The Sound of Nerds Singing in Unison: Nerdcore

Music is a universal language that brings everyone together. Just look at Live Aid or Bonaroo for that. But what if your language consist of 0s and 1s or Zork? Well, you are not alone. Enter nerdcore: a renaissance of music catering to the extremely nerdy crowd.

Nerdcore is a new genre that prides itself on being the opposite of cool. In fact, the lyrics of nerdcore consist of rolling natural 20s, wearing Wookie hats, the inability to seduce girls, and Nintendo Power. Just look at these lyrics written by Del the Funky Homosapien in his song “Proto Culture” and try not to get chills:

I remember Ninja Gaiden
Finished finally
With Ramone wouldn’t answer the phone
This was before getting blown
I own the first Nintendo Power
With the maps of Zelda Help me conquer in an hour

Spearheading this operation is the infamous MC Frontalot. He’s already released two CDs, performed at every PAX, become the official rapper of Penny Arcade, and is now producing a movie about nerdcore. Some of his popular tracks are “I Hate Your Blog,” “Pr0n S0ng,” “Goth Girls,” and “Penny Arcade Theme”. His songs are something anyone surfing the net at 1 AM, checking message boards habitually, or thrown a controller at warped speed towards a wall can relate to–a true calling to nerds.

MC Frontalot does not nerd rap alone. There is MC Chris who some may remember from episodes of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, where he demanded candy. Weird Al Yankovic, a classic, is also a part of this fold as well as Optimus Rhyme, a band filled with the love of Autobots.

These artists can be found in the upcoming DVD of MC Frontalot’s Nerdcore Rising. It’s a feature film that follows the nerdcore artists and the nerd lives they travel. Who wouldn’t want to watch a movie about a bunch of borderline geeky nerds rapping about video games?

But where were these artist when we were young and getting wood chips shoved in our mouths for bragging about our adventures on Brinstar instead of playing four square? Truth be told, these rappers rely on the Internet for their fame. All of the pirating, message board trash-talking, and file sharing has put these guys in the nerdosphere. A nerd is not going to hide the precious treasure of nerd music for long, they’re going to share it ASAP, since music catering to nerds is as rare as Earthbound 2 stateside.

Games have been around for a long time, though–how was no one inspired by the likes of Pac-Man or Kid Icarus to break out into song? I suppose being uncool wasn’t cool like it is now. Look at the likes of Juno and other indie movies winning awards. Not to mention, the public is becoming more aware of video games as a real culture. It looks like it’s time for us, the uncool nerds, to rise up and be proud of our heritage.

As MC Frontalot sings:

The Nerdcore could rise up, it could get elevated.
Oh, and wouldn’t all of those tough rappers hate it
if the Nerdcore rose up and got elevated?
We consider the possibleness of this not overstated.