Truth be told, if you’re ever going to take your obsession with Dungeons And Dragons, ninjas, and Star Wars and truly make something of yourself with it, Christopher Brendan Ward should probably be who you want to emulate with it. He’s one of the biggest cult rappers around and he’s become that big of a name with albums called things like “Dungeon Master Of Ceremonies”. He’s living proof that no topic is too far-fetched for hip-hop when it’s done well, but unlike many of his peers, Ward wasn’t a hip-hop performer from an early age. Like the true geek that he is, he was an artsy theatre kid growing up.
That upbringing led to a BFA in dramatic writing from the NYU Tisch School Of Arts and a job as an animator, songwriter and voice actor with Adult Swim. It even got to the point where he spent a year as one of the producers of on air content before he jacked it all in to become a musician. Joking aside, that takes an insane amount of guts, and considering the kind of music he plays and the kind of scene that he works in, it massively paid off. He had already released his first couple of albums in the form of 2001’s charmingly titled “Life’s A Bitch And I’m Her Pimp” and 2003’s “Knowing Is Half The Hassle” but 2004 saw him take on music full time.
Since then he’s created the theme tunes for a variety of Kevin Smith’s podcasts, created his own cartoon series entitled the mc chris cartoon and, unlike many of his peers, created a truly widespread cult following that’s seen him play concerts all over the United Kingdom as well as on the Warped Tour. Drawing on his experience in improvisational comedy, his shows are as hilarious as they are displays of Chris’ genuine skill as a rapper, and are ones to see as soon as possible whether you get the references or not. He’s a truly unique kind of artist, the kind that has to be seen to be truly believed, and he comes highly recommended.
Associated with the genre ‘nerdcore’ rap, Christopher Ward better known as mc chris is not only a rapper but a voice actor, writer and a comedian. Without any record label he released his home recorded and self-produced debut album ‘Life’s a Bitch and I’m Her Pimp’ in 2001, putting the entire album on his website as a free download. Having his first single ‘Fetts Vett’ feature on an episode of Sealab 2021 which directed people to his website also lead them to the album. Gaining momentum and popularity through word of mouth and illegal file-sharing, mc chris has been able to attract a large dedicated following, some might describe as his target demographic. Lyrically delving into themes considered ‘nerdy’ such as video games and science fiction, is also an apt reflection of mc chris’ fan base. Having his music spread virally has resulted in high demand for his live shows. Relentlessly touring and often playing in tiny clubs has helped to build up his live reputation. Appearing onstage with a laptop and a microphone, for those unfamiliar with his incredibly helium-esque high pitched vocals might be surprised as soon as he opens his mouth. Mc chris is also known for the speed in which he spits the lyrics as he roams the stage with an air of confidence. Using his comedic skills adds to the banter and the rapport which he creates with his loyal fan base. If you’re looking for all round entertainment, look no further than mc chris!