Revenge of the Nerd

Shows like The Big Bang Theory give the false impression that geeks are usually brilliant and successful. In reality, most of us are rather shiftless and underemployed, but occasionally someone like MC Chris manages to profit from his geekiness. The Chicago-area rapper first caught notice with "Fett's Vette," a humorous,...

By Albert Ching

June 10, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Shows like The Big Bang Theory give the false impression that geeks are usually brilliant and successful. In reality, most of us are rather shiftless and underemployed, but occasionally someone like MC Chris manages to profit from his geekiness. The Chicago-area rapper first caught notice with "Fett's Vette," a humorous, lyrically dexterous ode to Star Wars bounty hunter Boba Fett. He's considered one of the pioneers of "nerdcore" hip-hop, even though he's repeatedly expressed his distaste for the label. It's kind of hard to take that shunning seriously, though, when he keeps releasing tracks like "Bossk on a Segway," which is about a much more obscure Star Wars bounty hunter (y'know, the reptile-looking guy? Hates Wookiees? Ring a bell?) and is on his latest record, this year's MC Chris Goes to Hell. Not to mention that his concerts are as much about his thoroughly entertaining digressions about pressing issues like video games and cartoons as they are about the songs. Recently, he voiced a character on Adult Swim's Cheyenne Cinnamon and the Fantabulous Unicorn of Sugar Town Candy Fudge, in an ensemble also including Neko Case, MF Doom, T-Pain and Kristen Schaal from Flight of the Conchords. Tragically, only one episode has aired.
Sun., June 13, 8 p.m., 2010

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Phoenix New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.