In Memoriam

Rather than drop another edition of the Nerd News In Brief, I have instead elected to focus my energy on a solitary item this sunny Friday afternoon. Yesterday it was announced on the Rhyme Torrents forums that Emergency Pizza Party is no more; ironically enough, this proclamation was made by Sir-Up, traditionally the group’s least vocal member.

Whether you count yourself an EPP fan or not, the impact they had on post-RT nerdcore is undeniable. The group was a fixture of the greater Florida scene and a prime catalyst that precipitated the veritable explosion of regular nerdcore shows in the area. EPP were known for their eclectic style, their frenetic performances, and their eternally swelling roster.

The band was also know for its totally unorthodox sense of humor, and I, like many other scenesters, simply assumed that this announcement was some other obscure in-joke appreciated only by the members of the Party themselves. It appears, however, that it’s for real, and, as such, I thought it warranted a little pomp and/or circumstance.

I find it kinda hard to be blue, as Sir-Up explicitly stated that the former members of the group would continue to make music independently. Instead, I’ll simply wish them all the best in their endeavors and hope that the split affords them each the artistic growth that they seek. Best of luck to Sir-Up and Fanatical on their up-coming solo releases, Ben and Wreckshin on their future projects, and – my personal favorite – Miss Betty Rebel on whatever musical avenues she chooses to tread.

MagiTek, Krondor Krew, and Superfiends: y’all keep the dream alive.

Not some lame campers

Ah, semantics!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t do reviews.

I do, however, occasional post a lengthy personal impression of an album of note. Such is the case today.

When the opportunity to score a free copy of Dual Core’s new release Zero One (simply by virtue of agreeing to discuss it) presented itself, I jumped on that shit. Having heard only a few clips of the album via their Web site and MySpace, I knew that this was the type of release that would bear repeated listening, and that’s imperative when it comes to arrangements like these.

It’s not simple enough for me to say “I like this” when it comes to sharing album impressions. If I like something, I want to know why I like it. The same goes for something I don’t like. It’s unfair for me to simply tell you something is good or bad without qualifying why I feel that way in as objective a manner as possible. That means, of course, that I have to listen to an album extensively. Agonize over it. Delve into its dark recesses. Ponder over its diminutive form. Sleep with it tucked under my pillow. Bathe with it…

Okay, maybe not that last one, but I do have to spend a lot of quality time with the release in question. And that’s why – for those who may be wondering – the impressions I share are overwhelmingly positive; if a disk doesn’t stand up to my rigorous listening regimen, it never makes it past the planning stages. In order for me to share my impressions of a release, that album has to make an impression on me. Such was the case with Zero One. Which I will now explain in excruciating detail… for your benefit.

1. “A New Hope” – Dual Core start the album with a great musical hook and a calculated flow that let you know exactly what you’re in for. c64’s smart use of (blatantly uncleared) samples plays excellently against int eighty as he relates the overall plot arc of the Star Wars saga. While the backing loops get a little tinny and seems a tad thin at times, this track is mechanically polished, undeniably danceable, and manages to provide a funny and unexpected ending. I’m honestly not sure if I should praise or penalize eighty for the “dickfor” line, but suffice it to say it elicited a chuckle.
2. “Try Space” – “Try Space” is, for those who’ve heard the track, the thematic flipside to Gym Class Heroes’ “New Friend Request.” The drastic musical change-up and slice-of-life lyrics seem to punctuate the idea that crazy girlfriends are a lot like the videotape from The Ring; the only way to save yourself is to pass ‘em on. While the manner in which c64 changes the beat up for the chorus sounds a bit drastic, it really helps break up the track. Plus it totally works, which is a testament to his gift for the craft.
3. “War Games” – Here int eighty takes the sentient computer narrative well into new ground by paradoxically leading you on a pop culture trip through the forgone days of the vacuum tube, the evolution of ARPANET, and even to the birth of the consumer Internet as we know it, complete with clever references to all the relevant films. Musically and lyrically, this track is impeccable.
4. “Rule Them All” – While it’s hard to unseat Lords of the Rhymes as the world’s preeminent rappers of Tolkien’s iconic saga, Dual Core aren't trying to. They’re simply putting their own musical spin on “traditional” nerd rap source material, much in the same way they did with “A New Hope.” c64 ‘s layered production approach really shines, and int eighty displays the scope of his hip-hop lyricism with multiple end rhymes and skillful alliteration. My only complaint concerning this track – and my only major gripe with anything on the album – is the vocal fade-out prior to the breakdown. It doesn’t ruin the song for me, but it does momentarily take me out of the experience. Of course, it also opens the door for some competent scratching and a well-placed voicemail from 64 himself that punch up the ending considerably.
5. “Hostage Down” – I’m going to assume that everyone has heard this particular track and cut right to the chase: this is a phenomenal song. One could even say it’s Dual Core’s musical calling card, and with good reason. It showcases a smooth flow and a dazzlingly frenetic production style that aren’t simply accessible, but also completely danceable. The cleverly calculated, sing-along chorus makes this song sure to please. Hell, the track’s so solid that I don’t even mind that it’s almost 5 minutes long! A flawless hook, a bevy of (again: uncleared) samples, and some fantastic scratching make this the most convincing commercial for Counter-Strike imaginable.
6. “Light Prototype” – Again, this is another track where we hear the duo put their own spin on a nerd music standard. Still, eighty’s nostalgic ruminations concerning Mega Man throughout the years are summarily enhanced by his interjection of a little CS rap know-how. Musically, this track was my least favorite on the album, but it’s still a smooth jam that serves to highlight c64’s range as a producer. For me, the outro really makes the track.
7. “Void (No Return)” – What’s this? Another slow jam? Yes, but this time with a definitive purpose. Dual Core manage to do what law enforcement has feared for the better part of a decade: to put a human face on the perpetrators of cybercrime. Further, eighty’s lyrics serve as a reminder of that oh-so inconvenient truth that it’s a parent’s job to raise a child, and that fucked up situations very often lead kids down similarly fucked up paths. Truthfully, this is a brilliant track that is impossible to ignore. It affords the listener an opportunity to really get a feel for eighty’s ability to weave a lyrical narrative. And while I can see why some folks would be turned off by its “ripped from the headlines” approach, I feel this song shows how music – even within the relatively narrow scope of our subculture – can approach an important concept in a way that other media would (or could) not. Haunting, compelling, heart-rending, and ultimately important, I applaud the guys for including this track.
8. “Dull Boy” – Work sucks songs aren’t a new concept, but Dual Core continue tradition by putting a great and original spin on the concept. While the understated scratching didn’t do it for me, the samples and the frantic beat really did. The same can be said for eighty’s take-no-prisoners lyrical indictment of office politics and the true bane of the worker: ineffectual executives. On the subject of the hard life of the unappreciated coder, Dual Core manage to voice frustration without sounding trite or whiny.
9. “Cipher Punks (feat. Remington Forbes)” – This one is a true standout! int eighty and guest MC Remington Forbes manage not so much to lyrically wrestle, but flow around each other. On the production side, c64 remembers that less can be more and he merely interjects what needs to be there for the sake of movement. And anyway, nerdcore’s always been sorely bereft of competent beatboxing. ;) All-in-all, this song is a personal favorite. Remington is a standout guest, and he and Dual Core do their utmost to get you moving. The old school, street corner vibe of this track is simply flawless from top to bottom. I can’t praise this song enough.
10. “First One’s Free” – While the quintessential Penny Arcade song has long been written, Dual Core bring to the table their own unique idea about what a musical tribute to Gabe and Tycho should entail. eighty alternately puts himself in the mix and ruminates on the brilliance of the comic’s storied past, and he doesn’t neglect to praise the creators for all they’ve done for both nerd culture and the greater community. Musically this track is also a little stripped down and a good build-up from previous entry. This amazingly crafted song left me with only one question: who the fuck is Mustafa?
11. “2 Wycked” – I’ll be the first to admit that this track is the most lyrically simplistic on the album, but, truthfully, isn’t that what Carl deserves? Musically fierce, “2 Wycked” is hard not to love, especially if you dig Aqua Teen Hunger Force. This was the track where I found myself genuinely wondering if c64 isn’t a former club DJ, as the song simply moves along too perfectly within the confines of its challenging but danceable groove. Brilliantly placed samples more than make up for my minor gripe concerning the vocal meter of the chorus.
12. “The Children’s Machine (OLPC)” – Listening to this musically untouchable and lyrically poignant offering, I can’t help but think that not many cats would write this song, let alone include it on their debut release. And, truthfully, I doubt anyone could pull it off with a similar level of care, skill, and dedication as Dual Core. Much respect to c64 and int eighty for making this, and more for simply doing it so well. I’m tempted to say this song marks the birth of a new breed of conscious geek rap, but you can tell from the heart-felt thanks dispensed to those involved in the XO-1 project that Dual Core aren’t concerned with making a name for themselves as the guys who bring heart to technical rhyming; they simply seek to state their gratitude to those involved in such an important undertaking.
13. “End of the Road” – Okay, this one is gonna piss off some heads who question nerd rap and its place in the echelons of hip-hop proper, but such an argument is, in this case, totally unfounded. It is readily apparent that eighty and 64 have a genuine affection for hip-hop, and I feel that alone makes this track relevant. The guys aren’t merely calling out the rampant consumerism and lack of challenging themes in modern rap; in truth they are attempting to enact change by first changing themselves. Are the allegations harsh? Sure, but maybe they should be. And, consequently, eighty pulls no punches against bedroom MCs who claim their lack of polish as a badge of honor either. In the end, Dual Core practice what they preach by making the hip-hop they want to hear. Despite a minor lyrical misstep, this song manages to make almost 6 minutes of song time enjoyable and enlightening thanks to bright production that handily compliments (rather than overpowers) the lyrical truth as eighty sees it.
14. “Give Me Wings” – “Give Me Wings” is the ultimate Dual Core club banger. The guys end on a high note, and it’s with some of their best work. The song itself manages to make the clichéd sound new again and to keep the hip-hop dream alive. It’s old school but not played out. It’s fun without being disposable. This track is almost the opposite of “Dull Boy;” it tells us how coders get down in the face of crunch time. If, despite the quality of the album so far, you’ve managed to hold onto any uncertainties concerning the dedication and skill of int eighty and c64, this should obliterate them entirely. In summation: lyrically relatable, immanently enjoyable, and featuring some of the best production I’ve heard period. Dance, muthafuckers!
15. “Hostage Down (Remix)” – I consider these last few tracks the encore. Dual Core fed you a 14-course meal, but they also sprang for desert. It starts off with a fantastic remix of a fantastic track. Between this and the original mix, it’s a bit hard to pick a favorite. Thankfully, I don’t have to.
16. “Cipher Punks (Studio)” – This version has a little more polish than the original, but it still maintains the former’s street corner aesthetic. This track once again reminds you what c64 can do. I love how he keeps the beatboxing at the forefront and merely builds on it to flesh out the song.
17. “Light Prototype (Remix)” – This remix really rocks the 8-bit to put another spin on “Light Prototype.” Maybe the loop gets a bit repetitive, but it’s still a nice extra track.
18. “Hostage Down (Radio)” – Lastly, we have a radio-friendly option of the album's first single for any interested parties. I always hate to hear profanity removed from a song, but the track itself doesn’t suffer without swears. That should tell you something.

While Dual Core’s first release does tread some common thematic ground, it also expands into subjects not normally touched on – or, at least, not generally elaborated upon – within the sphere of nerdcore hip-hop. More importantly, however, is the fact that int eight and c64 seem totally disinterested in whether the or not their song topics and methodologies are “nerdy enough.” They merely intend to make the best music they can for no other reason than the simple fact that they can. Their dedication to genuine quality and self-realization as artists bleed through every track.

In a genre that sometimes seems more interested in talking about music than actually making it, Dual Core stand out as a beacon of musical integrity. They make the music that they love, and (without regard to hype or criticism) int eighty and c64 focus on creating the most polished and competent tracks possible while still sticking close to that “love what you do, do what you love” ethic.

And that brings us to the only question that matters: would I recommend this album?

Certainly. Zero One is skillfully crafted without sounding pretentious, competently produced without sounding insubstantial, and delightfully nerdy without ever coming off as gimmicky. It is both a nerdcore album for fanboys and an excellent piece of hip-hop artistry for even the most rudimentarily open-minded.

Buy it for your friends. Buy it for yourself. Play it at your next house party, and take a stand for genuinely creative independent music.

“But still they don’t see what I’m capable of.”

Nerd News in Brief

This weekend the wife and I watched Pan's Labyrinth, and the whole time I kept thinking about how differently the Spanish Civil War would've gone if the rebels had only solicited the help of Spain's indigenous magical creatures. I'm just sayin'.

And now, while I ponder the eternal struggle of fascism versus supernatural monarchy, please enjoy Nerd News in Brief.

• Game (Rock) On: By all accounts, Level Up, the first live outing ever put together by my friends from Game Music 4 All, was a rousing success. Congrats to all who participated, and happy belated birthday to the GM4A crew!
  
• Wait… Texas is a democracy?!: Local entertainment magazine Forth Worth Weekly has compiled the nominees for its 2007 music awards, and our own MC Router made the cut. Please make your way to the booth in an orderly fashion and cast a vote for your girl. And, contrary to popular wisdom, I'm gonna suggest that you should mess with Texas.
  
• In Ur Valley Getting Uncanny: As part of his continuing mission to provide me with an unending supply of smart-assed macros, my bro Church has recently uncovered LOL BOTS. Sweet, delectable memes!
  
• Clearly Canadian: Jesse Dangerously has a new EP in the works called Verba Volant. Much like his previous Inter Alia , this work “is produced half-and-half by two of Backburner's A-list producers - this time Fresh Kils and Timbuktu.” More info (including a track listing) can be found over here.
  
• Light at the end of the tunnel: And lastly, my pal Gabriel (of Nerdcore News) recently conducted an interview with my other pal funky49. This particular interview stands as the last section in a seventy-six part feature on nerdcore in the greater Florida area. You think I'm joking.

More Nerd News in Brief

Damn you CBS!

I had such high hopes for Pirate Master. I did, and I'm not ashamed to say it as my love of piracy precedes me. But of course it fuckin' sucked ‘cause, y'know, it's a reality show and a midseason replacement at that.

I reckon sometimes I just expect too much.

*le sigh* Here's some More Nerd News in Brief.

• SOLD!: Big up to nerdcore superfan Bandog for kicking in a cool 71 bones to help get ZeaLouS1 to Florida. I mean, he got a treasure trove of rare and unreleased nerdcore tracks for his trouble, but big up to the lad anyways!
• Not to be confused with The Fox and the Hound : If you, consequently, would like to jam to something a little further away from the nerdy rap game but still imminently geek-friendly, I'd humbly suggest a new NYC-based collective calling itself FOXHOUND. They skillfully incorporate jazzy brass and bright rock sounds to create a flavor of game rock heretofore uncharted. Give the self professed “MOST. BAND. EVER” a listen over at their MySpace.
• Embrace your doom: While you're MySpacing it up, you might also wanna peep this bulletin . If my readin' skills are still up to par, it appears as though Captured By Robots and Stovokor have joined forces for a gig at Berbati's Pan in Portland. It's $10 at the door, and kicks of at 9:00 in the PM. And it's 21+, so as to spare the children the gruesome site of all-out rock decimation!
• Never Gonna Give You Up: My brothers at Northwest Nerdcore have seen fit to favor us with another edition of the NWNC podcast. However, I can neither confirm nor deny the inclusion of Rick Astley in their revelry.
• For those about to rock: My other brothers over at Game Music 4 All are putting on their first ever concert this Saturday at CIA in North Hollywood. The show starts at 8:00 PM, and features VGM from Two Playa Game, 8 Bit Bandit, Super Barrio Brothers, Toploader, and The Megas. Plus there's a Guitar Hero II Tournament. All this for ten bucks plus you get first crack at GM4A's compilation album Music EXP!
• All samples (un)cleared: Nerdcore producer and all around remixing mastermind nYgel recently announced a soon-to-be released nerdcore mixtape. In his own words: “ I have several, of what I feel are the best suited for this project, artists who are on this with me. I plan on several things on this tape but mainly [it's] just something this ... community hasn't yet been exposed to.” I, for one, can't wait to hear this shit.
• North of the Border: Canadian hip-hop demi-god Wordburglar will be performing at NXNE on Thursday, June 07 at 11:00 PM as part of a showcase entitled “A Geographical Lesson in Hip Hop.” Burg'll be going on at 11:00 PM, so get their early and plan to stay late.
• More pirates!: And lastly, the results are in. mc chris has announced who'll be opening for him at his full-tilt nerd-fest in Eugene, OR in July. Congrats to the folks who made the cut, and thanks to everyone who participated in the voting.
  

Some things you just have to share.

What for who now?

Nerd News in Brief

Oh, it's been far too long, my friends, but I am – as they say in the vernacular – all up in this bitch with another edition of Nerd News in Brief.

• Constitution +1: Adam Mapleson is just like you or me; he likes metal and Counter-Strike. Except he also took a bullet for a bullet for a security guard outside a railway station in Essex. What's this? A gamer making a valiant, selfless move rather than shooting up a local 7-Eleven? Suck on that Jack Thompson!
  
• Sunday Bloody Sunday: Looking for something to do this Sunday? Do you like hip-hop, punk rock, portly Latinos, and the beach? Then you gotsta check out my boy Beefy and a cavalcade of nor'eastern punkers as they storm Seaside, OR. It's an outdoor gig at a skate park, ergo the odds of Beef busting his ass are high.
• Bid early, bid often: I mentioned a bit ago that you, faithful reader, have the power to transport ZeaLouS1 from his California hideaway to the ramshackle east coast. The good news is you don't even have to use your burgeoning arcane abilities. You can simply bid on this MP3 player full of musical juiciness. Intrigued? You should be.
• Viva la… um…: My pal Brüx recently discovered that there may well be a Mexican Revolutionary among the Empire's Storm Troopers. I call him Pancho Fett . You will doubtlessly call him adorable.
  
• Survey says?: A Minibosses fan named Clemens, a grad student working on his MA, is currently conducting a survey about the Minis for one of his policy classes. If you've got a moment, take a look and help a brother out.
• Nerdy/Nice: MC Frontalot needs a place to park his gear trailer. If you live within 75 miles of NYC and have a driveway, garage, or yard that is solely lacking the nerdiest medium-sized, white, one-axle trailer in existence, holler at Front. And thou shalt have riches in heaven. And probably some free t-shirts.
  
• I helpded U wif Ur codin: Do you like code and adorable cat macros ? No, I mean seriously. ‘Cause if you do you should maybe consider investing some time in learning lolcode. KTHXBYE
  
• Free Awesome, Inquire Within: You ain't shit if you don't download the latest mixtape from the fine folks at Nerdy South Records. You fuckin' heard me.
  
• W-Effin-S: And lastly, I'd just like to say that this beats the hell out of all of Shatner's other musical endeavors.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 23: Analogue

Despite my newly-taxed schedule, I still found time to slap together another edition of Radio Free Hipster. Who loves ya, baby?
This one came together pretty easily, and that always worries me. When a show comes together with minimal effort on my part, when the songs just sort of fit together on their own without me having to hammer out the ends and spot weld the bastards together, I worry that it sucks.
Hell, maybe it does.
If so, I'm sure ya'll'll let me know.
That's an integral part of our little arrangement.
Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 23: Analogue [hosting provided by Antisocial] Size: 46.2 MB Running Time: 50:28

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah (feat. Beefy) – “Radio Free Hipster Theme”
There is no alternate/equivalent of this song. Much like the cheese, it stands alone.
Track 1: Shael Riley – “Float On”
Shael got the opening spot two eps. in a row. I'm not sure if that's an honor or not.
Z's 1st interlude: “Two very divergent impressions of the same source material .”
This type of song arrangement appeals to my OCD. I hope y'all dig it too.

Track 2: Rx – “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
I've had this song waiting in the wings since episode 2. Now seemed like a good time to spring it on you.

Track 3: Optimus Rhyme – “Ping Pong Song”
Is there a nerdier sport than ping pong? This is not a rhetorical question.
Track 4: Q-Unit – “Crazy Little Pimp Called Love”
I fancy myself as beyond idle misogyny, so I am ceaselessly surprised when I find myself shouted “SHIT, TRICK!” whenever I hear this track.

Track 5: NESkimos – “Mega Man X: Sigma Level 1”
The map system in Mega Man ZX really pisses me off. That's not particularly relevant, but I wanted to get it off my chest.

Track 6: Optimiss – “Wiid (optimisssurfix)”
I love this remix so much more than the original track it makes me a bit embarrassed.

Track 7: J. Thomas Jeans – “Simple Piano”
There are a ton of amazing re-imaginings of Delia's classic over at Who Mix!

Z's 2nd interlude: “Being the opportunistic bastard that I am…”
You heard it hear first, folks.

Track 8: R34pz – “Modern Vintage”
This may not be my favorite Who Mix, but it sure as hell has may favorite title.

Track 9: nYgel – “Stay Wiid”
I like nYgel and mc chris, but I must deduct points from both for capitalization.

Track 10: housethegrate – “Light in the Fortress”
OverClocked ReMix. Need I say more?

Track 11: 50 Pence – “P.I.N.T.”
“Keep her off my pint ‘cause I think her wart's catching.”

Track 12: Baddd Spellah – “Ping Pong Song Remix”
I demand an ORPPRB branded sweatband.

Track 13: Party Ben – “Callin' On Sunday”
Lyrics Born may not be nerdcore, but he is nerdy as fuck regardless.

Z's final interlude: “Underwhelming product endorsements.”
My apologies to the folks at Evan Williams, but your white label product has led me to believe that bourbon does, indeed, have an arsehole.

Track 14: DJ Mashup – “NWA Floats On”
I know the quality of this cut is a bit lacking, but I hope you can groove to it regardless.

By my estimation, since becoming a father I stay sick approximately 50% of the time. Now, I've never had what you'd call a robust immune system, but that shit is impressive no matter how you cut it!

Still, I reckon y'all don't generally notice my congestion; the accent tends to camouflage that shit pretty well.

I hope this podcast finds you all well and enjoying temperate weather. Holler at yer boy and lemme know what you thought.

Get your vote on!

Hi,folks. Sorry for the lack of updates this week, but a brand new (read: painfully boring) job has kept me away from my nerdly duties.

Still, I felt it pertinent to share with you this bit of news from the MySpace bulletin of a certain mc chris:

yo! thanks for being patient with me. we've got the venue and we're still waiting for lockdown on the theater. things look ok. now what sucks is that it starts at 8 and not 6:30 like i had thought. so looks like i won't be able to get as many as i thought but i think karl and nurse can rest easy. you guys are definitely in the show if you can get there with ur gear for mic check, be ready etc. i think if i give everyone twenty minute sets and there can be as little load in load off time as possible, we might be able to get a few more in.

i go on at ten.

that leaves about six twenty minutes spots. let's say five with all the changes.

i think we can fit in three more acts. no bands. it has to be just mc's with mics and simple set ups.

i think the folks that have shown interest are:

tanuki

zealous one

beefy

mc gigahertz

funky 49

tg_2005

rappy mc rapperson

dr. strangelove

stuntjunkies

so i'll let u guys decide, who should i put on the bill?!!? reply in my blog and i'll announce next week! peace!

REPLY IN MY BLOG!!! DO NOT REPLY HERE!!! BABY DUCK JESUS HAS CUT UP CHEEKS AND LIPSTICK FACE.

You heard the man, folks; please let mc know who you wanna see in Eugene by posting at his blog.

Nerd News in Brief

Apparently, there's some sort of Low-Fat Crunchy Peanut Butter shortage in upstate South Carolina.

No, I'm not making that shit up.

Ever since that whole Salmonella scare, the supplies have been dwindling. Now it appears as though they've all but dried up.

I'm a simple man, but my peanut butter needs are quite explicit. As such, I find this totally unacceptable.

While I try to find a reliable online peanut butter merchant, please enjoy the Nerd News in Brief.

• No known cure: In my opinion, there's no better way to start the day than with a heaping helping of musical whoop-ass. Today's serving come compliments of the Mythril Nazgul (AKA: myf). The track is called “The Contagious,” and it is. Ye gods, it is!
• Double-damn!: Another week, another big announcement from the ZeaLouS1 camp. The guys just dropped the knowledge that the headliner for their super show at the San Diego Sports Bar on the 26th of July will be none other than YTCracker. As if Z1 and Comic-Con weren't valid enough reasons for your attendance!
• And my lovely wife Camille: My man dimension recently shared this little nugget over at the Rhyme Torrents boards; it's a blurb about Bill Cosby's pro-nerd commencement address at a recent graduation ceremony at Carnegie Mellon University. It's nice to hear the Coz dropping some uplifting knowledge of the nerdy persuasion.
• Leave me alone: And Bill ain't the only cat preaching the geek gospel; Psychology Today also recently concluded that being a loner may not be such a bad thing. “Loners often hear from well-meaning peers that they need to be more social, but the implication that they're merely black-and-white opposites of their bubbly peers misses the point.” Eat that, well-adjusted society!
• “The red Kryptonite makes me go crazy.”: Ill-content to let me sit here un-amused, my man Church recently reminded me that the cat who does those “I'm a Marvel / And I'm a DC” parodies has ramped up production. If you haven't checked ‘em out in a couple of weeks, then you're a bit behind the times.
• Two-timer!: And obviously ill-content with my accolades (I keed! I keed!), Church got a shout-out for calling to the attention of Boing-Boingers everywhere the excellent work Bucknell University's Professor Eric Faden. Prof F cut a fantastic video mash-up entitled “A Fair(y) Use Tale” that slaps together tiny slivers of Disney dialogue to “spell out an articulate, funny, and thoroughly educational lesson on how copyright works.” For the uninitiated, I've included it below.

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