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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Looking for music about games, fandom, science fiction, literature, or simply the pleasures of being a geek? Start with these ten artists from a 2020 Gizmodo discovery list. They range from hip-hop to folk-pop and chap hop, so the list is best treated as a cross-genre set of entry points—not a ranking or a claim that everyone here identifies as nerdcore.
Ten artists and a track to start with
The tracks below are the original article’s suggested hooks. They are useful search terms, not a guarantee that a recording is still available on a particular service or in the same version.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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True | $13.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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100 Singalong Songs For Kids | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Geek the Girl & Inconsiderate Bitch | $22.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Geek Love | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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SΔMMUS (Sammus) — “Time Crisis”
The 2020 Gizmodo article describes Sammus as a New York-based rapper whose work draws on gaming culture and Afrofuturism, and notes that she does not identify as a nerdcore artist. “Time Crisis” is the suggested starting point for exploring her music without treating the genre label as a substitute for her own identity. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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mc chris — “fett’s vette”
Gizmodo presents mc chris as a nerdcore staple and points to “fett’s vette” as an entry track. It is a direct route into the playful, pop-culture-facing side of the list. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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LEX the Lexicon Artist — “Artist Anthem”
The original list describes LEX as a New York City-based rap artist and recommends “Artist Anthem.” The track makes a straightforward starting point if you want to explore the rap side of geek-oriented music. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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Mega Ran — “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher” remix
Mega Ran is associated with game-inspired nerdcore and collaborations. Gizmodo’s entry point is his rap remix of “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher.” For broader context on his game-inspired work and the scene around it, see Bandcamp Daily’s account of nerdcore hip-hop.
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Professor Elemental — “Cup of Brown Joy”
Professor Elemental works in chap hop, a style the original article connects to steampunk and English tropes. “Cup of Brown Joy” is its suggested introduction, offering a distinctly different approach from straight rap. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
Rank #2
100 Singalong Songs For Kids- 084418053520
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The Doubleclicks — “Cats and Netflix”
Gizmodo describes this sibling duo as nerdy folk-pop and recommends “Cats and Netflix.” Their inclusion is a reminder that geek-themed music can arrive in a folk-pop format rather than a hip-hop one. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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Richie Branson — “Hentai Lamborghini”
The 2020 list characterizes Branson as a nerdcore rapper with a focus on Japanese culture and gaming, and names “Hentai Lamborghini” as the entry point. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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MC Lars — “Guitar Hero Hero”
MC Lars describes his lane as “lit hop”: literary subject matter mixed with punk and early-2000s emo influences, according to Gizmodo. The suggested track is “Guitar Hero Hero.” Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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Allie Goertz — “Dance Bitch”
Goertz is presented as a folk artist who writes “nerdy love songs.” Start with “Dance Bitch” if you want a folk-oriented entry from the list. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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Dr. Awkward — “Now Hiring” featuring Schaffer the Darklord
Gizmodo describes Dr. Awkward as a San Diego-based rap artist writing about comics and video games. “Now Hiring,” featuring Schaffer the Darklord, is the recommended starting track. Source: Gizmodo, May 26, 2020.
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How to think about the nerdcore label
Nerdcore is better understood as a loose, evolving hip-hop subculture than as one sound shared by every artist on a playlist. Geek interests can connect performers whose production, subject matter, and relationship to the label differ. Bandcamp Daily traces the scene’s growth, convention connections, and the role of game-inspired artists such as Mega Ran; MC Frontalot’s official press kit describes his decision to label online output “Nerdcore Hip-Hop.” Bandcamp Daily · MC Frontalot’s press kit
Rank #4
That distinction matters in this list: Sammus is explicitly described as not identifying as a nerdcore artist, even though her work has found listeners through the genre. The broader framing—nerdcore, nerd-folk, and other genre-loving artists—makes room for that difference rather than flattening everyone into one category.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose your next listen by sound and subject
- For rap: try Sammus, mc chris, LEX the Lexicon Artist, Mega Ran, Richie Branson, MC Lars, or Dr. Awkward.
- For folk or folk-pop: start with The Doubleclicks or Allie Goertz.
- For a theatrical, genre-specific detour: try Professor Elemental’s chap hop.
- For subject matter: the original descriptions point to games, Japanese culture, comics, literature, science fiction, fandom, and everyday geek life.
These are ways to navigate the list, not quality rankings. Comparing musical approach, subject matter, and each artist’s own relationship to a label is more useful than asking which act is objectively the “best” nerdcore artist.
Where to explore the scene further
For a history-oriented follow-up, Bandcamp Daily covers nerdcore’s growth, convention performances, and representation conversations. MC Frontalot’s press kit identifies Nerdcore Rising: The Movie as a documentary about his live band and the broader nerdcore phenomenon. His press kit calls him “the original mastermind of Nerdcore Hip-Hop and still its Final Boss”—a self-description in the artist’s official materials, not an independent consensus or award. Read Bandcamp Daily · Read the MC Frontalot press kit
If you want to support an artist while exploring, Bandcamp describes itself as an online record store and music community, with digital albums and tracks as well as formats such as vinyl, CDs, and cassettes. That platform overview does not establish whether any particular track or release from this list is currently available there. Bandcamp About
What has changed since the original list
The recommendations and artist descriptions originate in Gizmodo’s May 26, 2020 article. They are discovery leads, not confirmation of current biographies, recent releases, links, streaming availability, or retail stock. Search for an artist’s current official page or preferred music platform when a suggested track does not appear under the same title or version.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
