More Nerd News in Brief

You know that thing I do where I make fun of whatever the big mainstream news story is before I start NNIB?

Sure you do.

And I reckon you're expecting me to take some jab at the late Reverend Falwell, right?

Well, I'm not gonna.

As far as I'm concerned, whatever the afterlife – in its perpetual, unfathomable mystery – holds for a bigoted homophobe like Jerry is probably more than comical enough.

And now, More Nerd News in Brief.

• “That means you could die.”: Doctor Popular and MC Slutsky have teamed up again, this time for an entry in the The Music Video Challenge Deathmatch. Voting ends May 21st, so there's still plenty of time to give Irina some love in the form of your vote.
• And the Busy Beaver Award goes to…: Doc Popular also recently made reference to a new Drown Radio album due this fall. He's hoping that the ensuing round of interstate travel he's about to undertake will aid the creative process. Godspeed, Doc. Godspeed.
• Big news from the big man: On the subject of forthcoming albums, ZeaLouS1 has recently revealed that he is hard at work on his third nerdcore release. Not much is known about the as-yet unnamed project, save that the vast recording equipment upgrade (and, indeed, the album itself) is being bankrolled by new label BOSSFIGHT.
• East meets West: I've also received early word that Z1 is planning a trip to the East Coast this fall. Stay tuned for more info on the projected gig and what you can do to make it happen.
• The man behind the mask: Esteemed malcontent SUCKLORD 66 has hooked up with a local promoter in the hopes of making nerdcore sufficiently felt throughout this year's San Diego Comicon. Any parties interested in participating in the madness are urged to prostrate themselves before the Sucklord himself.
• N R culture stealin R musicks: Word around the water cooler is that MTV plans to do a segment on Wizard Rock for MTV News. Personally, I am both thrilled and disgusted. ;) WTF indeed, Matt.
  
• Marketing gone awry: NEWSFLASH - Apparently Konami doesn't understand that we know how to get this shit for free. I'm just sayin'.
• More marketing gone awry: Consequently, Nintendo is obviously threatened by the success of The New Adventures of Captain S. Church is just sayin'.
• I'm beginning to sense a pattern here: MC Router and Dan Lamoureux recently took part in Axosoft's Geek Marketing Contest, and were summarily named the "likely winner" even before the last of the entries was received. If you've ever wanted to see Router assailed by an enormous, anthropomorphic bug-man, here's you're chance… although, truthfully, that probably means that you're pretty fucked up.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 22: Free-Form Spaz

Occasionally, my sleep schedule becomes moderately fucked up. I've no clue what causes it, but I'll have nights – sometimes for weeks at a time – where I'll wake up after only three or four hours of sleep as if startled, and then only sleep intermittently for the rest of the night.

(I don't usually take anything for it. Well, nuthin' you can't get over the counter.)

I know it'll go away, so I just try to amuse myself when sleep seems distance.

Mostly I listen to music, and that's how a chunk of this podcast came together.

On those long nights I usually just pop in my headphones and spelunk the depths of my MP3 player. The ensuing soundscape is sometimes frantic, sometimes messy, and very often cacophonous. That should explain why some of the track transitions seem a little labored.

If this mix sounds a bit too persnickety for your taste, may I humbly suggest you stay up late and try it again. ;)

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 22: Free-Form Spaz [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 38.8 MB Running Time: 42:25

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah (feat. Beefy) – “Radio Free Hipster Theme”
I never tire of this song.

Track 1: Shael Riley - “The Captain S Theme (The Kick Remix)”
The thing I admire most about Shael is his range. He can do nerdy hip-hop, acoustic folk, VGM remixes, or some combination of all the above elements with a similar degree of style and eloquence.

Z's 1st interlude: “Loveable, hungry dumbass.”
If you've watched The New Adventures of Captain S you know what I'm talking about.

Track 2: MC Frontalot - “Origin of the Species”
Maybe it's due to the fact that I was raised in the conservative south, but songs about lopsided religious idealism always amuse me.

Track 3: John R. Butler - “Hand of the Almighty”
Case in point.

Track 4: Johnny Online - “Love Two Point Oh”
“It's still in beta / but it's runnin' pretty smooth.”

Track 5: Jesse Dangerously (feat. DJ Snyder) - “Icarus”
You can not fuck with Canadian hip hop. Well, you can, but it's best if you don't.

Track 6: Party Ben - “Pump Up the Doorbell”
I figure everyone either likes the Whites Stripes or Eric B and Rakim, so this should be a crowd-pleaser.

Track 7: J-chot - “Dude Seriously WTF”
You can download J-chot's entire The Scene is not Down with Me EP here. And you can hear some more of his cuts at his personal site. If you're a fan of breakcore, partyhardcore, or electronica in general, I think you'll be very pleased.

Z's 2nd interlude: “Good-natured blasphemy.”
Are those words mutually exclusive?

Track 8: Optimus Rhyme - “Extinguish” / “LEDs”
I will once again take this opportunity to urge you to purchase School the Indie Rockers.

Track 9: Joy – “That's Black” / Cibo Matto - “Sci-Fi Wasabi”
I had to rip the audio from that My Name is Earl clip for my wife, so I figured I'd use it here too. Waste not, want not.

Track 10: The Advantage - “Bubble Bobble Shark Skeleton”
Bubble Bobble is very fertile musical ground for VGM artists.

Track 11: LogicOne - “Up and Atom”
LogicOne is another artist that I can't recommend highly enough. If you like the nerdy rhymes of Jesse D or Metamystiks (or the more mainstream but equally intelligent wordplay of Lyrics Born) then Logic is right up your alley.

Track 12: 8bit bEtty - “Green Kangaroo”
How have I managed to make 22 of theses things and only include one 8bit bEtty track? I hide my head in shame!

Z's final interlude: “It's a value-added service.”
I figured since I was keeping the interludes a little brief this ep, the least I could do is include some trivial information. :)

Track 13: My Parents Favorite Music - “Make Sense”
This instrumentation for this track comes courtesy of the Minibosses… though it's still debatable whether they realize it or not.
Now that I have completed my prescribed round of theme-less shows, I reckon I'll return to my old trappings. I've had tons of concept ideas piling up over the last couple of months. I'm sure you've probably got some to. Don't hesitate to send ‘em, or to share your comments. As always I appreciate your time as well as your input.
I hope you enjoyed yourself.

Nerd News in Brief

Am I the only one not ridiculously thrilled about the prospect of Paris Hilton facing jail time? ‘Cause, truthfully, I'm finding it hard to give a rat's ass either way.

I mean, does this genuinely mark the moment in time where all painfully rich upper crustaceans become accountable for their misdeeds on par with the rest of us, or are we just being thrown another Martha Stewart-esque bone?

I'm not striving for a genuine social conscience here or anything; I'm honestly asking the question. Just wondering if I should mark my calendar... or... something.

To cleanse the palate, why not get the lowdown on some more lascivious litigation?

And when you're done you can read some Nerd News in Brief.

• Sincerest for of flattery: Karl Olson has long been known to the nerdcore faithful as Ultraklystron, but he has recently elected to become the new Beefy. Step 1: cover Beefy's iconic “Nerdcore For Life.” I can only imagine that Step 2 involves incrementally raising his cholesterol.
• Cheer up, emo nerd: I recently received confirmation from my man Antisocial that his first full release Depressed Nerd is nearing completion. The May 18th release date is firm. Plan your weekend accordingly.
• Light vs. heat: And while it thrives in the eyes of artists like Soc, my Florida brother singed long int asks if nerdcore is not, in fact, dying . Take a read and be sure to share your thoughts with sli. I'd also like to offer this article from The Seminal as a companion piece. Taking both into account, one begins to wonder if it's not merely music as a whole that is wilting under the bright lights of overexposure.
  
• No; she's fully clothed: I'll refrain from my standard soap box standin' by quickly shifting gears to some pics of Nursehella's new ink. Apparently ‘Hella is wishy-washy regarding her allegiance. I'm just sayin'.
  
• Do people still use the word “Haterade?”: BlogCritics Magazine's Joe Harris doesn't dig MC Frontalot's new release Secrets from the Future . I mean he really doesn't dig it… to the point where he seems genuinely angry about it. I know nerdcore hip hop's not for everybody – and I'll be the first to admit that Nerdcore Rising was a superior overall album – but c'mon, dude: deep breaths.
  
• On a five year mission: Lastly, here's a new clip from the ubiquitous ChurchHatesTucker. Church and I are both big No Kill I fans, and I know he put a lot of work into this clip. It shows. Take a gander:

More Nerd News in Brief

As my pal Church is quick to point out, 09 F9 is old hat. The new hotness? Creating your own 128-bit integer!

All the cool kids are doing it.

Okay, so maybe not the cool kids, per se...

...

Quick, read some More Nerd News in Brief before I encrypt this shit!

Hoo-hah!

• Ninjas and Robots and Nerds: Florida poindexters looking for some weekend excitement are encouraged to check out mCRT, Krondor Krew, EPP, and Killer Robots this Saturday, May 12th at Dukes (843 Lee Road Orlando, Florida 32810). It's five bones at the door and 21+. Show up and give your boys/girls some love.
• Everybody get Random: Hip-hop artist, middle school teacher, and bona fide nerd Random recently announced the immanent release of his first full-on nerdcore project. The forthcoming album, entitled Mega Ran, will be a musical tribute of sorts to Random's favorite video game series. Regarding the concept Ran says, “I just wanted to do something different, so far away from what I had done in the past [so] I decided to step into the Mega Man character. It's pretty funny, silly, and entertaining, but it's good music. Fans of the videogame series will enjoy it.” Mega Ran boasts an impressive list of collaborators including RAHM Nation producer DN3, VGM rockers The Megas, and our own YTCracker. Look for the freely downloadable goodness to drop June 19th, 2007.
• E For Most: The fine folks at Video Games Live are currently offering super-early Advance Tickets for this year's E For All Expo. These Internet Advance Tickets afford 7 bonus hours of gameplay time (including 4 on the first day); exclusive E for All merchandise (only available through advance purchase); a special E for All commemorative badge; special contests, “privileges” and partner offers; access to the reserved section at the Video Games Live Concert; and the opportunity to invite 2 additional friends. Thanks to my boy Steffo for passing this along.
• Chi-Town's nerdiest: Last month's MC Frontalot/MC Lars/Optimus Rhyme show in Chicago got some coverage by a regional entertainment show called Metromix . Local nerdcore heroes Former Fat Boys got some love as well, although it appears as though they mislabeled $ucksex and Hard Corey. Minor snafus aside, you can view the piece online in the Metromix TV player on the right side of this page. (It's about half-way down.)
  
• Dexterity Modifier: And lastly, here's a little clip exposing another of Wheelie Cyberman's myriad of talents. Simply amazing!

GM4A presents Level Up!

I desperately need to relocate. Seriously.

Don't get me wrong, we got some truly great shit happening here on the east side. But out west? Well, out there, it appears, there's always a party.

The latest in a seemingly endless line of amazing gigs comes compliments of my friends from Game Music 4 All. Not content to simply release their own compilation album – a disk that I am, personally, chomping at the bit to hear – GM4A has just announced a bona fide CD release party!

On June 2 nd , the very day that Music EXP is unleashed upon an eager populace, CIA in North Hollywood will explode in a shower of guitar, glitch, body parts, and NES controllers as Two Playa Game, 8 Bit Bandit, Super Barrio Brothers, Toploader, and The Megas combine a la Voltron in an earth-shattering VGM event known simply as Level Up.

The doors will open at 8:00 in the PM, with the first band kicking it off at 8:30. Tickets are 10 bones. Oh, and it's an ALL AGES event, so feel free to bring the kiddies.

I am also led to believe that copies of Music EXP will be available at a special price for those of you lucky enough to attend.

Did I forget to mention the Guitar Hero II contest? Yes, you and your cronies can compete against some of Cali's best GHII players for prizes. Prizes of a fabulous nature.

Check out GM4A for further details, and, if you attend, be sure to take lots of pictures for your ol' buddy Z.

Level Up!

Nerd News in Brief

This is the kind of shit that keeps me up nights. I’m serious. My phobias run deep.

How do things of this nature happen in modern, civilized locales? I mean, I've never been to Oregon, but it seems... y'know... First World.

Ugh.

Now, while I take a handful of Xanax and cower under my desk, feel free to enjoy the Nerd News in Brief.

• Like a regular blog, only more so: My boy TG from Northwest Nerdcore recently happened across a very interesting nerdcore meta-blog. It pulls feeds from the blogs of such dorktastic artists as MC Frontalot, mc chris, Optimus Rhyme, Jesse Dangerously, and Beefy and slaps 'em into one managable package. Good stuff.
• Live from Texas: Oddioblender posted a couple of tracks from his weekend performance at Dreamworld on his MySpace. Head over and check ‘em out. Word has it there's a live version of "You Are All Replaceable." RAWK!
  
• More social than you’d think: Nerdcore artist (and my very own home-skillet) Antisocial is participating in this week’s Song Fight!; which is surprising as I’ve always considered him a Song Pacifist. But this is neither here nor there. Go check out his track “Evil April” and all of the other submissions that just so happen to have the same name.
• The many faces of nerdcore: Nerdapalooza co-founder Hex Warrior recently had a piece published in FORUM entitled “What is Nerdcore.” It examines not only nerdcore hip hop, but also other delightful flavors of nerdy music. It’s a great read and an excellent primer for n00bs.
• Step 3 - Profit: My Parents Favorite Music have new t-shirts available for purchase at their MySpace. You need one, ‘cause, let’s face it, your wardrobe is kinda ass. Head over there and give Stellar and Steffo some scratch!
• Don’t blame me: Church passed this on, and I am honor-bound to do the same. It’s “The Trouble with Tribbles” as retold in lolcat. Don't even act like that doesn't interest you.
• Cinco de Geeko: And lastly, on a squishy, personal note, this Saturday was a big day for the Family Z. as it was both Free Comic Book Day and Cinco de Mayo. Being that Li’l X. is Mexican-American (on his mum’s side) and Nerd (on mine), it was quite an occasion. We had a day of geeky frolicking and a night of burritos. I even took a few pictures.

More Nerd News in Brief

This has been a great week for me with regard to television. This week's episodes of Heroes, Lost, and Scrubs were all fan-fuggin'-tastic. And that's good, 'cause TV has been my only brief respite from the toils of the various and sundry projects in which I've been enthralled.

How a man as unabashedly lazy as me can manage to have so much to do is... Well, it's damned near counterintuitive!

But enough of tales of my boring personal life. The time has come for More Nerd News in Brief.

• The Scissor Sisters: Nerdy musician Glenn Case recently clipped off nearly a foot of his hair for donation to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces for disadvantaged children suffering from long-term hair loss due to causes such as alopecia and chemotherapy treatment. Check out Glenn's MySpace for before, during, and after pics, and be sure to say a kind word to the man for his altruism.
• When Yo-Yos attack: Anyone within driving distance of St. Paul, MN should be aware that Doc Popular is serving as a featured performer at the 18th Annual MONDO Jugglefest. The good Doctor will be teaching some workshops and performing on the main stage. Skill toy debauchery will surely abound.
• You down with RPG?: At this weekend's JACON in Orlando, Rocket Propelled Geeks will be hosting a panel about nerdcore. It's slated to begin at 4:00 PM on Saturday. Afterwards, interested nerds are invited to go out drinking/carousing, and then eventually to see Spider-Man 3.
• They'll give love back: For you folks a little further West, Oddioblender recently announced that he and his band will be playing a Battle of the Bands at Dreamworld in Arlington, TX that same Saturday. He even provided a map. It's an all-ages show, so go support your boy and feel free to bring the kiddies. Show 'em some love!
• "Punk bands who have [fallen] in in love with me":Hot on the heals of the recent Mediocre Tour, nerdcore's foremost Whitesican is planning another, larger tour throughout the summer with regional punkers Better of Naked and Bomb Threat Wednesday. When pressed for info, Beefy said, "Sadly I don't have too many details besides it starts in Santa Cruz on June 18th." I'll happily pass on more info as it becomes available.
• Once more, with feeling: Lastly, after following the story in a manner so delightfully obsessive as to only be appreciated by me (and... y'know... him), my pal Church has made his own "Oh Nine, Eff Nine" video. Take a gander, and let its hypnotic qualities see you through to another wonderful weekend.

Making my money work for… us

So apparently - totally unbeknownst to me - I recently took part in Paypal’s Spring promotion. I won’t bore you with the details, but bottom line: I just got a $15 credit to my account. Suffice it to say, that shit didn’t last long.

(I know right now most of you are wondering why, exactly, you should give a damn, but bear with me; it’ll become relevant momentarily.)

There have been a few notable nerdcore releases of late, and, sadly, I’ve been a little lax in picking them up. I realized that this was the perfect opportunity to remedy these oversights.

Therefore, I just ordered “Secrets from the Future” by the venerable MC Frontalot and “International Metamorphosis” by those delightful friends of Hipster, please! The Goondocks.

But wait. There’s more.

I also bit the bullet and picked up Optimus Rhyme’s first album. I really needed a copy in my collection anyway.

The grand total out o' pocket for this mini shopping spree? $23, which ain’t bad at all for three disks I know I'm gonna love.

This, of course, means that multiple tracks from each of these releases will be making their way into upcoming editions of the podcast.

That way we all win!

Nerd News in Brief

After taking a couple of days off to recover from the ridiculous amount of time and effort it took to bring the Nerdcore Top 10 to fruition, I am back at 100%.

Okay, truthfully I'm never at 100%. My optimal function is 45%. Maybe 50%.

But that is neither here nor there; the important thing is that I'm back with the Nerd News in Brief.

• The best part of waking up: Beefy has secretly replaced the coffee his fans usually drink with rich tasting Folgers Crystals… Maybe he didn't, but he did replace the regular array of studio tracks in his MySpace player with a collection of 5 live cuts from his gig at El Corazon. Check ‘em out.
• And my man Queequeg: The poor, unfortunate bastards amongst you who (like me) missed the first leg of the MC Lars/MC Frontalot tour should rejoice, for the fine folks at Live105 recorded a few videos from the recent Cafe Du Nord show in San Fran. Check out MC Lars performing “White Kids Aren't Hyphy” and “Ahab.” Lars also requests that you continue to take a crack at remixing the former over at jamglue.com for a chance to win prizes. Sweet, glorious prizes!
• With that in mind: Church has done some recent digging on the subject of collaborative music sites, and came across this Wired article. It's contains a pretty nice primer and tons of links.
• The man never sleeps!: Church also hipped me to the 215 free Wu-Tang tracks available for download from Wu-Tang Corp. Bitrates vary, but the mixtape material alone is definitely worth a listen. Bring th' muthafuckin' ruckus!
• Everything Gets the Kick: The Tenth and final episode of Internet sensation The New Adventures of Captain S is scheduled for release on May 11th. In the meantime, why not check out all the madness that has occurred thus far? You might even learn a little something.
• Guess who's back?: At long last, Ultraklystron has his Web site back in operation! After… well… a damn long time, karlrolson.com is once again online. Why not head over and check out some samples from Karl's Romance Language release? That question was rhetorical.
• In case you missed it: Enerbrat, that connoisseur of fine mixtapes, recently turned the community on to the Motherboard E-Compilation. There's no viable reason not to download this.
• Somehow I missed it: In semi-related news, how did I not know there was a Halifax hip hop crew called Alpha Flight ? I bow my head in shame. I stand ignorant in the faces of Jesse Dangerously and Snowbird.
• A Fire Sale, of sorts: Year 200x are drastically cutting prices on a fine selection of band merchandise. This sale is CRAAAAAAAAAAAA-ZY, but will it be crazy enough to finance their trip to Pennsylvania for Video Armageddon 3? I sure as shit hope so. Right now you can score a Mega Man T-shirt for $10 (includes shipping), and with that purchase you get a free sticker and a free copy of their demo CD.
• The SoundExchange and the Fury: I'm sure by now you've heard this, but it bears repeating: Internet radio is currently facing an astronomical hike in royalty fees. On May 15 th , the Copyright Royalty Board will change the basis of royalty rates from a percentage of revenue to a per-song, per-listener fee that is estimated to force up expenditures between 300 and 1200 percent! As a result, many Internet radio stations will cease operation. This isn't simply a blow for Internet radio, but also to the scores of independent artists who use this mechanism to reach new fans. Seems unfair, huh? Well, call your congressman. Write a letter. Make some noise.
• And lastly: All this “09 F9” stuff has gotten totally fuckin' crazy! I'm completely cereal.
  

Top 10 Nerdcore Artists of all Time

With all that's happened within the sphere of Nerdcore Hip Hop over the past year, I thought now would a good time to take a look back on the landscape of geeky rap and those major players who have populated this strange and very often misunderstood world of beats, rhymes, and… dice.

This list, of course, is not solely my own; it's a compilation of the ideas and opinions of many nerdcore fans and some of the artists themselves. Special thanks go out to Dan Lamoureux, director of the upcoming Nerdcore For Life documentary; Gabriel of Nerdcore News; the fans, musicians, lurkers, and mildly interested passersby over at Rhyme Torrents; and friends of Hipster, please! who spread the word about the project.

And now that all the formalities are out of the way: on with the show.

10. Ultraklystron
Karl R. Olson's lyrics are such a beautiful tangle of otaku imagery and slice-of-life recollections that one sometimes has to stop and ponder exactly how deep his metaphors run. Is each track, on one level or another, a personal account? Does each Ultraklystron song contain a single player that signifies Karl himself? Are all characters – like some hokey dream interpretation rubric – a figurative embodiment of Ultraklystron? Despite all the questions, all these lines blurred between straight narrative and alliterative impressionism, Ultraklystron manages to deliver a unique brand of nerdcore that is both satisfying and enlightening, even to the non-otaku constituent.

Visit - Listen - Watch - Befriend

9. Futuristic Sex Robotz
With the release of their 2006 free-to-download album Hotel Coral Essex, Futuristic Sex Robotz burst onto the fledgling nerdcore scene with an eclectic sound that preached the glory of marathon gaming sessions and recalled the golden age of the BBS. Coaxke, PC Speaker, BonzoDog, Recycle Bin, and Subrandom traded verses over cleverly crafted hooks incorporating everything from movie samples to Motherboard's own silky-smooth vocals. The result was a cohesive release that dwarfed the output of all but the most established acts of the age.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

8. MC Router

MC Router proudly calls herself The First Lady of Nerdcore, and few would disagree. Whether backed up by her longtime collaborator T-byte, her Mediocre Tour ally Doctor Popular, or any other of a rotating cast of characters, Router's unmistakable voice and in-your-face disposition uniquely color any track she touches. Recently, MC Router has become one of nerdcore's most talked-about artists, garnering attention from the media at every turn. With her longtime feud with Nursehella squashed and a new release in the works, MC Router is both an important part of nerdcore's past and of its continued evolution.

Listen – Watch – Befriend

7. MC Hawking

Stylistically situated somewhere between the educationally caustic rap of MC Paul Barman and the comical mimicry of Dread Zeppelin lies MC Hawking. Web developer Ken Leavitt-Lawrence adopted the persona of this foul-mouthed, hard living parody of famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking in the early 2000s, and in doing so helped to define nerdcore in its earliest stages. Though the Hawkman is less musically active now that nerdcore hip hop has blossomed into a full-fledged movement, his influence, impeccable comic timing, and robotic flow are still remembered and admired.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

6. MC Lars

MC Lars calls his style “post-punk laptop rap,” but it bears all the earmarks of nerdcore. Lars effortlessly blends roots hip hop with the musical spirit of punk rock in a manner that produces both head-bobbing studio tracks and frenetic live sets. With a lyrical style that owes as much to classic literature as it does the modern sensibility of a man steeped in the digital age, his songs handily create the soundtrack for the lives of college students everywhere, whether they realize it or not.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

5. Beefy

Beefy, Keith A. Moore, His Beefyness, and, most recently, Beef Thompson are just some of the names ascribed to Pasco, Washington 's resident rhyme slinger. With a healthy ego, a grocery list of nerd cred, a love for rap, and talent to spare, Beefy manages to make tracks about Chun-Li, comic books, and heartbrokenness seem equally weighty. Perhaps more than any other artist, Beefy embodies the spirit of 2nd gen nerdcore: he proudly wears his influences on his sleeve without ever sounding hackneyed or overly referential. With his previous release Tube Technology still fresh in the minds of his fans, Beefy is already hard at work for a projected June release of its follow-up Fighting Crime.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

4. Optimus Rhyme

Optimus Rhyme are the Elvis Costello and the Attractions of nerdcore hip hop; they contribute to the strength and legitimacy of the movement by simply doing their own thing and wholly refusing to sound like anything or anyone else. Stumblebee, Powerthighs, Grimrock, and Wheelie Cyberman (occasionally aided by fellow Seattle MC Broken English) bring a mixture of rap, funk, and sci-fi storytelling the likes of which can't be adequately explained in this constricted communiqué. Their Jack Endino-produced School the Indie Rockers is, without a doubt, the most polished and professional nerdcore release to date, and their live shows are the stuff of legend.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

3. mc chris

mc chris is surely the unlikeliest of heroes, but there's clearly no other way to describe him within the context of nerdcore. At odds with the classification from the start, mc recently realized that, while he may not consider himself a part of nerdcore hip hop proper, his influence and inspiration have helped to shape the landscape like no one else. Many fans first became aware of the concept of geek rap through his work on Adult Swim's Sealab 2021 and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and many artists cite his seminal Life's a Bitch and I'm Her Pimp among their early nerdcore influences.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

2. YTCracker

The battle for the number one spot on this list was, from the get-go, a two horse race. It can truthfully be said that YTCracker's fans are a rabid legion, and, consequently, it's hard to hear YT – or to see him perform live with his Spamtec group-mates – without becoming a fan. With a style that's equally accessible to nerds and non-nerds alike, a writing credit on Too $hort's 2003 release Married to the Game, an impressive list of DJ and performance credentials, and a celebrated hacker past, YTCracker is a big fish in the small pond with his sites set firmly on the ocean. Interested parties are encouraged to sample his freely downloadable 2005 album Nerdrap Entertainment System, but save room for the main course: 2006's Nerd Life.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

1. MC Frontalot

MC Frontalot was not the first geek to turn to music as a creative outlet. He wasn't even the first dork to bust rhymes. And when he coined the phrase “Nerdcore HipHop” in 2000, it's doubtful that he actually intended to craft a term for a style of music that would launch its own mini cultural awakening. Yet this ironic, self-deprecating description of his own style became a rallying cry for nerds everywhere. Featured in video games, honored in comic books, undefeated at Song Fight!, and praised by nerd culture prophets Gabe and Tycho, MC Frontalot showed the world that that rap and nerd life were not only compatible, but congruent.

Visit – Listen – Watch – Befriend

Of course, this list would not be complete without acknowledging at least a handful of the other notable artists who merely skirted inclusion in the above. And, with that, Nerdcore Superlatives:

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Exemplary Musical Nerdiness: Baddd Spellah
Baddd Spellah is admittedly not nerdcore, but his unique production style has left fingerprints across the breadth of the musical community. Through his work with MC Frontalot, his masterful remixing of artists like mc chris, and his own solo work, Baddd Spellah has left an indelible impression on the sound of nerdcore hip hop.

Visit – Listen – Befriend

Ultimate Nerdy Musical Collective: Emergency Pizza Party
EPP, either by design or simply necessary function, encompasses a staggering array of Florida nerdcore artists: from founding members Betty Rebel, MC Wreckshin, and Sir-Up to new additions Jeff MK, Benjamin Bear, and Fanatical to unofficial associates like Signed Long Int and funky49. Their collaborative style is astounding, and the sheer number of participants guarantees that everyone will find something to their liking.

Listen – Befriend

Most Important Beef: MC Plus+ vs. Monzy
Though thoroughly fabricated, the conflict between these two CS Gangstas attracted attention to both their own musical undertakings and the concept of nerdy rap itself. Nerdcore owes a great debt to these two programmers/PhD students.

MC Plus+: Visit – Listen – Befriend
Monzy: Visit – Listen

50% Nerd, 50% Hip Hop: Metamystiks Inc.
Demonstrating a style much more akin to the conscious alt-rap of Jesse Dangerously than the rapid-fire geekery of Lords of the Rhymes, DJ Snyder, myf, and Super Dragon X are a trio of musicians separated by geography, but flawlessly united by a shared passion for music. There style is adequately described as both nerdy rap and rap that just happens to be produced by artists with nerdy predilections.

Listen – Befriend

New Artist to Watch: Zealous1
Zealous1 was thrilled with the discovery that his life-long love of music and poetry seamlessly melded into the nerdcore style. In the short time he has been actively involved in the scene, Zealous has managed to cultivate tremendous fan support and a reputation for excellence. His album Collaboc1de, literally packed with special guests, is a testament to his love for nerdcore and its ardent reciprocation.

Visit – Listen – Befriend

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 21: Meat & Potatoes

After a hectic (read: shitty) week, putting together this podcast was a noble diversion. The bulk of these songs are silly and borderline uplifting. As a result, I have to say that this is one of my favorite overall track lists in a while. I hope you dig it.

Right now I think I might have one more free-form ‘cast in me before I go back to themed eps, but I'll just have to see where I'm at come RFH 22. In the meantime, peep the freshness and let me know what you think.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 21: Meat & Potatoes [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 43.1 MB Running Time: 47:10

Show Notes

Intro: Baddd Spellah (feat. Beefy) – “Radio Free Hipster Theme”
I'd take a bullet for either of these boys.

Track 1: Zealous1 (feat. Super Dragon X & Spontane) – “Double Dragon”
Collaboc1de is well worth the time it'll take you to download it. Trust me.

Z's 1st interlude: “A collection of tracks that I am currently listening to.”
Which pretty much sums up every episode.

Track 2: Baddd Spellah - “Gawd Particles”
This song contains the word penis .

Track 3: Mr. Door - “Video From NWNC @ Fuel”
This song contains the word testicles .

Track 4: King of Pants - “Badd to Me”
This song contains – even in its original, non-mash-up form – the word vagina .

Track 5: Datarock - “Computer Camp”
This song also contains the word penis . Oddly enough, all of this was purely coincidental. It wasn't until my final playback that I noticed this disturbing trend. Believe it or not, I had not planned to focus this set so firmly upon genitalia. I'm just sayin'.

Track 6: Stemage - “Brinstar”
Stemage has a new (non-Metroid) album available. You should check it out.

Track 7: Ultraklystron - “Front to the Back (K-Beam Remix)”
Karl can rock the house. Rock the house indeed.

Track 8: MC Router - “Routerlicious”
“Your little brother thinks I'm purdy / LAN parties signin' up to get a piece of this dirty nerdy.”

Z's 2 nd interlude: “It'll make you feel good.”
Well, it made me feel good.

Track 9: Oddioblender - “Lullaby of Cosmic Dust”
Odd's Gustuf Young is Dead is one of those disks I find myself going back to regularly. It's really got a lot to offer.

Track 10: Grandmaster Pink and Diabolik (feat. Dexy) - “The OC”
When the show got cancelled , I actually felt a little bad for Pink and the boys. :(

Track 11: The OneUps - “Summers”
Once again, let me plug the Game Music 4 All Music EXP comp. The line-up is outstanding!

Track 12: Commodore64 - “Dutch”
Just say yes.

Track 13: Mawatari Matsuko – “Hohoemi no Bakudan”
See? There's no way in hell I coulda said that!

Track 14: Stark Effect - “Bunny Rabbits, Satan, Cheese and Milk”
There's more to Stark Effect than “mic in track” songs. Check it.

Z's final interlude: “I'll be sure to butcher some more Japanese in a later episode.”
My inability to pronounce words in any tongue is a constant source of amusement for me. I imagine you've come to expect it as well.
Track 15: MC Frontalot – “Secrets From the Future”
Buy Front's new album here, or see him on tour and get it in person.
I'm still amused that I subconsciously themed a huge chunk of set one around brief references to naughty bits. How positively Freudian! ;)

Thanks for stopping by and being a party to my madness. I owe you one.

Please holler at me and let me know your thoughts on this episode. And, as always, your song suggestions and show ideas are welcomed and appreciated.

More Nerd News in Brief

Stephen Hawking (the cosmologist, not to be confused with his rapping counterpart) believes that mankind's future is in space.

Who am I to argue? He's Stephen Hawking.

Still, I can't help but worry. Hell, I can't even ride Space Mountain; how am I gonna manage full-on interplanetary travel, or even the more benign low Earth orbit?

Well, I reckon y'all'll need someone to stay behind and monitor the condition of our tired and ailing home world. Maybe I can even manage the transport system. I'll be just like Shockwave only fleshy and southern.

Just promise me you'll write, and always think back fondly upon More Nerd News in Brief.

• All the way to 11: I begin this edition with news worthy of the top spot: the Tap is back! Now I don't give a good goddamn if you think Spinal Tap is nerdy or not, as they are their own unique brand of awesome. The boys will reunite for a performance at Wembley Stadium as part of the Live Earth concert series. UK nerds take note, and beware of spontaneous combustion.
• The Majors: And while we're on the subject of the evils of rock 'n' roll, my boy Church just turned me on to an excellent piece written by Steve Albini concerning the dastardly machinations of A&R guys. It's a chilling but informative read that any aspiring musicians should check out.
• Network Etiquette: Benjamin Bear would very much like to explain to you the elaborate system of politeness and respect recognized while conversing on ye olde Intertubes. No. Not really, but his new release Netiquette dropped earlier this week. Take a listen and share your thoughts, BUT DO NOT TYPE THEM IN ALL CAPS!!!11one!1
• Sentimental melancholy: Though not quite ready for release yet, my pal Antisocial assures me that his new album, entitled Depressed Nerd , should be wrapped up and ready for the world on May 18th . This is Soc's first foray into the realm of the full release, and I couldn't be more excited for him. :D
• Femme-Geeks: Nerdcore For Life got some UK and Canadian press this week, with our own lovely and talented Fanatical and Nursehella (respectively) front and center. Sometimes nerdcore is a beautiful thing. Other times it's hairy and smells like Sterno. But sometimes, oh sometimes!
• Back from the grave and stoned off his ass: Lastly, I'd like to wholeheartedly thank MC Wreckshin for calling to my attention that Captain America was recently arrested at a Florida bar. Battery? Disorderly conduct? Possession of marijuana and destruction of evidence? Oh, Cap, I am so disappointed!

Baby Learns to Crawl

Hi, folks.

Well, I have some good news and some bad news.

The bad? My Top Nerdcore Artists feature isn't quite ready yet. I'm sorry. I know I said I'd post it on the 25th, but I have a couple of last minute tweaks that need to be made to help flesh it out.

Which brings me to the good news: Dan (of Nerdcore For Life) was nice enough to give me free reign over the various pictures and videos he's collected of nerdcore artists in action to help dress the piece up. The fact that his team's got pics and footage of damn near everyone, coupled with nerdcore artists' penchant for self-promotion, means that this feature will have some pretty pictures and helpful links to accompany my misuse (and outright abuse) of the English language.

Big up to Dan for helping out! If y'all haven't already, be sure to friend his film over at MySpace.

Of course, this still leaves the minor issue of how, exactly, to celebrate Hipster, please!'s first birthday sans Nerdcore Top 10 .

I hope you have suggestions, ‘cause I got nuthin'.

I mean, in a week that's seen real life Kryptonite discovered in Serbia and the mysteries of a Galleon-based economy unfurled – not to mention that little matter involving the Pope loosing all of those tiny, unbaptized souls from limbo – I truly have nothing of genuine consequence to add.

And so, I shall celebrate this day in the same manner as my own birthday; I'll crawl into a dark corner and weep silently.

You know how I do.

Thanks for being here, and for supporting my little foray into nerd music and culture for the last twelve months. It means more to me than I could ever hope to put in words.

Hipster, please!: your source for nerds news and interviews… and counterintuitive jubilation.

Nerd News in Brief

At the risk of loosing some geek points here, I’m gonna ask you a question: am I the only one who finds himself physically incapable of giving a damn about Nine Inch Nail’s Year Zero?

I mean, in my little, insignificant opinion, the only thing less entertaining than the normal musings of an eternally-angsty 40-something is an over-marketed, gimmicky concept album that refuses to admit that it’s an over-marketed, gimmicky concept album. I’m just sayin’.

Now, as I prepare to spend the rest of my day responding to a string of angry emails and posts concerning the above statements, y’all dig the Nerd News in Brief.

• If we can't be free at least we can be cheap: According to a hot tip from my home-skillet Church, today is International Pixel-Stained Technopeasants Day. (I was gonna buy you a card, but damned if my local Hallmark wasn’t sold out!) Apparently, a couple of weeks ago Howard V. Hendrix, current VP of the Science Fiction Writers of America, posted a rant stating that writers who put their work up for free on the Internet are, in fact, scabs that are devaluing the work of writers looking to get paid. The heated response from the community came to a head when it was declared that April 23rd would be the aforementioned pseudo-holiday International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day, a time where writers (and other artists) are encouraged to put up professional-quality work up for free public consumption. As I’m all about the free shit, I can’t help but support such a movement.
• Solidarity: Perhaps the biggest nerd music story of the past week is the offer made by mc chris to the nerdcore community during his recent interview for Nerdcore For Life. In mc’s own words; “[I]t's an open call to anyone that wants to open for me [J]uly third in [O]regon before we go see [T]ransformers at midnight. [W]e have not confirmed venue or theater, but yes [I] want to do this. [A]nd everyone has an equal chance to get on the bill as we might try to make it a longer show that starts in the afternoon.” Interested parties (and fuck know there’ll be a lot of those) should proceed in an orderly fashion to the relevant thread over at Rhyme Torrents.
• Mmmmm. Jam... and... glue.: JamGlue is currently hosting an MC Lars remix contest through which lucky individuals can win some very cool-assed Lars swag! Interesting, eh? Well, it’s made more interesting by the fact that the entry page includes its own integrated mixer pre-loaded with the a cappella and musical hooks. Submissions will be accepted until May 14^th, so get over there and do that thing that you do with the music and the... stuff. Yeah.
• Glory, glory Hallelujah: My brothers over at Game Music 4 All have just released the complete list of artists contributing to their upcoming release Music EXP, and the only words I can find to describe the glory and splendor are as followed: Hole, Lee, and Shit. Nerdcore aficionados will be interested to note the inclusion chiptune/hip-hoppers Super Barrio Brothers. Y’know, like you needed another reason to be excited about this comp!
• Like speed dating, but with bands: TG over at Northwest Nerdcore recently posted some really nice mini-interviews that he did at the Lars/Frontalot/Optimus show in Portland. The results are a compelling read, to say the least! Y'all check it out.
• Am I nerdcore?: And lastly, my boy Beefy and his long-time associate Ryan “St. Cameraman” Tidrick, have just released a video for Beefy’s track “1-800-NERDCORE.” Though it’s not a lighthearted summer buddy cop comedy involving Cameron Diaz as a wide-eyed recruit who breaks all the rules and William H. Macy as her by-the-book partner, I’m gonna go ahead and call this one a romp. Don’t believe me? See for yourself: 1-800-NERDCORE

More Nerd News in Brief

During times of tragedy, there are many mechanisms employed to help the fragile human mind cope. Some folks turn to religion. Others switch off their televisions and attempt to remove themselves, however, briefly from the unfolding calamity. I, myself, drink bourbon and play Nintendo. Others, still, make a desperate and gratuitous grab for publicity.

Guess which group Jack Thompson falls into?

But while other sites recount the horrors that happened at the hands of a disturbed young man (and the ensuing shamefully self-serving actions of an angry old man), the departure of that Sanjaya kid from that show he was on, and where to go to find a really old-assed tree, I will favor you all with some Nerd News in Brief.

Because it's been a long week, and I think you deserve it.

• Throw up your hands: The trailer for nerdcore documentary/your new favoritest film of all time ever Nerdcore For Life was chosen as a “featured video” on MySpace earlier this week. If you want to get in on the ground-level of the flood of new friend requests, I suggest you sweet talk Dan into putting you in his Top 8 immediately. Mr. Lamoureux was also nice enough to post a handful of new, raw pieces of performance footage for your continued viewing pleasure; ‘cause he's cool like that.
• All the way live: On the subject of performances, let me reiterate that MC Frontalot, MC Lars, and Optimus Rhyme are, in fact, still on tour. What's more, they'll be in Portland tonight (at Dante's), at Stoneys in Reno tomorrow, and in San Fran come Sunday at Cafe Du Nord. Check out Front's tour page for more info on upcoming gigs, and peep Penny Arcade for a recollection of an event that will surely be remembered as The Great Nerdcore Ping-Pong Massacre.
• He's at home washing his tights: Sadly, Beef Thompson: Private Dick will NOT be the title of Beefy's forthcoming album. Instead, Mr. Moore has settled upon the more pedestrian (but no less compelling) Fighting Crime . I can only imagine that Jones will be Robin. I'm just sayin'.
• Rise from your grave!: mc chris has also let slip the title for his next album: Six Feet Under and Rising . This record, slated for release before Christmas of this year, is the monster-themed project he alluded to in his Hipster, please! interview earlier this year, and it appears to be squarely focused on the subject of zombies. I can hear Dennis and Denika from Vagrant Aesthetic rejoicing from here!
• Ah, the joys of college radio!: Nerd-Music has a nice piece up about getting your music played on college radio. Glenn was the Chief Engineer of his college's student-run radio station, so he's speaking from experience. Take a read and make some notes.
• Bean counting update: I have the nigh final results from the Nerdcore Top 10 project. I'm not going to share them yet, though, as this would ruin the surprise. The list itself is actually pretty eclectic, and I, for one, am happy to see many flavors (and eras) of nerdcore well represented.
• In other news: And lastly, since I began this post bitching about the news, I feel it only proper to share with you my two favorite headlines of the day. The first, from Discovery reads “Robot Surgeon Tested Underwater.” The title alone renews my flagging faith in humanity. The second, from BBC News: “Wang's riches 'for feng shui man'.” What can I say? I am a ridiculously immature man-child.

Nerdcore Top 10 update

My head hurts. The next time I get the bright idea to do a collaborative top ten project like this, someone please remind me that I am a man of letters. Numbers frighten me.

This thing could have easily been a clusterfuck. Seriously. No one could’ve participated or everyone could’ve just bribed their friends to flood me with bogus lists designed to make them stand out, but it didn’t go down like that. I actually got a ton of submissions - well over a hundred that I’ve recorded and a growing pile of indeterminate size that I haven’t - fraught with genuine thought and sentiment. A lot have come from fans, thanks to the support of cats like my pal Anthony and the rest of the crew over at Game Music 4 All, and a lot have come from the artists themselves. I’ve been presented with an interesting cross-section of the nerdcore populace, to say the least.

The final list is slowly beginning to emerge from that undulating mass of names and numbers that has so bedeviled me for the better part of a week. But, saying that, I fully realize that the next time I look in the ol’ Inbox there could be a handful of submissions that completely change the terrain. I think that’s the part I like best.

The part I like least is the whole process of quantification. While a lot of people assigned a specific position value to their preferred artists, many chose not to. I’m totally cool with that, of course, as I understand that one musician’s merit isn’t always so easily contrasted against another. Still, this presents an interesting quandary; do I focus on an artist’s overall position or on his sheer prevalence?

My answer: both.

Basically, in addition to keeping a running tab of how many times a specific artist is mentioned, I also keep a record of this artist’s average position within weighted submissions. The plan is to reconcile the results via a concordance of both lists, as this seems both the fairest and the most accurate way to gauge the results.

So far it looks like this should be eminently doable, as the results so far seem to jive between both lists (meaning that those most voted for are also generally the cats most highly ranked).

Does this mean the list will please everyone?

Oh fuck no!

But, thankfully, that was never the intention of the project. :D

Nerd News in Brief

So what did you do this weekend?

The wife and I spent most of our time (and energy) in a continuing endeavor to potty train Li'l X. Unfortunately, despite the combined efforts of me, Em, Elmo, and MC Frontalot, he's still got a-ways to go. There were a lot of false alarms, a lot of “uh-ohs,” and a ridiculous amount of mopping. Such, I suppose, is a parent's lot in life.

And now that you've all had an uncomfortably close look at the Family Z's biological functions: Nerd News in Brief.

• Best. Cover. Ever.: Nerdrap Apostles ComputerScienceHardCore (comprised of Conyeezy and Inubito) have just dropped their album Rule #1… Make it Not Suck! The only remaining question is, of course, is the music as good as the album art? I'm gonna give that a yes, but I encourage you to download it and see for yourself.
• And if that's not enough: Speaking of releases, shortly forthcoming from my friends at Game Music 4 All is a music compilation to rival the gods. The gods, says I! The Music Exp comp. will feature everything that is good and pure about video game music including chiptunes, classical reinterpretations, and, of course, the rock. More information and a final release date are forthcoming.
• But wait, there's more: Also looming in the none-too-distant future is a new album by nerdcore giant Beefy . The Beefster recently let slip to me that his follow-up to the amazingly good Tube Technology should be dropping in June, and I'm letting it slip to you mostly because I am a shitty friend who can't keep a secret. The title is still up in the air, but I'm pulling for a gritty, film noir, detective-themed album called Beef Thompson: Private Dick. He's not gonna do it, but I'm pulling for it nonetheless.
• Clothe thyself: You have nipples; the secret's out. And what is there to do but cover up those filthy chesticles? Nuthin'. With this in mind, I humbly suggest that you peep the glory that is the new Benjamin Bear & Betty Rebel t-shirts. Aren't they nice? Wouldn't you like one? I thought so. I mean, if you gotta cover up your shameful parts, why not do it in style?
• Chi-Town gets its geek on : Last week a nerdcore army stormed the streets of Chicago. Frontalot, MC Lars, Optimus Rhyme, Former Fat Boys, and a legion of fans tore Abbey's Pub to the ground and danced upon the splendorous ruins. Dan was nice enough to provide some pictures of the geek-tastic slaughter.
• Wow: And lastly, a word of thanks to all of you who've contributed your lists to the Nerdcore Top 10 project. The response thus far has been staggering, as evidenced by the fact that I am, y'know, staggered . The lists have run the gamut in both scale and content, and I genuinely appreciate the thought you've all obviously put into ‘em. Y'all rock.

More Nerds News in Brief

We as a nation have spent the last week in shock at the discovery that professional asshole Don Imus is, in fact, an asshole. Meanwhile, Kurt Vonnegut, a man who actually had, y'know, something relevant to say has died. Ain't that a kick in the junk?

Life's funny that way, I reckon.

I always saw Kurt as one of us, and not just because he wrote sci-fi. He was a man who held onto his ideas and ideals, and fearlessly expressed himself. You don't get much more nerd that that.

This edition of Nerd News in Brief is for him.

(Now where'd I put the ice-nine?)

• Tales from the Southeast: Congrats to my brother mCRT for winning the most recent Song Fight! with his track “King Me!” Much nerd love to him, and also to David Abramz for providing the beat. If you haven't already, go check out his winning tune and all of the other interesting submissions.
• Wait! I can play games on this thing?: Nerdcore For Life got a mention in this month's edition of Games for Windows magazine. I (like pretty much everyone else) am still scratching my head about this, but at least it's some press. :)
• The Mid-West and beyond: MC Frontalot, MC Lars, and the harmonious cybernetic groove machine known as Optimus Rhyme will be rocking House of Bricks in Des Moines tonight, The Rock in Papillion, NE tomorrow, and the Marquis Theater in Denver come Sunday. As a result, I expect the middle of our nation to be rocked right the fuck off by next week. I'm just sayin'.
• Dork the Vote: Will the aforementioned acts make it into hipsterplease.com's list of the Top 10 Nerdcore Artists of All Time? It's up to you, folks. Check out this earlier post for the straight poop.
• A deal this good is simply ©®@~Z!: Lastly, My Parents Favorite Music have re-released their 2002 album ©®@~Z Mystery for the unbelievable price of 5 bones! Okay, so technically the album is free with the purchase of a $5 button, but you get the idea. Head over to the MPFM MySpace for details, and tell Steffo and Stellar that Z. says hi.

Calling all dorks.

There are three phases within the life of the blogger.

In the first, you consider the Top 10 list. In the second, you mock the Top 10 list. Finally, you accept the Top 10 list.

I have recently reached the acceptance phase.

With all that’s happened in the sphere of nerdcore hip-hop over the past year, I can’t help but feel this damnable urge to innumerate, this hankering to list in ascending order. I try to deny it, but still it haunts me like a wispy ghost on a rainy night or a popcorn fart in a crowded movie theatre.

The problem, of course, is that such lists rarely hold water. They are insubstantial. Yet, while I sat lamenting the fact that such a project could never be definitive, my pals Dan and Matt reminded me that it could, in fact, be collaborative.

And so I beseech you, oh nerdcore community to aid me in my quest, to help me uncover the Top 10 Nerdcore Artists of All Time.

Now admittedly, the phrase “of All Time” is a bit of a misnomer. Since we’re not, at present, on the cusp of the end of time – despite what your minister may tell you – that all-time greatest shit is pretty hollow. It essentially boils down to the far less weighty “so far.” And while “so far” lacks that true ring of authority, it’s a bit more accessible and a fair bit more accurate.

But this matter of semantics is neither here nor there.

All I’m looking for from you is a list: a simple list of your personal top 10 nerdcore artists or groups. You can do so right here, at the related thread over at Rhyme Torrents, or (if you’re the secretive type) via the handy email link in the sidebar.

According to my trusty desk calendar, it is, at present, Wednesday, April 11th. I will be actively accepting lists, through any of the aforementioned channels, until next Wednesday, April 18th. After that time I will begin to weigh the collected data, and I will post results the following week.

Aside from your own submission, all I ask is that you be truthful to yourself. Your individual criteria for inclusion are your own business (as are your likes/dislikes and personal prejudices), but I hope you’ll at least give this a little bit of thought.

At least as much thought as a request from a diminutive hillbilly that writes about nerdy rap genuinely warrants.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 20: Notorious Dick

It's not you; it's me.

I noticed during playback that I sound a bit bored in this ep. It's not that I was phoning it in or nuthin' – I was actually really excited about putting this ep. together – but life's been hectic and I've begun to drag ass.

Anyone else feelin' that way? Do the rest of y'all have entirely too much to do and very little motivation to see the bulk of it through? It can't be just me, right?

Must be seasonal.

But that's neither here nor there.

This time around I am kickin' it old school. There's no theme or preferred genre. There's just a bunch of songs that are a bit nerdy, and I hope you find at least a couple to your liking.
It was nice to drop another OCR track into the mix, as I haven't done that in a few eps, and, of course, I'll always go out of my way to make a Facts of Life reference.

But I reckon y'all already knew that.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 20: Notorious Dick [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 45.5 MB Running Time: 49:45

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah (feat. Beefy) – “Radio Free Hipster Theme”
My theme song could beat up your theme song.

Track 1: MC Lars - “If I Had a Time Machine the World Would be Fresh.”
Catch Lars on tour. Coming to a venue near you. Unless you live in the boonies like I do.
Z's 1 st interlude: “A glaring lack of theme.”
I haven't done a theme-free ep. in a while. It feels good.

Track 2: Five Iron Frenzy - “Wizard Needs Food Badly”
I've said before that I think rock ‘n' roll and Halloween should be left to the devil, but a good song is a good song, “Christian ska” or otherwise.
Track 3: Binster - “Blue Wizard is About to Die”
I haven't done a plug for OCR for a while, so let me say again that it's the kind of place that never disappoints when it comes to free, cool, video game-inspired music.

Track 4: Beefy - “The Legend of Jones McFly”
As I mentioned: Jones is my home-skillet.
Track 5: Switchblade Kittens - “Best Friend”
The Kittens are, in essence, an all bass band. Strange but true.

Track 6: The Blanks - “The Facts of Life”
I love Scrubs , but I can't believe they killed Laverne! :(

Track 7: No Kill I - “Tranya”
Clint Howard scares me. I'm just sayin'.

Track 8: IRN MNKY - “She Sells Grapevines”
I love The Cult. I also love Marvin Gaye. Don't you fuckin' judge me!
Track 9: Former Fat Boys - “I Ain't Gonna Pay My Taxes”
We should know on the 15th whether or not this one won the YouTube Turbo Tax contest.

Z's 2 nd interlude: “Oh, Kim Fields, you saucy little vixen!”
Kin Fields is currently with child. It is not mine. I'm just sayin'.
Track 10: Rx - “Should I Stay or Should I Go”
If only The Party Party were, in fact, a legitimate political entity.

Track 11: Totally Radd! - “Video Store”
Check out the pictures from the recent Totally Radd! photo shoot. Trust me. It's worth it.
Track 12: Metamystiks Inc. feat. Armageddon Man - “Superior Beings”
One of the best tracks on the last Rhyme Torrents compilation, and one of Metamystiks finest.

Track 13: Rotersand - “Exterminate Annihilate Destroy”
This one is for Dennis and Denika and anyone else who realizes that Goths are just nerds in black nail polish!
Track 14: YTCracker - “Shineback”
This tracks features Metamystiks own DJ Snyder.

Z's final interlude: “… and delicious salt-water taffy.”
You just can't fuck with salt water taffy.
Track 15: Headphone Souls - “Where's Mr. Brightside's Head At”
I haven't heard anything new from Headphone Souls in a while. That's kind of a letdown.

And that, as they say, is that. Thanks so much for listening.

I seem to've run a little longer than usual with this one, but it's mostly because I just kept adding songs to the playlist. I shoot for keeping each edition of RFH at approximately 45 minutes, but I make it a point to only go past the (dreaded) one hour mark on rare occasions. My number one turn-off where podcasts are concerned is length, but I reckon 50 minutes is still fair game.

Keep those comments and song/theme suggestions coming. And feel free to holler if you just wanna shoot the breeze. I'm pretty dedicated to procrastination. :D