Radio Free HipsterEp. 135: Beach Blanket Lingo

I figure with the Independence Day holiday week coming up for us Yanks, many of y'all are likely looking for something new to listen to. Thus this podcast. It's a distinctly summer-centered affair, and I'm right happy with the way it came out. I hope y'all dig it too.


Not gonna lie; I've been jamming to it all week.

Download Radio Free HipsterEp. 135: Beach Blanket Lingo [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 61.6 MB Running Time: 47:35 Subscribe to RFH

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
If I ran a summer camp for lovable misfits, these guys'd be my counselors.

Track 1: Select Start – "Color of the Summer Sky"
I don't generally start the show with an instrumental, but this one's so tight I made an exception.

Z's 1st interlude: "The price you pay to ride the music train with me."
Even I don't know what the hell this means.

Track 2: Solid Bold – "Summertime Loving, Loving in the Summer (Time)"
I love me some Regular Show.

Track 3: Teleidofusion – "Summer Mood"
Have I played this track before? I swear I have, but, once again, Google disagrees.

Track 4: Friday dialog / Adam WarRock – "Maybe (I Can Call You?)"
Mock me if you will, but "Call Me Maybe" is an exquisite pop song.

Track 5: Girl Talk – "Smash Your Head"
I was kind of in the mood for some Biggie. And also some Elton John.

Track 6: Slime Girls – "Vacation Wasteland"
Another fine freebie from Pterodactyl Squad.

Track 7: Doctor Popular – "Bad as They Seem (feat. Unwoman)"
I was actually pretty excited when I realized I wasn't the only person who remembered this one.

Track 8: Swamp Thing – "123"
A fitting introduction to Canada's three-headed musical beast.

Z's 2nd interlude: "While we're gettin' all Canadian up in here."
Related note: I am supporting Team Canada in this summer's Olympic Quidditch action.

Track 9: Teletran – "Beachwave"
Who knew what this song was missing was a dash of "Blue Monday?"

Track 10: Inverse Phase – "Atarible Lie"
Pretty Eight Machine is the first project to make me intentionally listen to anything Nine Inch Nails-related in years.

Track 11: POCKETMAN – "Just a Summer Drizzle"
K.K. Slider is my dawg. #seewhatididthere

Track 12: Nuclear Bubble Wrap – "Hulkulele"
Another nice tie-in to the summer's first true super hero blockbuster.

Z's final interlude: "This slice of warm-weather fun."
I'm not saying you have to play this podcast at your next barbecue. But, y'know, if you want too…

Track 13: Lager Rhythms – "Your Horoscope for Today"
The Twenty-Six and a Half Weird Al tribute is still in heavy rotation on my end.

It sorta seems this show is a continuation of the previous episode. And I'm fine with that. Occasionally we delve the darker side of geeky music around here, so if I'm lead to keep shit positive for a whole month I reckon that's a good thing.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts on the show, not to mention your song suggestions. So call me, maybe. I mean, uh, hit me up, okay?

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 102: Double Stuf

If you find this particular episode to be too lengthy, I suggest you take it up with Snipe, Data, Scott, Kyle and Vincent. They said it was okay to extend this show out a bit, it being my last one of the year. So, y'know, totally their fault. ;)

That being said, this edition is positively loaded with studious hip-hop, quirky covers and bitpop galore, so I can't imagine you'll mind.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 102: Double Stuf [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 61.5 MB Running Time: 1:07:16 Subscribe to RFH 

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
Spellah and Beefy, or as I like to call them Father Time and Baby New Year. 

Track 1: Illbotz – "At the Trap" / "Gyeah!"
I can't help but admire Stevie D's near preternatural whiteness!

Z's 1st interlude: "That's exactly what I'm gonna do today."
Yep, my usual year-end show. Don't even act surprised. 

Track 2: Wordburglar – "Walking Dope"
New hotness from Burg! 

Track 3: Glee dialog / Harry and the Potters & Erwin Beekveld – "Felix Felicis [Eighth Clockwise Stir Mix]"
Because a reggae-dub Wizard Rock remix is exactly the kind of thing every New Year's Eve party needs. 

Track 4: Hidden Fortress – "Apotheosis (feat. Modulok)"
I'll be reviewing Hidden Fortress's All That Is next month. 

Track 5: The Office dialog / Doctor Popular – "Möbius Strip Tease"
In case you missed it, Doc's Beeps and Smudges is truly his best release yet. 

Track 6: The Vitrolum Republic – "Make Believe Girlfriend"
Featuring the talents of fellow GeekDad Chuck Lawton. 

Track 7: Never Yet Contested – "Get it Down"
Speaking of, I spotlighted NYC's "Retro" single on GeekDad back in November. Since that time the EP has been released in earnest, and I highly suggest you give it a listen. 

Track 8: Tetrastar – "Crank That"
Superpowerless also covered this track with his previous project Scared of Dinosaurs.

Track 9: The Grammar Club – "Super Girls and Ghosts"
On Christmas Day the Club dropped their long awaited follow-up release MC Horse Rides Again. 

Track 10: Say Anything dialog / Stenobot – "Butterfly Wings (feat. Jen Wood)"
It occurred to me that, though I've talked a lot about his latest album, I haven't actually played anything from Sink or Swim We'll Go Together. This situation has now been remedied.

Z's 2nd interlude: "This marathon exposition."
The good news is that this episode features a larger-than-usual collection of songs. The bad is that it also features more of me talking. 

Track 11: A Little Dead Podcast bumper / YTCracker – "Take a Knee"
Because "Quarterback Kneel" doesn't have as nice a ring to it.

Track 12: sadnes – "Bittersweet Symphony"
Yet another amazing cover from sadnes. 

Track 13: Selfhelp – "The Rent is Too Damn High (feat. Ill Seer, prod. by Hoodee)"
The wise words of Jimmy McMillan's core platform celebrated in song. Next up, a track about marrying a shoe. Please?

Track 14: I Fight Dragons – "The Power of Love"
I love the original, and this chip-rock take is equally enamoring.

Track 15: Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers dialog / A-1 – "Black Ranger"
A-1's After School Special mixtape is a thing of beauty, and the perfect companion piece to Doctor Octoroc's After These Messages. 

Track 16: Benjamin Bear – "Burning Away (feat. Jaylyn Hindle)"
Your second dose of Jaylyn. 

Z's final interlude: "Another year of my own exploration into nerd-friendly music."
For the record, next year marks my 5th! 

Track 17: Girl Talk – "That's Right"
Likely the best moment of Girl Talk superlative All Day mix.

Thanks to all the listeners new and old that came along with me throughout 2010. It was a great year for the podcast. I mean shit, I won an award! What more can a fellow ask?

Looking forward to 2011, inspired by a particularly interesting listener voicemail I think I'll kick off the year with an upbeat mixtape-style show. From there the sky's the limit, so feel free to hit me up with your own requests or show ideas.

And until then, Happy New Year to all!

Boredom Busters – New, Notable & Nerdy

It's Thanksgiving week here in the old US of A, and that means I'll likely not have a lot of time to post over the coming days. You know, family and turkey and parades and shoppin' and all that.

Still, since many of you will also be in a similar time crunch, I figured now would be a great time to direct you to some new projects to keep you occupied during that Black Friday assault of the local Toys 'R' Us.

In case you missed it, meta-mash-up artist Girl Talk dropped his 5th full-length last week. While his previous release Feed the Animals didn't exactly do it for me, All Day is a really quite an enjoyable mix. Tracks 3 and 4 ("That's Right" and "Jump on Stage" respectively) are easily among his best showings to date, and the entire project is freely available at Illegal Art.

Another musical must-have is Doctor Popular's Beeps and Smudges, an album for which I recently expressed a sincere and desperate longing. It too is now available, and I gotta say the project is even more enjoyable than I anticipated. Built entirely around iPhone and iPad music apps, it's niche creation obviously inspired Doc to do great things. It's available for as a little as $1, and since Doc Pop is selling it through Bandcamp you can preview the album in its entirety.

While you're over Bandcamp way, also be sure to cop the latest from seminal Wizard Rockers Harry and the Potters. Remixes is an 8-track collection of – wait for it – remixes. It features a fun selection of reworked material from the classic HatP catalog including Paradise Dan's original Old Nerdy Bastard contribution, a dash of reggae dub and a damn-near stirring a cappella interpretation of "Save Ginny Weasley." It's a pay-what-you-want release, so you have no reason not to check it out.

Additional Potter-related musical goodness is available from our friends at the Funny Music Project. FuMPer Insane Ian has dropped the Weezer parody "Harry Potter" just in time for the release of Deathly Hallows part 1. Ian's also offering an "evolving album" of classic and contemporary covers via his site. Check it out now for a trio of selections, and keep checking back as the project continues to grow.

If for some reason all this music doesn't slake your thirst for nerdery you are also welcome to check out the most recent addition of The Bonebat Show. Episode 57, on which I guested along with my nor'western brothers Death*Star, is presently available at bonehand.com, Itunes, and your aggregator of choice. It's a fairly robust encounter that features live music, political rants and lots of talk about wangs. Suffice it to say it is a classy good time.

Those of you in the market for a more visual style of entertainment are encouraged to peep the newest from chip/sprite artist Doctor Octoroc. Oct created a bead sprite piece a while back entitled "Firewall" that served as his own commentary on the current state of the console wars. More recently he's translated this concept into an elaborate 16-bit-style animation. Check out his site for the requisite background information or his YouTube channel to head straight to the vid itself.

And I can't mention YouTube without pausing to pimp the latest from Florida's Krondor Krew. Your favorite ninjas teamed with a local Orlando-area production team, Arcani Pictures to craft the band's first official video. It's for the track "Sneaking" from their album The 6th Rotation of the House of the Chaos Star. Give it a look and add a little Ninjapendence celebration to your Turkey Day.

Along Came a Spider

Doctor Popular and I have been internet homies for years now, but even if that wasn't the case I'd still say that his newest track "Spider" is his best yet. The premiere single off his forthcoming album Beeps and Smudges, it's a genuinely compelling piece of bitpop with a twist – "Spider" (and indeed the entire Beeps and Smudges album) was created using only iPhone and iPad apps. For this particular song Doc used nanoloop, an app that is also near and dear to my heart.

If the concept of an album based around tiny, nontraditional music applications strikes you as a bit of inspired genius, then the same can be said for this video. Rather than animate this tale of arachnid love, Doctor Popular instead elected tell the story from pieces in his own real life art show. The end product is a bit of a musical short film that's not only the classic tale of boy-meets-spider, but also a story of a man left alone to ponder his own artistic output.

Visually the piece alternates sharply between warm and bleak, and musically it's some of the most engaging vocal electronica I've heard since Supercommuter's groundbreaking debut. Beeps and Smudges drops next Monday, and I for one can't wait. Check out the video below to see why I'm so excited, and hit up the good Doctor's Bandcamp page to snag a free copy of this single for yourself.

Nerd News in Brief

Today is October 1st, or as I like to call it The First Day of Halloween. In addition to my regularly scheduled nerdy musings, I will no doubt be favoring you with tons of ghoulish distractions over the coming weeks.

I mean, it's what I do!

But for now, dear friends, please enjoy this non-Halloween-themed edition of Nerd News in Brief.

• Pretty and Witty and Bright: Though I am probably not their target audience, I have to kick off this month's NNIB recap by giving a nod to the crew over at Pretty Gamer. It's a site with a firm focus on all things she-nerd related. From game reviews to no-food-in-the-house cooking tips to dating advice, these ladies have you covered. They even recorded their own drunkcast, which pretty much assures their hardcore status.
• The Wooden Anniversary: Five years ago our friends Harry and the Potters helped launch the Harry Potter Alliance with an Amnesty International charity show in their native Massachusetts. To commemorate this anniversary (not to mention the rousing success of the HPA), the guys are doing it again. Catch the Potters, The Whomping Willows, Lauren Fairweather and Justin Finch-Fletchley and the Sugar Quills this Sunday, October 10th at The Center for Arts at the Armory. Be there.
• For the Shorties: On the subject of worthy charities, I'd also like to remind you that October 16th is the date of the 3rd annual Extra Life video game marathon. My good friend Jonny Nero (of Epic Default fame) is taking part to raise money for his local Children's Miracle Network hospital, and the brother needs sponsors. A simple $1.00/hour sponsorship goes a long way, so peep Jonny's personal Extra Life page and please consider donating.
• To the Nines: Nerd rapper extraordinaire Conyeezy is presently working on 9 different albums! In anticipation of this marathon of future releases, 'Yeez just dropped a free 9-track mixtape called Appetizers. It contains one track representative of each larger work, and I suggest you cop it immediately.
• Blowing in the Wind: Also on the new release front, Rappy McRapperson and EPP's MC Wreckshin have just released their impressively titled The 2nd Best Mixtape Ever. Ten songs deep and boasting just a bit more than a half-hour of playtime, 2BME covers all the hip-hop bases – from double rainbows to blowin' dudes. Experience the weirdness.
• They're Undeniable: Are you tired of "California Gurls" parodies? Understandable, but please take a look at one final selection. It's my boy Insane Ian's most recent FuMP – a fun freebie entitled "CosPlaying FanGurls."
• Take a Knee: Recently, nerdcore king and famed hacker YTCracker dropped his iPhone from the 27th floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The phone survived the fall, once and for all demonstrating the true power of science.
• My Closing Argument: Thanks go out to Church for pointing me toward this CNN piece on Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock that features some great quotes from Brendon Small. Not the least of which is the astute observation that all musicians are nerds.
• Across the Pond: For those who missed it last week, the BBC profiled MC Frontalot, Scrub Club's MadHatter, Nursehella and Adam WarRock. An accompanying nerdcore-centered edition of the Outriders podcast was also released.
• Say it Bold: Star Trek is often the go-to property when nerds discuss the important progressive sociological underpinnings of science fiction. However, in an interesting (and hilarious) piece at Autostraddle, writer Boylio enumerates the ways in which Trek has failed to stand up for the LGBT community.
• Bubblegum Tate: This edition of Geek vs. Nerd is brought to you by the (voice) cast of Futurama. In early September, the guys sat down with CNN Entertainment's Geek Out to discuss, among other things, cool nerds and the gerds of our future.
• Local Color: The San Francisco Bay Guardian also chimes in on the subject of geeks, nerds and what lies beneath – even going so far as to mine the wisdom of resident "super nerd" Doctor Popular.
• LOL Money: As our esteemed Nerd Chieftain of Fiscal Responsible, Church was happy to hip us to this epistle concerning financial nerds. He also uncovered Merle Hazard, "the first and only country singer to write about mortgage-backed securities, derivatives, and physics." Thank him kindly. 
• Labored Day: And in what I promise is this edition's final rumination concerning nerd identity, author Ethan Gilsdorf recently dropped some knowledge at Psychology Today concerning both Dragon*Con and PAX. And apparently he was really excited to give away a copy of his book!
• Indivisible: Thanks to MaryBeth (AKA: Nagini), I am now completely enamored by the new song/video from Grace "Snidget" Kendall. It's entitled "Soren Lorenson (My Invisible Friend)," and it is a special kind of all-ages awesome!
• Lost Like Locke: And I'd be remiss if I didn't also point y'all toward the latest street-level sermon from the White Shinobi himself T.y.T. Check out the new video single "Life is What You Make of It (2010)" featuring Togo.
• Code Monkey: In other YouTubery, my brother DataVortex turned me onto this coder-centric take on "Alors on Danse" called "And So You Code."
• Hangin' with Your Atari: And though I can't imagine you haven't seen it yet, the new Inverse Phase joint "F___ed 6502 (8-bit Cee Lo - F**k You parody)" is total fucking brilliance.
• Dance. Kill. Laugh. Kill.: Closing us out today is a special treat from AlienBoBZ. September saw the debut gig of Seattle's Supercommuter, and Jarod was there to record the show for posterity! You can cop the live audio from Archive.org and check out full video on the AlienBoBZ YouTube channel. Make sure to give Jarod some love for all the hard work.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 92: A Change of Pace

I am making a concerted effort to stop talking about Nerdapalooza. At least for a while.

I mean, I've said a lot, but I could say more. Still, I think it's time we move on to other issues.

Wait – what else has been going on?

Seriously, though, this episode of Radio Free Hipster serves as my transition from full-on festival mode back to… whatever the hell it is that I do under regular circumstances.

So kick back, relax and enjoy the tuneage.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 92: A Change of Pace [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 44.7 MB Running Time: 48:49

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
The show theme is my one perfect constant in a ever-changing world. 

Track 1: 8bit bEtty – "crimson dreams (8bit bEtty vs Doctor Popular vs crashfaster)"
You've played KnifeTank, right? It's only, like, the best game ever. 

Z's 1st interlude: "A double dose of his Beefyness."
Much like money and RAM, you can never have too much Beefy.

Track 2: The Bossfights – "Frontalots"
Probably the single greatest moment of Nerdapalooza 2010 was The Bossfights' live reveal of this track. 

Track 3: G3RST – "Love Exploder (Jefferson Airplane vs. Tenacious D)"
It's been a long time since The D has graced this podcast. Too long, I'd say. 

Track 4: Molly Lewis – "Poker Face"
There are a ton of nerd (and non-nerd) covers of "Poker Face," but none are like Molly's. 

Track 5: Half Baked dialog / mc chris – "i heart drugs"
mc chris isn't exactly renowned for his filk-style parody tracks, but this one is surely a keeper! 

Track 6: Sci-Fried – "Don't Phase Me Bro"
There's the slightest hint of Suicidal Tendencies "Institutionalized" in this one. 

Track 7: Injury – "Above the Clouds"
I decided to say fuck convention and use lengthy instrumentals, which I usually reserve for mid-set pieces, as closing tracks. I think it really gives this ep. a different feel. 

Z's 2nd interlude: "The lovely and talented Injury."
Starla was one of the many amazing artists I met at this year's Nerdapalooza. 

Track 8: Girl Talk – "Once Again"
As I mentioned in-show, this one's for my pal Data Vortex. 

Track 9: Phoenix Wright dialog / My Parents' Favorite Music – "For Beatrice"
It's so good to have Steffo back!!! 

Track 10: HDninja – "The Romero-Hyrule Disconnection"
Damn. I really should've saved this one for Halloween… 

Track 11: The Blues Brothers dialog / The Megas – "Sunglasses at Night"
I've gotta give it up for The Megas' new Sparked a War EP. It really makes me look forward to their new album. 

Track 12: funky49 – "Fireflies Remix"
My only concern with funky49 joining Emergency Pizza Party was that it might preclude him from doing his own solo work and crafting his amazing remixes. This track puts my mind at ease. 

Z's final interlude: "And musical convalescence."
In truth, I am only now recovering from Nerdapalooza weekend. 

Track 13: Matt Ryd – "Romeo and Juliet"
I would be totally content with ending every episode with a Matt Ryd cover. And yet I resist. All in the name of variety.

I think I'm going to me doing un-themed shows throughout August. September will no doubt feature some drunken podcasting, I'll bust out the Halloween crap-tacular in October and we'll wind the year down in December with the regularly scheduled tomfoolery.

Somewhere in there I may do a Star Trek themed show, but I make no promises.

Also, if my calculations are correct, I should hit episode #100 in November. I still have no idea how to commemorate this milestone, so feel free to float me some suggestions.

Nerd News in Brief

I'm actually preparing to mail off the first round of Hipster, please! bumper stickers next week. (Well, those and also one much-delayed CD!)

I had planned to include a little something extra for you early adopters: ultra-limited edition badges. Not just any old pinbacks, mind you, but HP buttons emblazoned with the mighty d20.

Unfortunately, they were nicked by some random passerby. Or possibly an unscrupulous FedEx guy. :(

For the life of me, I can't imagine why anyone but me would want 50 Hipster, please! badges!

• Do the Donkey Kong: Our friends at OverClocked Remix have just released another one of their astounding game music projects. Donkey Kong Country 2: Serious Monkey Business is 3 discs of banana-collecting fury, and boasts tracks from VGM legend virt and the game's original composer David Wise. Oh, and it's free. So get on that shit!
• Shat-talkin': There are some questions that are of great, almost cosmic importance to all mankind. One such example concerns whether or not William Shatner wears a rug. And one brave blogger seeks to uncover the truth.
• Those Were the Days: On the subject of Trek, Church found this post from Moviefone in which they examine some silent 8mm footage from the 1975 Chicago Star Trek Convention. He also found this fantastic set of insider Trek photos. Get your nostalgia on. 
• Scotty Needs Brains: Also from Church comes news of another literary mash-up from Quirk Books. Night of the Living Trekkies finds a convention floor overrun by flesh-eating ghouls. Think of it as a tribute to nerd survivalists. Failing that, hope it's a better read than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
• Needs More Squash: And on the topic of the undead, here's a song about Plants vs. Zombies. Because music aids photosynthesis.
• Undatable? That's Debatable: Apparently roleplayers don't date or have sex. Which means my children… aren't really mine?
• Baby Booties: And since I've invoked the subject of youngins, let me pause to congratulate Captain Dan Dolan (of Scurvy Crew fame) on the recent birth of his son! But take that patch off his eye, Dan. It's just confusing the lad.
• Girls on Film: Also let me congratulate my homegirl Eye-Shuh the OmegaBat, who was this week featured on her local Fox affiliate's news show in a bit about gamer girls. Okay, so maybe the piece was actually about the abysmal GameCrush service and the real lady gamers thing was just a tack-on. Still, Eye-Shuh was on TV. That's the important part.
• Random Access: Mega Ran has once again found himself on the receiving end of some good press. Spinner caught up with him at SXSW for a nice sit-down, and you can also read about him in this month's Nintendo Power. (The latter of which, it bears mentioning, was written by my journalistic homey Nathan Meunier.)
• Chesticles: Another cat who got some much-deserved SXSW love was the great Jesse Dangerously. Peep this feature to learn Jesse's favorite childhood cartoon and to get some hot topless Canadian MC action.
• Marathon Man: Marc with a C will be playing Stardust Video in Orlando, FL on Saturday, April 3rd. It's a free, all ages event, and the plan is to stretch it into one of his old style "marathon shows" (of Wikipedia fame). Make plans to attend if you're in the area, and request "You've Got This Curse" on my behalf.
• For the Win: And mid-month, don't miss the mc chris goes to hell cd release party at Comix in NYC. This gig is made even more interesting by the fact that, if the event page is to be believed, it marks mc's first attempt at stand-up.
• The Final Countdown: In other new album news, MC Frontalot's Zero Day is set for a proper release on April 6th. You can, however beat Dame Time by pre-ordering right the fuck now, which entitles you to instant downloads of the whole album. Consequently, you can also snag an early copy at PAX East. If, that is, you are sufficiently bold.
• Sneak a Peak: Not to be outdone by Church's earlier contributions, my friend Matt came through this week with news of a brand new nerd culture outlet: Geek Peek Post. Give it a peak (peek?) for some preliminary posts on nerdcore, geeky TV and general dorkiness.
• Nerd Ink – Muppets Edition: And this round of nerd ink, also provided by Matt, features the most epic Doctor Teeth and the Electric Mayhem tat I have ever seen! An admittedly narrow field, of course, but still a phenomenal piece of work.
• His Feet are Longfellows: Much love to poetry geek Radames Ortiz for pimping my site/show out on a recent edition of The PoetTech Podcast. Give is a listen for more info on his current collaboration with electronic musician Jonathan Jindra.
• Phone Home: Also on the electronica front, the venerable Doctor Popular has released some information concerning his current musical project. The tentatively entitled Beeps & Smudges will feature a number of notable contributors and is being composed chiefly via the iPhone version of Nanoloop!
• Fully Functional: And speaking of podcasts, Sci Fi Songs' John Anealio has just announced that he and author Patrick Hester are hard at work on a new project called the Functional Nerds Podcast. Give it a listen.
• The Air up There: Taking us out of this week is an excellent solo piano rendition of Air Man's theme from Mega Man 2. It's performed by Rob Kovacs of progressive indie band Return of Simple. And it is ridiculously awesome.

Nerd News in Brief

I am pleased to report that Church, Matt, Jason and I have finally unraveled one of life's great mysteries. We have concluded, after weeks of preliminary testing, that Google Wave exists solely to aid in the creation of my regular Nerd News in Brief segment.

Now you know.

And speaking of, I've still got a bunch of Wave invites if anybody needs one. Maybe you can use it to write your own Nerd News in Brief.

'Cause that's what it's for!

• In-See-Four-Elle on Dee-Vee-Dee: At long last the DVD release of Nerdcore For Life has finally been announced! In addition to shopping the feature around for a European cable release, London's Journeyman Pictures has agreed to help release the film to the all-important home viewing audience. The nerdcore faithful should be able to order their copies mid-month.
• Tis the Season: Wrockers Dawlish and the Archies have favored the Wizarding World with the first ever Wizard Rock Advent Calendar. Peep Wrock the Advent throughout the month of December for a new free tune every day.
• Old Dominion: Also on the WRocking side of nerd culture, longtime friend and supporter Snidget has decided to set up her own festival in Virginia. Hit up the official web presence of Sonorus 2010 for further details and a current list of performers. Big ups to Matt for keeping me in the loop!
• When You Were Young: Harry and the Potters fans looking to expand into the Wizard Rock periphery will be interested to hear that the guys have just reissued Good is Dumb by Ed and the Refrigerators. In celebration of that album's 10 year anniversary it has been recast in its original CDr format, in an expanded 2-disc, deluxe edition with nearly 60 bonus tracks. But wait; there's more! In addition to live shows and demos, you'll also get a linocut-printed patch, extensive liner notes and a certificate of authenticity. Snazzy!
• All His Drug Use is Accidental: And speaking of 10 year anniversaries, Orlando geeky guitar-slinger Marc with a C has just celebrated his with the release of the RetroLowFi: 10 Years of Marc with a C collection. Get the full scoop (and the exhaustive track-list) via this interview at Examiner.com.
• Shortayyyy: As Mega Ran recently pointed out, The Lonely Island has just been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category for their T-Pain collab "On a Boat." Muthufuckers.
• Really Rad: From Antisoc comes this link to Asylum's "History of Horrible Rap Music." Unfortunately, as it eschews the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps," I am afraid I must declare said list invalid.
• The Blastmaster: As announced via Twitter last week, MC Lars is currently in talks with the great KRS-One regarding a future collaboration. If there is a word to express my delight concerning this development, it is surely "squee."
• Shocking: Thanks go out to my Twitter pal Taloas for hipping me to this amazing sight. It's Dr. Zeus & the Masters of Lightning using Tesla Coils to set balloons on fire. All to the tune of The Legend of Zelda theme.
• Is it Live?: Jarod of Alienbobz has released his proposed recording list for the month of December. Check out this post for the full list, which includes a number of notable nerdcore gigs.
• Yo, Yo-Yo: My southern brother Doctor Popular has just launched a brand new site redesign. It's the same Doc you've always loved in a shiny new package!
• A Renewed Challenger: Also on the recent redesign tip is my boy Anthony and the Game Music 4 All crew. Along with this relaunch comes such delightful amenities as forums and a dedicated netlabel. Way to make the rest of us look bad, guys! ;)
• Sea-Town: Meanwhile, a brand new project is brewing from Thunderball of Southside/Metaforce fame. Peep his newly unveiled blog Seattle Hip-Hop to stay abreast of all the crazy-ass shit that comes from the Emerald City.
• True Neutral: If you've ever secretly hoped to see the varying personalities of your favorite Time Lords classified D&D style, then you are in luck. You are also a very special kind of nerd.
• Don You Cloak: Church ran across this piece on LARPing at, of all places, the web site for the Salt Lake City Community College Globe. For the record, the part I found most interesting was that only 62% of the LARPers in question believe they're nerds.
• Obligatory: Also from Church comes our regularly scheduled geek chic round-up. First, a dose of nerd superiority from Eunice Beatrice H. Braga of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Next, stare into the hipster abyss with Chicago Now's Will Braggadocio. And lastly, there's whatever the hell this is.
• Get Up, Get Coffee: Last week saw the birthdays of many prominent nerds. MC Frontalot and Hex Warrior both turned a year older, as did Jonathan Coulton. With that in mind, enjoy this phenomenal AMV of his track "Code Monkey."

Nerd News in Brief

Before we get into the meat of this week's nerd news, I have an exciting announcement. It looks as though Radio Free Hipster is a finalist for this year's Parsec Awards in the category of "Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast!"

I am both pleased and disappointed, as the competition is stiff. I mean, me going up against shows like the FuMP podcast is akin to throwing a drunken box turtle into a dogfight, but it's nice to see my little 'cast's name there next to the big guys.

And speaking of the big guys, my pals the Brilliant Gameologists also made it to the finals for "Best Gaming Podcast;" a category which they have, in my opinion, sewn the fuck up!

• Songs From the Blue Planet: OverClocked ReMix has just favored us with another epic release. Final Fantasy IV: Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption, the community's 14th project album, presents "Nobuo Uematsu's classic video game soundtrack through a musically re-imagining of the story told in a 3 act format." It is, of course, freely available from OCR.
• Burgie's World: I just received word from Halifax – by carrier loon, no less – that a new Wordburglar CD drops today for a mere $10 American (plus shipping)! Burgie's Basement is a collection of b-sides, remixes and rarities that features top-shelf guests like More or Les, Jesse Dangerously, Toolshed, Thesis & Ghettosocks, not to mention the WB himself. Interested parties can hit Burg up at wordburglar@backburner.ca for ordering info.
• A Farewell to Kings: Also on the new release front is a collection of b-sides, singles, and rarities from our old pal MisterB entitled Winks. B also dropped the bomb that this will be his last release using that moniker, as he will now focus on making music as "BType." Be sure to cop this piece of UK nerdcore history.
• He Wanna Hold 'Em Like They do in Texas, Please: And speaking of B, have you seen/heard the Superpowerless cover of "Poker Face?" It is unbe-fucking-lievable.
• Say it Ain't So: Personally, I've spent the bulk of the week up to this point listening to Pterodactyl Squad's amazing 8-bit Weezer tribute. I can't imagine the rest of you haven't snagged it yet, but if not proceed directly to its palatial estate.
• Save Ginny Weasley: What's stranger: that Potter fans have vandalized Chi-town stop signs or the fact that Chicago's finest don't know who Voldemort is? Church says the latter.
• Low-Hanging Fruit: And on the subject of Pottermania, Conan O'Brien managed to work a Wizard Rock joke into his opening monologue earlier this week. Check around the 3:50 mark.
• Real American Hero: This week, mc chris is auctioning off a staggering array of G.I. Joe toys for his cystic fibrosis charity. Checkout his video introduction, and then peep the sweet eBay action.
• Gathering if the Nerds: If you are in the vicinity of Comic-Con this weekend, be aware that everyone is playing there-abouts. You can catch Mega Ran himself Saturday at the San Diego Convention Center, Front, Lars and YT at The Casbah that same night and even mc chris tonight at the Jumping Turtle.
• Halifax Rap Legend: For those unable to make the trip to Comic-Con, sleep well knowing that Jesse Dangerously will shortly embark on a (brief) US/Canadian tour. Dates and venues can be found at the blog of the delightful Audra.
• A New Member Joins Your Party: Congratulations to I Fight Dragons on acquiring another amazing member: Packy Lundholm. You can experience his indubitable style via this amazing YouTube clip.
• Fuck American Idol: Are you a new artist looking to insinuate yourself into a well established clique? Of course you are! And for you, my friend, I suggest checking out Scrub Club's "Versus Mode" competition. The Club needs more Scrubs, and, whether you’re a rocker, a rapper or an electronic noisemaker, you could be among the chosen few. Full details are available at Scrub Central.
• Sex Times Three: Orlando songsmith Marc with a C was recently featured in an interview at examiner.com. Check it out for a little info on the man behind the glasses and his involvement in Universal CityWalk’s AMC Cinemas' fall showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
• Only a Buck: Arizona natives will be hearing a bit more of MAJA in the coming weeks, as he's been cast for his rapping skills and voiceover talent in a series of McDonald's commercials. No foolin'! Give it a listen.
• Meow-Meow, Muthafucker!: Closing out this week is a new Dan Lamoureux-directed video for Doctor Popular's "LOLcats." View. Rate. Comment. Enjoy. And remember that the LOL cats will enslaves us awl!!!11!one!!
  

Nerd News in Brief

With each passing day, my friends, it seems my plans to attend this year's Nerdapalooza are slipping further away. Oh, the evils of the unexpected expenditure!

Still, for those of you who will be getting their geek on next weekend in Orlando, take heart! With performances by I Fight Dragons, Uncle Monsterface, The Grammar Club, Dual Core, The Scrub Club crew, Schaffer the Darklord and a cornucopia of other aural delights on deck, you will be amply entertained even in the event of my absence.

Plus, things on the other side of the stage are looking equally rosy. Fantastic fellows like my blogging brother Matt and super-supporter Data Vortex will be on hand. As will lovely ladies like Snipeyhead (AKA Miss Douchenuker 2009) and the incomparable freakapotimus.

Twill be a bumper crop of nerdlingers indeed!

• Moonwalker: Scientific Blogging has crafted the most important piece of journalism of the modern age. Yes, a post that references both Buzz Aldrin's love of hip-hop and the Nerdcore Rising documentary. And with that, I drift further into obsolescence.
• The Bearded Wonder: Jonathan Coulton has been everywhere this week promoting his newly released Best. Concert. Ever. He was featured over at Joystiq, in Esquire and I even think I saw him at the supermarket. Although that last one could've simply been some other bespectacled, hirsute suburbanite dad.
• Street-level: MC Lars has finally made the first eight years of his comic 27th Street available for your perusal. In sequence to less!
• Alter-natives: And speaking of Lars, you can peep a review of his YTCracker collab album The Digital Gangster LP in the new Alternative Press. It's got Blink-182 on the cover, but don't let that dissuade you for picking it up.
• Community-building: You can also get your Post-punk Laptop Rap on at MC Lars's new fan forum. Be seen. Be heard.
• Like a Box of Batman Chocolates: There's a new interview with my boy Beefy available at The Painted Man. Therein he discusses his influences, Nugget and tattoos. Check that shit out.
• Reverend Yo-Yo: Beefy's also been getting his visual art on once again. Peep this new tribute to our beloved Doctor Popular. What a handsome devil!
• Fine Art: Beef also hipped me to this amazing piece of fan art featuring nerdcore royalty. It's like a geeky music Justice League composed of Jesse Dangerously, Doc Pop, Beefy, Lars, Front, YT and mc chris all gathered around superfan Lance.
• Dance, Damien, Dance!: And while you're trolling for (non-porn) images, be sure to take a look at skipmeister123's amazing shots of MC Frontalot in action at Top of the Park in Ann Arbor. Apparently the headlamp is just for show in this instance.
• Feel the Love: mc chris recently received a nice thank you note from the Minnesota Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in appreciation of his work (and the donations of his fans) to help fight CF. Check out an image here.
• Drag Me to Hell: Hey, did you know mc's Part 2 Part 6 is available for pre-order? That shit is totally true.
• What is This Nerdery?: From the Dan Plus Add camp comes some HD gig footage as well as news of a new collaborative project. If you subscribed to Dan's mailing list you'd already know this. I'm just saying.
• He's Your Critic: Captain Spalding has just dropped a new track at his MySpace. It's a misty-eyed meditation on the shitty cinema that is SUCK Films.
• I'm Looking at You, Dave.: Sometimes I think Church is just messing with me. A contest to design D&D-themed clothing? Preposterous! And yet, somehow true!
• Dead and Loving It: And let me congratulate Church on his honorable mention in Topless Robot's Zombie Haiku contest. He'll always be the winner in my eyes!
• Brilliant and it Could Change the World: Ed Stockham (AKA smilinglimpet), won Chameleon Circuit's recent fan video contest with this amazing tribute to "An Awful Lot of Running." Experience its awesomeness below, and have a wonderful weekend!

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 66: Lovely and Talented

The title of this episode comes from my recent introduction (on that other podcast) of Marian Call, though frankly I use the same idiom around here fairly regularly. It's become a well-worn broadcast meme in itself, and, to be honest, I reckon it's almost a little demeaning if you look at it critically.

I guess the difference is I actually mean it. Whether it's Marian or Switchblade Kittens or Zombies! Organize!!, I really do find their musical contributions exquisite (lovely) and their aptitude notable (talented).

Still, perhaps this simply serves to underscore the unique brand of misogyny that runs rampant in our subculture. Just as women are often marginalized in the mainstream, so do they receive a similar disservice within geekdom. Perhaps worst of all, these geek girls must also cope with the mock surprise associated with being a female adherent to the stereotypical male discipline of nerdery.

I talk a bit about this in this edition of the show, but mostly I just attempt spotlight the female voice – both literal and figuratively – in nerd music.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 66: Lovely and Talented (hosting provided by Antisoc) Size: 45.3 MB Running Time: 49:30

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
If Baddd Spellah was a woman, he'd be sassy dame!

Track 1: I Fight Dragons vs. Imogen Heap – "The Process"
Imogen Heap is, despite her Grammy nods and mainstream accolades, a supporter of nerdy endeavors. Don't believe me? Ask Pixelh8.

Z's 1st interlude: "Yet another mash-up, albeit with a totally different feel."
There are a lot of bootlegs in this ep, but I tried to incorporate examples that used female vocals in different ways.

Track 2: Danzig vs. Missy Elliot – "Wicked Missycat"
Unlike "The Process," which layers vocals, "Wicked Missycat" instead juxtaposes Elliot's rhymes over some melancholy metal. I find the results pleasing.

Track 3: Nursehella – "Keep It Real (Represent My Nuts)"
Sadly, Nursehella has a relatively meager back catalog, but, as scant as it may be, it's truly impressive.

Track 4: 1337 Geek Beat – "Hutzumi"
I haven't played track since episode 16, and oh how I've missed it!

Track 5: 8 Bit Weapon – "Closer (Bitpop Mix)"
I recently reviewed the previous 8 Bit Weapon full-length. As I recall, I said some really nice things. Those also apply to their new Electric High EP.

Track 6: Switchblade Kittens – "She Has a Rep"
Only the Kittens could get away with a concept album based on the works of Meg Cabot. Though the references are lost on me, the songs themselves are pop perfection.

Track 7: Lauren Fairweather – "I Want You to Whomp Me"
Wizard Rock is renowned for its female-friendly slant, and because of that I actively limited the amount of WRock in this episode. I didn't want my selections to be too predictable.

Track 8: K.Flay – "I Rap Nice (UM Stream mix)"
While certainly not nerdcore, K.Flay made her presence known to dorks everywhere via some stellar contributions to The Digital Gangster LP. Since that time I have played a lot of her work around the house, both for my own enjoyment and in the hopes that it will inspire my daughter to become a suburban rap queen!

Z's 2nd interlude: "Interspersed throughout that set you also heard snippets of Majel Barrett-Roddenberry."
Because of this ep's proximity to the release of the new Star Trek re-imagining, this seemed like a obvious choice.

Track 9: Wendy Carlos – "Two Part Invention in D Minor"
Thanks again to Krys for this suggestion. I think it fit perfectly!

Track 10: Little Red Car Wreck – "Static Cling"
LRCW's Motor Like a Mother was the original inspiration for this episode. Thanks, Doc!

Track 11: Zombies! Organize!! – "Crunk in the Mall"
My love of Z!O!! is well established. I find there fusion of nerdcore, art rock and minimalist synth arrangements intoxicating.

Track 12: Echo Slightly – "Echo Slightly"
This one was a last minute addition to the show. Captain Dan sent me a copy of their release Birds Fly South, and I have to say that it's some wonderful downtempo.

Track 13: Marian Call – "I'll Still Be a Geek"
Marian Call is an amazingly talented songwriter, and her voice is hauntingly beautiful. It's not exactly standard fare for RFH, but I hope y'all enjoy it.

Z's final interlude: "I think we should know better."
I am as guilty as anybody when it comes to playing into old gender stereotypes with regard to nerds. Still, I promise to work on it if you will.

Track 14: The Reborn Identity – "Ladykillers"
Ladyhawke? Not so nerdy, but I think there's some geek appeal to her work. Plus, her grocery list of medical ailments (everything from sever drug allergies to Asperger's) should make for a sympathetic case to frail dorks everywhere.

My pal Jason is fond of saying that one manifestation of nerd culture is a flagrant disregard for gender roles. But while it's true that geeky guys may reject traditionally macho endeavors, that doesn't somehow make us immune to sexism. Women are an important part of our culture, and until we can let go of this outdated notion that nerdery is a boys club, then we are just as narrow-minded as our one-time tormentors.

When the mainstream media is seemingly startled by the notion that there are female gamers, comic fans or geeky musicians, it's a little silly. When we on the inside react the same way, it's actually rather insulting.

Again, I know I'm as guilty of this as anyone, but I do think it's time we reexamined how we perceive the ladies in our midst. They are not oddities or conversation pieces; they are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. And they are every bit as important to our culture as their male counterparts.

Nerd News in Brief

The Internet has fostered many changes in the life of contemporary man, but perhaps none as stark as his observance of April Fools' Day. Let's face it; that shit was a lot less complicated when we only had to worry about crank calls and TPed lawns.

Interestingly, Church pointed out that a couple of this year's most industrious pranks were perpetrated before April 1st.

Oh, Internet, you so crazy!

• An Odd Brand of Legitimacy: Also from Church comes news that Wizard Rock is now an official subject heading in the Library of Congress. A pair of dedicated librarians were able to navigate the all-too treacherous red tape to have the term officially adopted. Of course, probably the coolest part of this is realization that there are actually WRock CDs cataloged in the Library of Congress!
• The Same Coin: Also on the WRock tip comes this post from the 'Pedia about the rivalry/bleed-over between Wizard Rock and Twilight Rock. Give it a read to discover the unlikely vampire-wizard collaboration that is this year's AccioCon.
• What's Your Anti-Nerd?: You know what I'm sick of? The nerd vs. geek debate. Still, I am not so sick of it as to let this link pass by. The folks at io9 want to know if it's time to retire the word "nerd." Feel free to resume your regularly scheduled semantic nitpicking over there.
• The Roster: Arguably the biggest news in nerdy music circles this week was Hex's announcement of the first round of acts to be featured at this year's Nerdapalooza. The list includes festival alumni Schaffer the Darklord, Krondor Krew, mCRT, Rocket Propelled Geeks, and marc with a c, as well as newcomer My Parents' Favorite Music. Rock!
• Case in Point: And since I stole that closing interjection from my pal Glenn Case, let me point out that he's recently launched a new podcast. Case No Point is 24 minutes of musical awesomeness that occurs at random intervals. Hit up the show's site for an episode list and the all-important RSS feed.
• Dope Rhymes for Smart People: You should also peep the new project from my Aussie brother The Ranger, who has assembled an amazingly skilled cabal of nerdy MCs under the banner Nerdy Rotten Scoundrels. The site exists to "showcase a stable of underground hiphop artists, some who identify themselves as part of the Nerdcore genre and some who do not, but all producing quality music." The site will be updated with weekly playlists and tons of free downloads, so check back often.
• Psssssssssst!: Did you know that volume 3 of Game Music 4 All's Hey! Listen! Monthly mixtape project dropped last week? Did you know it is fucking awesome? See for yourself.
• Gameboys! Music! Interesting Hair!: Thanks got out to Zen Albatross for letting me know that the playlist from WFMU's recent chiptune event Solar Bits on the River is now available for download. Explore the chippy goodness.
• Classically Trained: You can also score some live audio from the University of Maryland's Gamer Symphony Orchestra via their site. Seriously, dude, you kind of need to class up that tired-ass iTunes playlist of yours anyway.
• Slayer!: And rounding out this triad of live game music, you can hear I Fight Dragons' semi-acoustic set from their recent Live in Studio 11 show here. They are unplugged… and yet still plugged in.
• Guitar tab is not Punk Rock: MC Lars has assembled a collection of guitar tabs for a number of his songs. He is sharing them freely via his site, as Lars is always about sharing things freely.
• Gruesome Twosome: Lars is also great about freely sharing information. (See what I did there?) He even let me know that he and fellow MC Jesse Dangerously have recently begun work on their new album. In fact, they've already seen to the important task of "picking beats and stuff." If you loved the two-pronged approach of The Digital Gangster LP – and I know you did – then this one will surely not disappoint.
• Touching is Good: This weekend I will finally receive my new DSi, and to that end I have already had to order a replacement flash cart. If you too are rocking the homebrew, Doc Pop has a suggestion for you; the DS Kama Sutra.
• The Same in French: Canadian hip-hopper the Wordburglar has dropped a new pair of videos at YouTube. The first is for the posse cut "We Have Come for Your Children" featuring More or Les, Ghettosocks and several other high-octane contributors. The second is a live version of "Yo Canada" from CBC Radio's GO, which, being that I am a wannabe Canadian, will close out this week's NNIB. With true patriot love.

Nerd News in Brief

I have lived too long. There are strange and wonderful portents that lead me to believe that perhaps this is, indeed, the end-times.

Have I gone all Mike Seaver on that ass? I have not.

I am simply pointing out that the nerd world is busting at the seams. Its dorktastic energy is seeping more and more into the real world. There is no hope to contain it.

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.

Oh, but amidst all my walking about main street rocking my brand new "The End is Nigh" sandwich board, I did manage to cobble together a Nerd News in Brief.

Priorities, people!

• The Story so Far: Gather round, children, and hear the story of Mega Ran 9. ‘Tis a harrowing tale of fandom, hip-hop, and triumph. As told by the man himself.
• A Rose by Any Other Name: Compliments of Church comes this piece from WebWire concerning the ongoing geek vs. nerd debate. I understand that many, for whatever reason, prefer the former to the latter, but let it be known that I embrace all once-hurtful language leveled at our people. I’m taking it back!
• The Millennium Falcon for Christmas: Also from Church comes this link to more free music from Sci Fi Songs’ John Anealio. Give ‘em a listen, and give John some love.
• Laughably Interesting: Tiny Mix Tapes has a nice review of the Nerdcore Rising documentary available for your perusal. Give it a read, and then we shall debate whether or not the word "fluffy" was used in a positive light.
• Woke Up With a Monster: My sockpuppety pals from NYC have some fun things planned for the month of March. Catch Uncle Monsterface’s own Marty on Thursday, March 12 at Sputnik as he unveils 9 new Series 2.5 Sock Puppet Portraits. You can also catch the boys in Jersey on Friday, March 13 at Watchung Hills Regional High School’s benefit for Darfur and the following Thursday (March 19) at the Opening Night Party for the Boston Underground Film Festival. If you can attend either of the three, please provide some extra joyful screaming on my behalf.
• Two Times the Power: Meanwhile, my boys from Dual Core also have some exciting things lined up. They’ll be appearing with Shael Riley and MC Plus+ at ToxCity Game Center in Greenwood, IN for an all-ages show on Friday, March 27, at the WVU Institute of Technology’s TechLAN charity LAN party on April 4, and at this year’s Notacon in mid-April. And peep this handsome article about the guys from Cincinnati Magazine. Truly everything is coming up Dual Core!
• Insert Bald Guy/Bowling Pin Joke Here: And lest I forget, Shael Riley will be appearing with Bizarro Stylus at Florida’s Casselberry Lanes AMF Bowling Alley on Saturday, March 21. He’s also been booked at Espresso Yourself Music Cafe just outside of Cleveland for March 18. I listed those in reverse chronological order to spice shit up.
• Making My job Easier: MC Lars saved me a lot of typing by posting his March/April 2009 tour schedule at nerdcoretour.com. UK nerds should pay particular attention to these dates.
• These Gigantic Girl Parts Kill: Lars has also been interviewed at Suicide Girls. Therein the talks about the new album. And does not expose a perky, pierced nipple.
• Start a RIOT: Let me join my brother Anthony in suggesting that all fans of glitch, chiptunes, and awesomeness check out the new Pause Music release from Videogame Orchestra. I’m a big supporter of both II and VGO, and neither has ever done me wrong.
• Video(games) Killed the Radio Star: Speaking of VGM, may I now turn your attention to this wonderful piece from or own Doctor Popular at culture hub the Laughing Squid. It’s all about game-themed music videos. Enjoy it in all its 8-bit splendor.
• I’m a Floating Head: And to take us out of this snow-capped week (at least for those of us along the eastern seaboard) is a very literal interpretation of they Might Be Giant’s "Birdhouse in Your Soul." It is 1990 all over again.
  

This is Not a Bomb

About a month ago, my pal Vincent hit me up via Twitter to ask my opinion on a video project he was considering. He had the idea to do a kinetic type vid for the YTCracker/MC Lars/Doc Pop Digital Gangster LP track "911 AM (Rudy Giuliani)" - similar to a George Lopez piece he did as a final project for a motion graphics course he took last semester.

Since that is, as the kids say, my jam, I told him that it sounded like a great idea, and Vince set to work. Over his winter break, he put together the first third of the video, which he recently posted to YouTube. His plan is to finish it up during his next break, and Doc even offered to hook him up with some lipsynch footage to help flesh it out.

So, while you're looking forward to the finished product, here's a sneak preview of the project thus far. Consider it your teaser trailer.

WWYTD?

I typically like to end the year in one of two ways; either by thanking all those who contributed to the success of Hipster, please! and the greater nerdy music scene in the preceding 12 months, or by simultaneously congratulating and challenging our meta-community.

This year I said fuck that shit.

First off, the usual suspects – folks like Matt and Church, Dennis and Denika, Hex and Ant, Beefy and Soc, Snake Eyes and Doc Pop, Baddd Spellah and DON VITO – know how much I appreciate them. They understand that this project exists no less by their whim than mine, and, though I seldom remember to say it outright, I'm pretty sure they know that I am eternally thankful for all they do. And further, whether you send me music, help out with comps, offer artistic support, or just read this blog on occasion, you are my kung fu action hero, and I am genuinely in your debt as well. I reckon that's a given.

Secondly, we've been doing this dance for so long that I am positive everyone knows my steps by now; I am a proud but minuscule part of the greater whole of music-minded geeks, and, while I revel in the progress we've made, we could sure as hell use a little more inter-scene support and artistic interdependence. Our energies are better expended there than in looking for some "big break" from the ever-fickle mainstream. We are our own greatest strength. But that too should be obvious.

Because I tend to focus on these broader issues, I am often slow to crown a "Nerd of the Year" or a "Most Valuable Player." This is partly because I understand that the success of one depends on the work of many, and partly because it simply doesn't seem like my place. This is the year I make the exception.

So, rather than take this post into the familiar territory described above, I am going to forge new ground by saying what I am fairly certain everyone else is thinking: that 2008 belonged to YTCracker.

When I look at my favorite songs, events, or projects from '08, Bryce Case, Jr. is the silver string that runs betwixt them. When I scrutinize all that was good and pure and truly geeky about the year, he seems to be a party to the overwhelming bulk of it.

He was featured in what I consider the most entertaining of G4's "It's a Nerd's World" promo spots and was interviewed by Web geek Martin Sergeant. He contributed to a number of the best tracks of the year, including "911 AM (Rudy Giuliani)" with Doc Pop and MC Lars, "Fantastic Four" by Dual Core, nYgel's "1to3for," and both the 8-Bit Boys and Sinister Six projects. His own Nerdy South Records released exemplary albums in the form of Beefy's Rolling Doubles and his Serious Business EP, which boasted yet another best track of the year, "I am a Pirate." He toured with fellow heavy-hitters Lars and Frontalot, and he took part in arguably the biggest single musical event in nerdcore history, Nerdapalooza 2008.

And that, my friends, is just the shit I can think of off the top of my head!

I have long since abandoned my aspirations to rip people off help out my fellow humans as a motivational speaker, but, if you take anything away from this post, please let it be this: YTCracker, after all these years, all his triumphs and failures and ups and downs, still has love for this nerd game.

He works with established and up-and-coming artists with an equal measure of DG swagger, and thereby elevates both himself and those around him.

Sure, he's always going to have that hacker side that likes to cause trouble, but he also has a nurturing, almost paternal instinct that leads him to chip in, help out, and simply share the wealth of his credibility.

An easy high-point of my year was when, at a local show, YT gave me and Hipster, please! a shout-out on stage. He didn't have to; it didn't serve him to do so, but he gave some lyrical dap because that is what YT does. He gives respect. Even when it doesn't necessarily behoove him to do so.

So with 2009 already breathing down our collective neck, I only ask that everyone from the realms of nerdcore hip-hop and beyond take a little YTC with them into the awaiting proceedings.

In the words of my boy Beefy, ask yourself "What would YTCracker do?"

Holla at P.Nis for more info.