I’m sure most of you have had a copy of NerdRap Entertainment System since it dropped in 2005. Due to all the recent press surrounding ytcracker’s new nerd life album, a lot of people are finding out about ytcracker for the first time. It would be a pity if they weren’t aware of NES, one of the most notable releases in nerdcore history.

stream some tracks:

Update: I guess the flash player isn’t working for everyone, you can download individual tracks here or just grab the zip.

If you’re interested in learning more about YTCracker’s newest release, “Nerd Life”, check out the info page with free preview tracks.

“nerdcore could rise up…”
- mc frontalot, nerdcore rising

first off, allow me to preface this by saying i get asked “what is nerdcore?” A LOT. my answer has ranged from long-winded to my now short definition: “technologically conscious hiphop.” in reality, sometimes when i look at my definition i realize that it is incorrect because in someone’s eyes, nerdcore is representative of comic books or anime, and has nothing to do with technology.

the first company i founded was digital gangster enterprises, llc, an ambitious production company that threw raves and club events in the colorado springs area. i have always lived by this digital gangster mentality, seeing it as the oxymoronic but appropriate blend of a gentleman like myself. i am a computer criminal - a web graffiti artist - basically taking the essence of hip-hop and gangster culture and integrating it with the new society. making money, making music, ensuring that the message of the downtrodden geek who made something of himself against all odds are all part of my mantra, and it reflects in my lifestyle.

i think that nerdcore deviates very little from “regular” hip-hop - the only difference that i really notice is the present-day relevence of it. everyone these days has a myspace and is using some sort of device (like a cell phone) that a nerd conceptualized and actualized. i believe that if people understood this more, they would be much more receptive to the idea of nerdcore and what it offers.

anyway, comment and be heard.
ytcracker

let it be known that i am not a bandwagoner with this and have used beryl since one of its early, less stable variations. i just had to confirm my status of original gangster before people call me out as a fake nerd, which would totally damage my credibility, you know?

beryl now is MUCH more stable and as far as a rival to vista’s visual components i believe beryl far surpasses microsoft’s efforts. plus, beryl is actively developed and therefore updates are frequent, giving a lot more flexibility in user input.

i rock an nvidia card - the old ATI i had in here for some reason didn’t play very well with compiz, however things may have changed since a nurga last messed with it.

obviously, before messing with this guide, grab the nvidia drivers from your synaptics package manager and change your xorg.conf to reflect nvidia instead of nv.

to add the correct repositories, holla at the options in the package manager and select the restricted and multiverse repos as well.

from ubuntuguide.org:

How to install Beryl/AIGLX (Nvidia)
(From Ubuntu Forums)

Ensure all packages up to date
Install your *ubuntu-desktop metapackage specific to your DE, e.g. sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Add repositories
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Add the following line at the end of this file (x86 and amd64):
deb http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/ edgy main

Add key
wget http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/root@lupine.me.uk.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Save the edited file then update package lists
sudo apt-get update

Install Beryl
sudo apt-get install beryl emerald-themes

Back up xorg.conf
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Add this to xorg.conf “Screen” section
# Enable 32-bit ARGB GLX Visuals
Option “AddARGBGLXVisuals” “True”

# If you are using an older version of compiz that
# does not support rendering into the Composite
# Overlay Window, you will need to disable clipping
# of GLX rendering to the X Root window with this
# option, or you will get a blank screen after
# starting compiz:
Option “DisableGLXRootClipping” “True”

Add this to xorg.conf “Device” section
Option “TripleBuffer” “true”

Restart X with ctrl+alt+backspace

Start Beryl (if it doesn’t start on its own)
beryl-manager

Start Emerald (if it doesn’t start on its own)
emerald –replace

Have Beryl and Emerald load on login
System -> Preferences -> Sessions
Startup Programs -> Add
beryl-manager
and

emerald –replace

If, on reboot, program menus aren’t displaying in the correct layer (you can’t see them when you select them because they are displaying behind the window) then right click on the ‘Beryl Manager’ icon in the panel (the red gem icon) and select ‘Reload Window Manager’. The problem should be solved the next time you reboot.

holla at p. nis for more info,
ytcracker

i’m ytcracker and you are at my website.

rmk brilliantly came up with the idea that i should start using wordpress because my site was really ugly, and people like wordpress because it’s so awesome. i figured the lofi charm of my old site was somewhat endearing, but others found it clunky and hard to navigate. i don’t want to argue with people because they are usually right, and i am usually wrong.

so, being an inaugural blog post and all, i don’t know what exactly to say or do except that i am here. i’ll probably attempt to cross publish to my myspace to make sure that no matter what part of cyberspace you are located in, you will always be in the loop. yes, yes - i know - very generous of me.

until next time!
the undisputed king of nerdcore rap
ytcracker