Rap: Nerdcore

SPOKEN NERD: The Lion, The Fish, & The Moustache
Nashville's very own "dangerously positive" MC, Spoken Nerd blends uninhibited satirical humor with aggressive boom bappy hip hop to create a recipe for pleasure.
Recommended if you like Sole, Sage Francis, Listener.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $10.00
CHECK'D: Project: Reconstruction
The Portland-based sci-fi/revolution nerds in Check'd have a certain Soul Sonic Force-meets-Rapping Rodney charm, and fight valiantly for the title of "most meta hip-hop outfit in Portland."
Recommended if you like MC Frontalot, A Tribe Called Quest, MC Hawking, Optimus Rhyme.
CD price: $9.00 / MP3 price: $7.00
ANIMAL NATION: TimeZone [EP]
Travel through space and time to a period when lyrics actually meant something. 'TimeZone' visits hip-hop before 'bangers' became 'hot', before sampling was frowned upon, and way before 'ice' became something other than a tool used to cool your lemon-aid.
Recommended if you like Modest Mouse, Atmosphere, Ugly Duckling.
CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $10.00