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 webslinky: nerdcore
This week, hardline geeks. “I hit the L shift-O to the quote and then dollar / If you know the dir of the nerdcore rhyme, you holla.” (Penny Arcade Theme, MC Frontalot)I do, sir! Me! I'm hollering. Watch out everyone: nerdcore is dangerously close to spilling out of the internet and all over the “and finally...” sections of popular news media. But to dismiss it as another passing fad or manufactured hype would be to overlook a true artform of the web. Thanks to the jolly old internet, what began as a self-deprecatingly accurate way to describe one rapper's style has grown to encompass a fully fledged movement. Legend (or rather, FAQ) has it that nerdcore founding father MC Frontalot coined the term in 2000 with his early track Nerdcore Hip Hop. A web designer by trade, Frontalot’s (real name Damian Hess) talent for language meant that his almost aggressively witty website was the perfect platform to promote his equally witty, freely distributed hip-hop. And while he wasn't the first to make nerdy music for nerds, he set the precedent for the genre – not just parodying geek culture, but celebrating it. This happened to coincide with the proliferation of file-sharing networks (amongst geeks first, of course) in the early 00s, and new methods of producing, discovering and consuming music. So what happens when someone manipulates a text-to-speech engine to rap about creationists and hard science? MC Hawking (real name Ken Leavitt-Lawrence), that’s what. Another artist who helped gain the movement some notoriety, thanks to his willfully obscure output and controversial subject matter: his infamous Why Won't Jesse Helms Just Hurry Up And Die? mp3 went “viral” before we even knew what that was. And in the present day, while MC Frontalot headlines a US tour, an affectionate documentary about the movement, Nerdcore Rising, is set for imminent release. Nerdcorehiphop.org covers the wealth of nerdcore resources – including podcasts and merchandise – while blogs like Nerd Music and Hipster Please report on the emerging scene as more artists join its ranks. So, perhaps the time has finally come for nerdcore. Perhaps now that everyone has a MySpace account, the public will find their inner geek. But it's not really for them – just remember: Frontalot will always be indier than thou.
David Thair
 comments
Read members' comments related to this column.
comment by MWoosey
Jun 6, 2007
I like nerdcore. I agree that Frontalot's lyrics are much stronger but there's still good music there in a lot of his songs.I think nerdcore could make it: being 'uncool' is definately 'cool', I'm sure a lot of people are becoming sick of the prowess in popular hip hop music.
comment by juan pedro carlos
Apr 19, 2007
White and Nerdy is a parody, it's not nerdcore, and yes it is brilliant.
comment by kendo, man!
Apr 19, 2007
Try Wierd Al's White and Nerdy on Youtube.I would put up a link, but I'm to lazy.
comment by juan pedro carlos
Apr 18, 2007
I'm with amir I'mn afraid, I find nerdcore more than a bit shit; as much as I love the geeky references it's never strong musically. I think I'd rather just chat with nerds and listen to decent music.
comment by Mister Savage
Apr 18, 2007
You're just jealous.Obviously.
comment by amir
Apr 17, 2007
Nerdcore? LORD NOOOOOOOO.
comment by Spinky
Apr 16, 2007
I like MC Plus Plus - just because of the name. Not convinced it's anything other than a flash in the pan thoough. What are Goldie Lookin' Chain doing now? Just a thought...(Mr Savage - you may have already tried this, but I noticed the Frontalot disc was on CD baby - : http://cdbaby.com/cd/mcfrontalot2... I've used them before and they were pretty quick. I like that site as you can pay by Paypal.)
comment by Mister Savage
Apr 16, 2007
Ahhhh, nerdcore. MC Frontalot has a new album, but it's a pain trying to get it at the moment (doesn't appear to like my Singapore bank account). He certainly seems to be going from strength to strength.
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related info
 useful linkswww.frontalot.com nerdcore hip hop www.mchawking.com frontalot: us tour you tube: nerdcore nerdcorehiphop.org www.nerd-music.com www.hipsterplease.com
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