Los Angeles nerdcore rapper, GOSHone released a pretty amazing album last year called Ctrl_Alt_Ego (download link below). I was listening to it in the car the other day and was inspired to share it with you.
For a debut album, GOSH pulled out all the stops. The production value is tight and the album features well known artists YTCracker and MC Plus+, as well as some nice vocal work from a couple ladies.
Although it’s not the strongest track on the album, Where My Nerds At? is easily the most recognizable. I’m partial to Laptop Muzik, Flowin About and Haterz. Newteknowledge is a great track too and is featured in the iPhone music video below. I’d skip past Big Brains because the verse by MC Plus+ drags this one down.
From, coding to gaming and overclockin’ his Pentium, G1 attacks classic nerd topics with fresh angles. You’re going to get a lot of replay value out of this album.
Watch the world’s first music video shot entirely on an iPhone 3G:
Ctrl_Alt_Ego by GOSHone – Free Download
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This is my commentary on my life as an underdog, using my intelligence and tech skills to craft an opus for the modern day Poindexter, decorated with the electronic sounds of underground Los Angeles. [More on GOSHone.com]
G1 appeals to his audience with a deep voice, slick flow and smart, playful lyrics. I’m looking forward to seeing whats up next for the GOSH. Don’t leave us hangin’ too long, man!
Schaffer the Darklord and his trusty Black Box companion have rocked stages from Florida to Oregon with a unique blend of smart, nerdy raps and clever humor. This New York City-based rapper and comedian has released two other LPs, Meet My Maker (2004) and Mark of the Beast (2007). The Darklord is here to discuss his whirlwind weekend at Nerdapalooza, the nation’s premiere nerdcore hip hop event and his upcoming album Manslaughterer.
You recently performed at Nerdapalooza, how did that go? Any funny stories to share?
Nerdapalooza was downright epic this year. Even more so than last year, which is quite a statement considering how utterly rife with awesome last year’s installment was. I rocked an absurd eight performances over three days this year. I headlined the kickoff party. I did guest verses with Epic-1, MC Lars and MC Frontalot on Saturday. I did guest verses with MC Loki, Dual Core and The Grammar Club on Sunday. My proper set was Sunday night. That’s a lot of rapping for an easily winded monkey like me!
I don’t know if I have any particularly funny stories from the festival, but I do have some fun stories. For example, during Lars’s set, I had the opportunity to perform “Do the Bruce Campbell” from the “Digital Gangster LP” with all of the rappers involved (Lars, YTCracker, ZeaLouS1) onstage for the first time ever. So much fun! On Sunday, I got to perform Dual Core’s Twitter-style track “The Magnificent Seven” with Int80, Remy, Lars, YTCracker, Frontalot and Beefy onstage. Another splendid memory from a weekend of nerdy magic.
I don’t know if this qualifies as “fun” or “funny,” but I was present when Loki got a little too “battle-y” while freestyling drunk and dissed Cupcake, paving the way for ZeaLouS1 to deliver the most brutal freestyle beatdown I’ve ever witnessed. I believe I may have even likened it to the “verbal equivalent of prison rape.” (It was a relief to see them make nice afterward, albeit with young Loki having learned a very valuable lesson.)
Now there are just too many cut-scenes flashing in my damaged memory to list them all. Rolling around Orlando with Kourtney, Gigahertz and Fatty Goodness. Goofing with Ham-Star and BBear at the EPP house after-party/video shoot. Mister B’s Sailor Moon costume. Chilling with Jaylyn in the green room. Uncle Monsterface’s “Toxic” cover. Seeing everybody from EMPulse and Dork Party back in April. Breakfast with Sangriaa. Crossing paths with a smiley Hex every few minutes. Bugging Nina, Melissa and Aaron at the merch table and door ever couple hours. Razzing Chozo about his sleep deprivation. Counting Kabutos. Damn. There’s just way too much to remember. I gotta admit, though…becoming friends with Beefy kind of made the festival for me. Love that guy.
Nerdapalooza sounds like a blast. With a whoppin’ 8 performances did you have any time to do anything else?
Barely. Between my performances and my frequent trips back to my room to change into/out of my suit, I managed to catch many amazing performances from some of my favorite acts like the Grammar Club, ZeaLous1, Emergency Pizza Party, mCRT, Devo Spice, Krondor Krew, My Parent’s Favorite Music and Uncle Monsterface…just to name a few. Also, I did very little sleeping, but a considerable amount of drinking.
Will you be coming to PAX or any of the big events on the west side?
No plans as of yet. I don’t want to sound like I’m just waiting by the internet for PAX to invite me to perform, but um…I am kind of just waiting by the internet for PAX to invite me to perform.
Your third album, Manslaughterer, is coming out soon. What’s the story behind the album and the title?
“Manslaughterer” drops August 2009. (Fingers crossed!) The record is a collection of 17 songs I’ve written since my last record (“Mark of the Beast”) came out in November 2007. This record is darker, more rock-n-roll-flavored and features higher production values both in terms of beats and vocal recordings.
Since the last record, I’ve built a vocal isolation booth in my apartment. This has made recording much more convenient and also allowed me to deliver higher energy vocal performances. I think that as much as I’m known for having a ridiculously high-energy stage show, I’m also known for having pretty lackluster vocal delivery on the recordings. This has been due to me being self-conscious when working with other engineers and concerned about disturbing my neighbors when recording at home. This record has some vocal performances with real fire behind them…still a far cry from the live show…but closer. As far as the title is concerned, I just think it’s funny.
In showbiz, the term “killing” means “to deliver an exceptional stage performance.” I think I do just that from time to time. However, I don’t get onstage with the intention of “delivering an exceptional stage performance.” If I did and I killed, I would be a “murderer.” I just get onstage and do what I do the only way I know how to do it. If I do it and I kill, it’s an unintended result. Hence, “Manslaughterer.” I’m a killer…but on accident.
Manslaughterer evokes all sorts of great imagery, which I’m sure will be reflected in your music. What will the cover art look like and who’s the artist?
The front cover is be designed by me, and the rest of the layout is being crafted by my friend Carlylia Muller. (She also designed my newest t-shirts with the scary 2-color puppet design.) I’m trying to keep the image under wraps for now, but I will tell you this: A portion of the artwork from “Mark of the Beast” will fit together with a portion of the artwork from “Manslaughterer” to create an image. In other words, fans will be able to physically lay the cover of MOTB on top on the cover of the new record in such a way that will create something that, in my opinion, is pretty cool. Also, the last album was predominately orange, and the new one is predominately red and yellow. These decisions were not made by chance.
The new record will feature cameos from:
MC Frontalot
MC Lars
Shael Riley
Coolzey
Liisa2Eyes
Jane Silence
Removal
Kabuto the Python
Kabuto the Python, interesting. I’m sure that’s going to be a vicious track, how did you two start working together?
A common friend introduced us electronically, and we immediately started scheming on this song. Have you heard his track “The Face-Kicking Song?” If not, stop reading and start listening post-haste! I love his gritty delivery and violent content, and those two traits are perfect for our collaboration on this record. Our song is…well, let’s just say it’s very…bloody. That’s as much of a spoiler as I am willing to leak at this time.
Did Portland, Oregon producer Dave Famous craft most of your instrumentals like your first two albums?
Actually, no. Dave Famous made loops for four of the 17 tracks. Coolzey wrote loops for three of the songs. DJ Snyder produced two of them. Three beats were written by my wife (and Dave Famous’s sister!) Dr. Schaffer. One beat is by Canadian instrumental rockers Removal. One is from Chad Schneider. One is from Stephen Doerhoff of Witch’s Hat. The rest were written from scratch by me, and ALL of them were edited and arranged by me. The producer with which I’m working to mix and master the material is Latin Grammy-nominated engineer James Cruz. He’s enhanced these instrumentals further with additional keyboard and guitar tracks.
