Posted on October 27, 2010 in Arts & Culture
By Dylan Martin

MC Lars will be performing at The Asylum on Tuesday, Nov. 2 with MC Chris, and he won’t be delivering your everyday hip-hop act.

Backed by a full punk rock band with overlaid laptop beats, Lars mixes an infectious energy with references to great literary works and social commentary on the “iGeneration.” You could call him a nerdcore rapper.

Before he hits the road, Lars was able to answer a few questions from The Free Press.

FP: You describe your music as “post-punk laptop rap,” but is there a more broad term that your music falls under?

Lars: It’s indie hip-hop meets punk rock with an electronic twist.

FP: Your songs cover a wide range of subjects from works of Shakespeare to giant robots. What inspires you to write about a diverse web of topics?

Lars: If it’s a topic I’m into I’ll write about it. An artist’s primary audience is his or her self. I get inspired by everything I see and everyone I meet.

FP: While your music has an undeniably fun vibe to it, the lyrics sometime contain social commentary about pop culture, with “Hot Topic is Not Punk Rock” being one of the more obvious examples. Do you want listeners and fans to take anything away from your lyrics? Or do you more focus on the fun element?

Lars: Hip-hop has always been about fun, but my main message is to get people to question the machine we live in and to create instead of constantly consuming. Also I want to inspire kids to check out old school hip-hop and realize that it is truly a diverse genre. I’ve done this thing DIY since the beginning. The punk spirit of being yourself and creating something you own is very important.

FP: Is MC Lars it? Or are you hoping to pursue any other projects before you get old and wrinkly?

Lars: We’ll see.

FP: Read any cool books lately?

Lars: “A Confederacy of Dunces” is incredible. I just discovered it.

FP: How about your favorite Internet meme?

Lars: The whistles go…. woo woo!

FP: And last, but not least, you’ve been described as an unapologetic Insane Clown Posse fan. What about the group appeals to you? And do you have anything to say to the dissenting crowd?

Lars: I got into them in 1997 when they were still a legit underground hip-hop group before their fans started murdering people and bludgeoning C-list celebrities at their festivals. ICP has survived against incredible odds and have created one of the most amazing touring shows ever. I’ve never felt I’ve needed to worry what a bunch of people I don’t know have to say about my music taste. I understand why everyone hates them but Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope are incredible businessmen who have stayed true to their creative vision.