MC LARS ON G4'S FREESTYLE 101

MC Lars plays what he calls "post-punk laptop rap," a mix of alternative rock, old school hip hop and electronica. The Berkeley, California native released his first album in 1999 (Nothing to Fear) and has issued a steady stream of releases every year since, culminating with his latest, This Gigantic Robot Kills. Recent collaborations include The Digital Gangster LP with YTCracker and tracks with everyone from "Weird Al" Yankovic to The Donnas, Bowling for Soup and Ill Bill. Now that's a diverse lineup!

MC Lars is also part of the burgeoning Nerdcore Hip Hop movement that includes rappers such as MC Frontalot, MC Chris, and the aforementioned YTCracker. He samples from alt rockers like Supergrass and Iggy Pop. He raps about computers, tech, videogames, literature, pop culture and is often backed by a live band and various visual aids in concert. It's quite an experience. You've also seen him in G4's Nerdcore TV spots, alongside Del the Funky Homosapien, among others.

When Lars dropped by The Engine Room in Hollywood to spit over a Messiaz beat, Freestyle 101 made sure to get him to chat about Nerdcore, as well as the Bay Area hip hop scene and being a dope MC in a punk rock world.

Freestyle 101 goes up every Tuesday at 9 a.m. PST (noon on the east). Coming up is Thirstin Howell III, Rack and Bar Lo, Meyhem Lauren, and Charlie 2Na of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. Make sure to check out other nerd-tastic MCs on Freestyle 101, such as Murs, Del, Kool Keith, Busdriver, Pigeon John, and more. Find us on MySpace, Facebook, rant in the Forums, and peep our behind the scenes photo gallery.