A beginner’s guide to Nerdcore
Saturday, January 26th, 2008I have always had an affinity for music that is created through local scenes and not the radio. In the 80’s and 90’s this included Punk Rock and Hip-Hop. These genres achieved mainstream status despite the lack of attention from record companies or commercial radio stations. As most can tell, these genres are overdone and even cliché at this point. The people that produce most of these tracks are devoid of the true angst required to create this kind of art.
Every art form has a cycle; the successful become complacent, and the lower ranks become more determined. They are determined to show everyone that what they have is truer to life than anyone has ever seen. They love their art enough to forgo monetary compensation in order to expose their works. Enter the new genre of Nerdcore.
The definition of Nerdcore is, like other music genres, subjective. Some would say that it is only rappers that use the trials of everyday “geek life” as subject matter. Others would go farther and say that it encompasses all “geek music” that has the spoken word element. Yet others point out that there should be discussion about possible insensitivity to other races. I personally believe that it is rap in its purist form. Regardless of race, it is a form of art that typically portrays a part of society that feels alienated.
For this entry I will be focusing on the works of three specific artists; MC Chris, MC Frontalot, and MC Lars. These artists seem to represent some of the largest names on the scene. They are pioneers of the genre, MC Frontalot even coined the term Nerdcore according to Wikipedia. All three artists appear to work in a small group to create their albums and most distribute at no charge through online downloads. I will examine three songs from each artist and compare them to recognized rap songs of the past. You then can decide for yourself what you think about the up and coming genre known as Nerdcore.
MC Chris
First up, Nerdcore artist goes by the name of MC Chris. I was first introduced to him through the song, “Fett’s Vette.” This song is one of the best Nerdcore songs ever written. It paints a picture of Boba Fett as a gangsta rapper. Chris is constantly flowing over the beat that contains a Star Wars/country twinge. If you can find the version on YouTube that is made by Windspire Entertainment, you will enjoy six minutes of geeky bliss. This video was made using scenes from the MMORPG Star Wars Galaxies and, as you can see, dancing is a profession in this game. Beware: Some versions are edited and others are explicit.
* Warning explicit lyrics
“White Kids Love Hip Hop,” is another song that solidifies Nerdcore as a genre. This is the type of hook that stays with you all day. Chris furthers his image as a geeksta rapper by sticking to explicit lyrics and references to sex and drugs. He rants about all the things white kids like in an anthem like cadence. Meanwhile a funky techno like beat carries the song.
* Warning explicit lyrics
“Evergreen,” is another song that speaks to teen angst. This song is the story of getting high and stealing trees from the park to sell as Christmas Trees. MC Chris sums the song up in one line… “We’re the closest things to suburban gangsters.” It’s hilarious and explicit, yet true to the life of many a geek.
* Warning Explicit Lyrics
** Video selected for sound quality
In my opinion, MC Chris is a rapper in every sense of the word. He uses lyrics to entertain while telling stories, and uses references from his own life and his hobbies. When it comes to MC Chris’s portfolio, I was having a hard time just choosing three songs. There are so many more; “The Tussin,” “Care Bear (Kelly’s Song),” “Check The Ring, Yo.” His beats range from beat box to professional sounding bass hits. He also uses samples like DMX and his trademark “WHAT!” I didn’t compare him to other rappers because his style is unique. You can check out more songs from Mc Chris here.
MC Frontalot
The second artist is MC Frontalot. “Nerdcore Hiphop” was one of the first songs that earned Frontalot his reputation. I found it free to listen to on his website. This is a very good song and you can tell it is early in the genre from its lack of complex beats. The music behind it is simple yet calculated. The song is reminiscent of the youngest days of hip-hop when you might find Run D.M.C. or Slick Rick in your cassette player.“Crime Spree” is a great song by MC Frontalot. In this song he describes his life of crime, where he breaks laws that are overlooked. For example; littering and cheating on his taxes. It is almost a parody of a gansta rap song. I would say it’s close to N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton.” The lyrics and beats aren’t nearly as progressive, or explicit, as N.W.A.’s.
“Goth Girls” is one of Frontalot’s best songs. The beats are complex and include other instruments like guitar and accordion. His flow is very complete with unpredictable pauses and rhythmic changes. The song is about how he can never get with goth girls even though they come to his shows. The song turns to hilarity in his third verse where he talks about his girlfriend getting mad at him. Think of Jay-Z’s “Girls, Girls, Girls” with a hint of Keller Williams “Freeker by the Speaker.”
* Video selected for sound quality.
MC Frontalot has obvious ties to the foundation of this genre. He will sometimes use profanity and talks about sex in his songs. I haven’t heard anything about drugs and violence though. He possesses an understanding of hip-hop music and can emulate most styles with ease. His originality with lyrics can throw you into contemplation or laughter, and it is the anticipation of what is around the next corner that makes him great.
MC Lars
The final Nerdcore artist we will look at is MC Lars. “Hot Topic is not Punk Rock,” is a wonderful song that is not in a hip-hop format. It lists all of the items for sale inside Hot Topic and states that each one is not punk rock. This song is in classic punk format that old punks can identify with.“Download This Song,” has an almost cheesy beat that is constantly looped. The lyrics however are refreshing, and speak to the fact; people that have problems with free media downloads need to change the way they do business. He also makes the case that true artists will never have a problem selling their talent.
“Hey That’s Me,” is a song where Lars speaks about his own story. It talks about his beliefs that life is a bit fast paced and how he enjoys making his own niche in society. He also gives props to some of the old school rappers and talks about his anti-drug stance. Think of a very vanilla “My Name Is,” by Eminem.
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