T Method Man, meet Mega Man Levelling up and the right to rap By Cody Klyne ver the past few years, thanks in part to advances in Hollywood nerd-herding technologies in the form of flashy blockbuster flicks, mainstream media has picked up on and slowly begun sinking its poison-tipped claws into the outer layers, the metaphorical crust, of Geek Culture itself. First contact. While hobbyists, gamers, and the like admittedly have much to gain with this new attention, a lot of what has been put out there remains within the realm of still being a little too tongue in cheek a representation of the culture. Slightly pandering even, trying to appease the middle ground. The battle to throw aside labels the likes of “trend” and “fad” is yet to be won, and it’s a battle that goes beyond what they’re serving up on the big screen. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five started it off. Run- D.M.C. did it. And Cypress Hill did it. I’m talking hip hop, or in this case, nerdcore. 20-sided dice, not 20-inch rims. Nerdcore, the term first coined back 20-sided dice, not 20-inch rims; Nerdcore is best described as MC Frontalot to open tracks up to a larger audience. They’re simply a lot of fun. As for Frontalot, it’s no wonder that he’s viewed as an instrumental voice within the genre he helped pioneer 10 long years ago. But he’s not alone. Acts like Beefy, MC Lars, MC Chris, and relative new kid Dr. Awkward, are lighting up the scene with fresh material on a regular basis; which, in itself is shocking... considering the nature of the nerdcore beast. The nature being, few artists hip hop with a profoundly nerdy re actually at the point of charging inclination. in 2000 by one of the sub-genre’s leading voices, MC Frontalot, is best for their work. Given the niche space these guys inhabit, it’s a grim fact that came to my attention through my journeys on the internet. It’s par described as hip hop with a profoundly for the course. Equally alarming is nerdy inclination. From video games and D&D, to Star Trek and beyond, it’s a style that as the name suggests, is largely defined by stuff. Lyrically smart and witty to those familiar with what’s going on, the reference-heavy nature of the sub-genre puts the bar to entry pretty high. Take this sample from the title track to MC Frontalot’s 2008 release, “Final Boss:” “And it’s a moat you can’t cross, a key you can’t get. Ain’t done the right NPC’s sub-quest yet.” It’s the sense of awareness for the culture that guarantees rhymes like these are sure to make gamers nod their heads along in agreement, almost exclusively. That said, there’s a light heartedness and playfulness at work 8 their struggle to obtain legitimacy within the hip hop scene. A struggle that is apparent among the ranks of the outwardly geeky. Traditional image issues persist, albeit, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, “My nerd side is frowned on like the Star Wars prequels, the CDI Zelda game and its two sequels,” Dr. Awkward introspectively raps in one of his debut tracks, “Geekquilibrium.” So, whether you’re a hip hop vet and have been spinning Ice-T since you were a baby, or you’re someone whose goomba-squashing abilities are only rivalled by the Mario Bros. themselves, nerdcore might just be the musical magic missile to satisfy both crowds. When You’re Strange not strange enough By Angela Espinoza espite their seven-year run (five with Jim Morrison, who died in 1971), American rock group The Doors have become a fixed part of popular culture nearly 50 years later. Many have attributed their earlier popularity to Morrison’s wild on-stage antics, having been portrayed as a drunken idiot in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film The Doors. However, their music suggests a deeper look into Morrison’s mind, The new Doors doc summarizes rather then chronicles the bands run The film also provides amazing archive footage of the entire band, with some of Morrison’s tamer on- tape actions actually providing some comic relief. Scenes from concerts and studio recordings provide for half the footage, balanced out by various stills and haunting shots of Morrison walking amongst crowds and throughout the desert. For providing new information, the film reads like a Wikipedia article. We learn nothing we didn’t already know, except that Morrison got a mark For providing new information, the film reads like a of D on Wikipedia article. We learn nothing we didn’t already a film know, except that Morrison got a mark of D on a film project project they briefly show clips of one that is observed in Tom DiCillo’s new documentary When You’re Strange. The film examines the course of the band’s run, giving a surprisingly fair amount of coverage on the three often-overlooked members of the band: drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Krieger, and keyboardist Ray Manzarek. But, as can only be expected, Morrison steals the show. Marketing itself as “the anti- Oliver Stone” version of The Doors, we are given some insight that Morrison was not just the hippie alternative to a prima donna, but a lonely man crying out for attention. While the film makes a good point, it does little to back up this claim, becoming somewhat redundant by the second half. Still, this can all be easily tuned out by the blend of Johnny Depp’s soothing narration and a spectacular selection of Doors songs. they briefly show clips of. While I enjoy hearing Depp’s voice, the lack of interviews was actually somewhat disappointing. There are still three living band members, I would’ ve liked to hear stories come from the horse’s mouth. So what do fans get out of this documentary? Those new to the band should see When You’re Strange as soon as possible; for them it is literally the door to The Doors. For long-time fans (of our generation), watch it for the stock footage, some of which I consider priceless to any avid music fan — namely Morrison’s desert shots, which are done so beautifully that many mistake Morrison for a Morrison- impersonator. When You’re Strange is out on limited release on April 9; you can get iton DVD June 29. We give this film: 3/5 |