Nerd-core & Psycho-billy: Where the Wild Genres Are...

Genre mixing shouldn't be a surprise to anyone nowadays, a modern example is the rock/rap rendition of "walk this way" with Aerosmith and RUN-DMC. Some years back there was a man called Ray Charles who fused Gospel and Blues together to create "Soul" music. There are two emerging genres that have been forged recently and I feel they need to be brought into focus. I'm talking about "Nerd-core" and "Psycho-billy" (And no they're not a cartoon superhero duo... or sports drink flavors for that matter)

Nerd-core is a hip-hop based genre, but with an intelligent often encyclopedia-like vocabulary. Instead of the popular "Gangsta" theme that permeates the Hip-Hop market, this new form of Emcee inverts that tough guy persona with a stereotypical "Nerd". The self proclaimed MC of "Nerd-core" is MC Frontalot. Frontalot's rhymes are about his everyday life struggles. He portrays the outcast "nerd" theme with extensive vocabulary and scientific subject matter in his verse. No more rhyming about guns, bitches and crack. These nerds like a different kind of "crack"... The kind that opens pirated software.

Much like punk was a drastic rebelling from the popular push of disco and grunge was a reaction to the 80's Hair metal dominating the scene, Nerd-core is the pendulum swinging back from the gangsta rap that was being pushed in the late nineties.



Then there's Psycho-billy... (Not to be confused with Goth-a-billy) This genre is forged from 70's punk rock and 50's Rockabilly. The 50's clothing style and outcast political stance give this niche a look and purpose. Think of a 1950 Cadillac doing 80mph with Bettie page in the front seat and flames smeared down the side. Often at these shows there is a certain brand of mosh pit/dancing that looks more devastating than it is. It's referred to as "wrecking". Psycho-billy lyrics usually center on the themes of fast cars, fast women and fast music and have an upright bass player in the band instead of electric.



The musical tide shifts quickly but never rests. Think of how the Metalheads felt about "grunge" when Kurt Cobain shattered the leather jackets with flannel shirts. Think of how your grandparents thought your parents were being warped by the the Beatles. Imagine Dr. Dre feelings about Nerd-core or what Johnny Cash thinks of Psycho-billy.