Ep.54) looks to be focused on the supernatural, and I’ve got tracks from Mustin and Snidget on tap. Should you have any suggestions of songs about ghosts, magic, or other assorted metaphysical funkiness you’d care to throw into the mix, don’t hesitate to let me know.

I also tend to do a horror-themed feature this time of year, and, while I don’t have anything specific lined up, I’ll see what I can do. Truthfully, I’m so far behind on my interviews and album reviews already that I certainly don’t need the extra work, but, in the spirit of Halloween, I’ll have to see what I can cook up.

In the meantime, expect ample creepiness in the next few NNIBs and various other posts. Pazuzu is the reason for the season!