Line #57 Main/NerdCore


1	->''"And I'm the pride of geeks''\
2	''Who are shameless and brazen''\
3	''In their snobbery over whose console''\
4	''Is most ancient (and most Asian)"''
5	-->-- '''Music/MCFrontalot''', "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aoot52phBs Twenty-Six Hundred]]"
6
7	Nerdcore is a subgenre of HipHop; the term "Nerdcore" is a portmanteau of "Nerd" and "Hardcore". Music that can be considered Nerdcore usually involves subjects which most [[{{Muggle}} "normal"]] people would consider... well, ''nerdy'', such as ScienceFiction, {{Anime}}, and others. Nerdcore isn't automatically HipHop; nerdcore had clear influences from geek culture as well, including geek rockers like Music/TheyMightBeGiants, parodists like Music/WeirdAlYankovic (who released "It's All About The Pentiums" in 1999 and "White & Nerdy" in 2006), and others. Despite these influences, Nerdcore has separated itself from other types of nerdy music thanks to an unofficial list of criteria that has evolved among fans and artists. Aside from making hip-hop about geeky things, Nerdcore is considered to be an 'Opt-in' genre. Only artists who consider themselves to be "Nerdcore" should have the label attached to their music.
8
9	In the summer of 2004 the fledgling genre took a large step forward when the popular web comic ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' held its first convention, The Penny Arcade Expo, in Bellevue, WA. Though the expo was primarily devoted to video and tabletop gaming, geek-friendly musicians also performed, including Optimus Rhyme and Penny Arcade's "rapper laureate" MC Frontalot. There's also an annual festival held in the summer in Florida, Orlando, Florida, called [[http://nerdapalooza.org/ Nerdapalooza]], that helps showcase Nerdcore acts alongside other "nerd music" genres.
10
11	It has been growing in popularity, thanks in part to G4's bumpers in commercial breaks, which showcase several artists rapping about subjects such as console wars, a love of gadgetry and the art of the InternetCounterattack, and of course, video games.
12
13	See also HeavyMithril, for when nerds forgo rapping about consoles for rocking about fantasy, and {{Filk}} for the folksy alternative sort.
14	----
15	!!Nerdcore artists:
16	[[index]]
17	* Music/TwoSkinneeJs have been doing nerdcore music, off and on, since 1991. Their biggest hit, "Riot Nrrrd", was created as a nerd anthem of sorts, and other songs in their repertoire touch on subject matter such as being afraid to talk to girls, ''Star Wars'', ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'', martial arts films, and Pluto's status as a planet.
18	* Music/TheAdventuresOfDuaneAndBrandO
19	* Music/{{Area 11}}: Not only being part of the Yogscast (partially), they're basically a geeky band. For example, their first album (All The Lights In The Sky) feautures 11 songs, with 6 of them having some kind of reference to an anime: two songs for ''Anime/CodeGeass'', one for ''Manga/ElfenLied'', one for ''Manga/DeathNote'', one for ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' and one for ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. Even thought it's technically Power Pop, still, it's pretty darn impressive.
20	* Creator/{{Beefy}}: also a webcomic artist and Flash animator, Beefy, more often than not, raps about his mixed Latino/Caucasian heritage (he's a "Whitesican") and periodic poverty.
21	* Battle rapper Music/HenryBowers is a Swedish example. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8JQB2Qe55o Here's]] one of his English songs.
22	* Music/RichieBranson, probably best known for his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlbbLFgiVQk #BringBackToonami]] Rap and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29MIkOROI0M&feature=fvwrel it's followup]]. The 2nd song resulted in him becoming an AscendedFanboy when {{Creator/Toonami}} was revived.
23	* Music/BucktownTiger: Nerdcore with a UsefulNotes/FurryFandom twist. He also has a couple of Brony songs and dozens of videos of himself playing the piano in fursuit.
24	* Although he falls more into alternative rap, Music/ChildishGambino shouts out a lot of nerdy subjects, including ''{{Franchise/Tron}}'', ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', ''Pokémon'', ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' (which he actually had a guest role on), ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', Kurt Vonnegut, internet memes and much, much more.
25	* Music/DanBull, although initially rapping about personal and political subjects in his early music, has become a staple (and debatably even a TropeCodifier) of this genre ever since starting his [=YouTube=] channel, and has made songs about video games ranging from ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' to ''VideoGame/{{Hellblade}}'' and even ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot''.
26	* {{Music/Devo}} may be considered the UrExample. Especially with songs like "Penetration In The Centrefold" and "Speed Racer".
27	** ''Music/QAreWeNotMenAWeAreDevo'' (1978)
28	** ''Music/FreedomOfChoice'' (1980)
29	* Music/DrAwkward fits the criteria, and has "opted in" as of Dualshawks ("and yeah we're nerdcore, it's just a name for people who gank Horde just to start a flame war.")
30	* Music/{{Freezepop}}, most known for "Get Ready to Rokk" and "Less Talk More Rokk" from the ''VideoGame/GuitarHero'' series may count as this.
31	* The group Music/FuturisticSexRobots, self proclaimed "Nerd Gangster Rap".
32	* Music/LeslieHall: Rapper/singer with a large collection of gem sweaters and a kooky aunt image.
33	* Music/JosipOnDeck, SwagRap artist with {{Otaku}}-themed lyrics.
34	* Music/JTMusic, formerly JT Machinima, have been producing video game themed rap music since 2009 on Platform/YouTube.
35	* Music/{{Klenginem}}, who [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBtj4WoC6XA raps in Klingon]].
36	* Music/MadHatter, best known for the song "Ganon Slayer". He also founded the non-profit record label [[http://scrubclubrecords.com/ Scrub Club Records]], which hosts music by a number of nerdcore artists.
37	* Music/{{Maja}}: Who made songs about {{Anime}} and VideoGames
38	* Music/MCChris: Also the voice of MC Pee Pants on ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' and Hesh on ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'', but throughout the course of his career has developed an [[SlapSlapKiss I-love-you-I-hate-you]] relationship with the genre, switching between embracing and forsaking the genre at a moment's notice (he currently stands in favor of Nerdcore)
39	* Music/MCFrontalot: Regular at the Webcomic/PennyArcade Expo, and the guy who coined the term in early 2000. Was featured on the ''VideoGame/InTheGroove'' games and has several songs on ''VideoGame/FlashFlashRevolution''; also has crosspromotions with ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing''.
40	* Music/MCHawking: The stage name of Ken Leavitt-Lawrence. Using the now-defunct text-to-speech program "Willow Talk" and with the help of DJ Doomsday for the beats, he blends traditional gangsta rap with advanced scientific topics. His name and act are a parody of -- and have been repeatedly praised by -- Creator/StephenHawking.
41	* Music/MCLars is considered by some to be nerdcore, although he claims his genre is [[GenreBusting Post-Punk Laptop Rap]].
42	* Music/MCPlusPlus,[[note]](and The Empty Set: Lord Illingworth, Logic the Android, Vitamin Z, and (the only software member) Max Flow)[[/note]] formerly Sir Code-a-Lot, is an Iranian-American and [=PhD=]-student at Purdue University in Indiana. When he isn't rapping about computer science and video games, [[ImpossibleGenius he's working on automatic code parallelization and contributing to the fields of software watermarking and layout algorithms.]]
43	* Music/MegaRan
44	* Music/MikalKhillAndTheThoughtcriminals
45	* Music/OptimusRhyme: As the name suggests the band is largely themed around Franchise/{{Transformers}} including (but not limited to) songs from the perspective of Transformers on earth including a conflict between the two camps of AutoBeats and Whackacons. The stage names of the band members are also [[ThemeNaming Transformer references]]: Wheelie Cyberman, Powerthighs, Stumblebee and Grimrock. Former members include Galaxian Waxspin, Thundercracker and Broken English (who breaks the theme).
46	* Music/RapLegendJesseDangerously
47	* Almost all of Music/RegalPinion's songs have literary references tossed around, and he is also an example of the DarkerAndEdgier variety. He also has a rap from the POV of the BigBad in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI''.
48	* Though Music/{{Sammus}} doesn't consider herself a nerdcore rapper, her name comes from Franchise/{{Metroid}} and she has songs named TimeCrisis and [[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Mighty Morphin']]. She has, however, embraced the fandom, touring with MegaRan and seeing her popularity as a way to bring hip-hop to audiences that wouldn't otherwise listen to it.
49	* Music/SchafferTheDarklord: [[FunWithAcronyms (Oftentimes abbreviated as STD)]]
50	* Music/SithClan: Raleigh, NC rap quartet that sings about ''Franchise/StarWars'', video games, and gaming culture, and sometimes uses game sound effects in their mixes.
51	* Music/{{Soce}}, the gay {{Jewish\|AndNerdy}} rapper mixes this with [[HoYay more risque]] themes.
52	* Music/StarBomb's first album was hip hop synth combo about videogame characters.
53	* Music/TheStupendium
54	* Music/TribeOne
55	* Brooklyn rapper Music/VISeconds rose to fame with raps about anime, video games, and comic books. ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GggbfOhRaC4 Naruflow]], a rap about ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'' is his most famous one). Some might be disappointed to learn that a lot of his material besides that is normal HipHop affair.
56	* Music/AdamWarrock is a nerdcore hip-hop artist who is responsible for the Firefly themed "Browncoats" mixtape with Mikal kHill, as well as other solo albums and mixtapes.
57	* Music/YTCracker
58	[[/index]]
59	----
60	!!Other nerdcore performances:
61	[[folder:Music]]
62	* Music/{{Voltaire}}'s album ''[=BiTrektual=]'' is mostly filk songs about Star Trek and Star Wars, but one of the songs "Worf's Revenge" is pure unadulterated nerdcore.
63	* Though not part of the Nerdcore scene, several UndergroundHipHop artists have ventured into Sci-Fi territories in their search for fresh, "bitches 'n' bling"-cliche-free ground. The most popular work of this kind is probably Music/Deltron3030's eponymous concept album.
64	* Klingon Rap. Besides Klenginem, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db6mW5_0Zmw even the actual Star Trek actors have gotten into nerdcore.]]
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Web Original]]
68	* ''WebVideo/SymphonyOfScience''. Featuring videos and music created from Carl Sagan, David Attenborough, Dr. Richard Dawkins, Bill Nye, and Dr. Stephen Hawking. Although these aren't really rap, being autotuned singing using existing sound clips.
69	* This WebOriginal AffectionateParody of the New Boyz rap "You're a Jerk" called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1SAr1rMwwE You're a Nerd]]" with lyrical gems about lunch-money-stealing bullies, such as, "They're just lucky this isn't [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Warcraft]] cuz I'm a [[AWizardDidIt Level 60 Mage]] with an Oracle Staff, [[GagPenis +10 attack with extended range]]... he'd be sorry he [[DoubleStandardRapeMaleOnMale took my change]]."
70	* Rapper [[https://www.youtube.com/user/AtomIcHole/ Akeem]] does a lot of raps on cartoons and anime (especially 1990s and early 2000s works), including ''WebAnimation/EdEddNEddy20YearsLaterEP''.
71	[[/folder]]

Context Main / NerdCore