The MC Plus+ Interview!

[chozo_ninpo]

The Nerdcore Network questions!
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1. First off, how are you doing?

I'm good man. I just got back from Portugal last night. I was there for a conference I was presenting at. Now I'm back in Seattle. I'm here for the summer for an internship with Microsoft, and I'm back to that 8 to 6 MS grind tomorrow.

2. What have you been up to in the last few years?

Research man. I've been hitting it hard. I need to finish this PhD already.

I've still been doing hip hop though. My DJ/roomate, Lord Illingworth and I have had a weekly Hip-hop Night in our basement with some other MC's in the West Lafayette area. I've learned how to freestyle, and I must say, I've gotten pretty damn good. I couldn't freestyle for shit before. I have been in good company. I met some really talented cats, A-train, Fat Point Scheme. Actually, we recorded a couple tracks before I left. If you send me an email address, I'll be happy to send you a couple tracks that Lord Illingworth has completed a first draft of.

3. What made you get into rapping?

Initially, it was just to be funny and get attention. I've listened to rap a long time. And I've always somehow related to rapers like Pac talking about how hard thug life is, which is something that I understand is quite ridiculous given how I know nothing about that life, and at the same time actually was able to feel better and inspired by the music when school was difficult. So, initially it was just to make fun of myself and the whole thing. Then somewhere between the first and second MC Plus album, I actually started to really getting into hip-hop and since then, it is what has been my motivation to rap and become a better MC. A lot of it had to do with Lord Ill's influence. He has been into hip-hop for a long time.

4. How do you feel about the current "scene" of Nerdcore?

It's stale. I mean, there are some artist who have real talent, but I just think that Nerdcore was just like this novelty thing. A silly idea that was fun and funny when it started, but you can't sustain a genre of music like that. At the end of the day, a genre has to produce new and real shit. It's kind of strange, because I think you can see parallels with gangsta rap. It's not about the music, it's about an image. And it's not how good you are, but how good you are at projecting an image- whether its a gangsta image for gangsta rap or a nerd image for Nerdcore. It gets old.

5. Are you working on any new material?

I was. Like I mentioned before I've been working with some people that I have hip-hop night with. We are 3 MC's and one DJ and go by Freebasementality. Hit me up with your email if you want to hear some our stuff.

6. Does anyone randomly approach you with anything Nerdcore related?

All the time. Mostly people asking for collabs. I'd love to do it, but I just don't have that kind of time.

7. What is your favorite memory up to this point involving your music?

That's an easy question to answer. In my basement, on a Tuesday night, one night when all MC's were spittin some of the hottest freestyles they ever spit, Lord Ill's scratches so fresh and so clean with a few people watching truly grateful for what they are experiencing.

8. The Empty Set, what are they up to these days?

We are all doing our own thing now man. The Empty Set unfortunately is over. So is Freebasementality. Lord Ill got his PhD and will be moving away for a Professor position. I'm currently in Seattle. As far as The Empty Set, Logic and Zitamin Z are still in Indy. And for Freebasementality, which consists of me, A-Train, Fat Point Scheme and Lord Ill, A-train graduated moved, FPS is moving to Saudi. It's sad, but it's just the way life goes.

9. Would you do it all again? if so, what differently?

Yeah definitely. I'd probably move away from the Nerdcore scene sooner than I did. Not because I think I would have a better chance at being someone, because my chances would definitely be much less, but because it is something that I've enjoyed a lot more. Freestyling, and even writing, with other MC's who love hip-hop has been a great experience for me personally. I have gone throughout my life without having a real passion for any art form. I played guitar in jazz band in high school and I liked it, but I wasn't passionate about jazz. That all changed with hip-hop. Hip-hop changed my life, like Lupe's song.

10. Do you have any advice for up and coming artists?

Really I have nothing. Up and coming artists is not something I ever saw myself as, and not something I see myself as now. I'm just a guy who first thought it would be funny to rap, and then fell in love with hip-hop, and now I have this skill that I have developed, an appreciation I have developed and its not really about being an up and coming artist. It just so happens that I love attention. So I would love to become famous, but I know that's probably not in the cards. It is what it is, and now I love that when shit gets stressful, I can put on a triumphant beat and freestyle my stress away. And break it out every now and then to impress a few friends.

Fan Questions!
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11. What are your thoughts on MC Chris playing Nerdapalooza this year?

I had no idea that was going on. I didn't even know there was a such thing as Nerdapalooza. MC Chris I think is talented. If I'm in town when it happens, MC Chris should hit me up. I'll get the Freebasementality and I'd love to open for him. Hopefully won't piss off the fans by not being nerdy enough.

12. Who all did coke in Las Vegas, January '07?

Haha. I thought we all did, but then I found out it was pixie sticks I was sniffin off that hookers ass.

13. When are you and Monzy going to release a studio collaboration track?

Never unfortunately. That way we can keep the fans thinking we got beef. Maybe if I change my mind and want to be famous, we can rekindle that beef. That kind of shit gets a lot of people interested.

14. How do I get ahold of Lord Illingworth for beats and scratching, and how much does he charge?

Look up Lord Ill on my myspace page. Should be my first friend. He won't charge, but I'll be honest, he probably won't do it. He is busy and honestly, making beats stresses him out, especially if its not for Freebase. Hit'em up though, but you may want to record something and impress him first with your MC skills. Then he may do it.

15. Are you going to be doing any upcoming shows in Indiana?

No man. I'm not sure when I'll be back in Indiana. I appreciate fans wanting to know and I hate letting them down. But just keep checking my MySpace for the release of the Freebase tracks we recorded- 4 of them. Either you will be disappointed that I have strayed from my CS roots (not entirely though) and be happy I'm no longer rapping, or your mind will be blown and you will distribute the music to everyone you know, so that I become famous and then quit CS and bring hip-hop back with this silly little rhyming shit I do.

16. Who suggested that you rap, and when did you notice you were awesome? (and you need to rap more plz)

Firstly, thank you and I love you. I love getting props from people. I'm really needy. Like I need people to like me, so on the real, thanks. No one really suggested, I just always liked rap, and when I started, mostly gangsta rap, and I knew I could do it. Hmm.. when did I notice I was awesome? I guess recently when I was rapping with people that I really think are great MC's and they seemed to think I wasn't bad. Then I spit a tight freestyle, and came to the conclusion, that I'm that MC with the name Plus Plus, greatest rapper ever? dog, I'm close enough.

17. Since Purdue is a hard school, how were you able to do great on both music and studies?

I wasn't. I did bad at studies and produced more music. Then I stopped producing music and started to really do well in research. And then, I started to kind of do both, but mostly concentrate on studying. I used hip-hop as a way to help me relieve stress and escape. And that was easy. It was then I needed to do music, I needed hip-hop.

18. Would you like to collab with Conyeezy (CSHC) and would you like his cell phone number?

Hadn't heard of this cat until just now. I just did a google search, and I heard Rule #2. It's a tight track. You sound nice man. I'm afraid its not a good time for a collab. Ask this dude that is doing this interview- it took me forever to answer. End of August though, I may have a break. Get me your number, what ideas you have, and I'll see what I can do. Unfortunately man, I can't make any promises. But mad love and keep doing what you do Conyeezy.

19. If Nerdcore has a message, what is it?

You are asking the wrong dude. I think it's "Nerd image is everything". It happens I don't agree with that message.

20. What's next for MC Plus and The Empty Set?

MC Plus is taking a break, still spittin hot shit during my hot showers and when I'm taking hot shits. The Empty Set, I'm sad to say, has long split. I have great memories and a lot of love for everyone that was involved in it. Freebasementality, while short and unfortunately, didn't get nearly as well known as I would have liked, was a real important time in my life, but that is over too. Who knows what will happen though. Look out for the new tracks. Maybe, they'll get us all famous enough to quit our jobs/school and tour the world and the galaxy.

[nullname]

Cool interview y0, checked out Ascii Antics, good tune, excellent wordage, BOOM!

[nullname]

Cool interview y0, checked out Ascii Antics, good tune, excellent wordage, BOOM!

LoL, and this idiot just realized the poetry goes in ABC-XYZ order! Badass.