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MC Lars

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For persons of a similar name, see Andrew Nielsen (disambiguation).
MC Lars
MC Lars wearing a Legend of Zelda necklace in 2015
MC Lars wearing a Legend of Zelda necklace in 2015
Background information
Birth nameAndrew Robert Nielsen
Also known asLars Horris, MC Lars Horris, Lars
Born (1982-10-06) October 6, 1982 (age 42)
OriginOakland, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop, Ska punk, Emo rap, Christian hip hop, Nerdcore[1]
Years active1999–present
LabelsHorris Records, Nettwerk, Truck Records, Oglio Records
Websitemclars.com

Andrew Robert Nielsen (born October 6, 1982), known professionally as MC Lars, is an American rapper, producer, educator, and founder of Horris Records.[2] A graduate of Stanford University and the University of Oxford,[3][4] he is credited as a pioneer of "lit-hop", a genre blending hip-hop with themes from classical and American literature.[5][6] He is also known for coining the term "iGeneration" in 2003,[7][8] and has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall[9] and multiple TEDx events.[10][11] His work frequently references authors like William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, and Herman Melville,[12] and he is considered a key figure in the early nerdcore movement.[13][5][14]

Education

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Lars attended Stevenson School, a high school in Pebble Beach, California. For college and graduate school, he attended Stanford University and Oxford University.[15][16]

Career and Live Performances

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Lars has toured and performed alongside a wide range of artists across genres, including mainstream acts such as Snoop Dogg, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, Simple Plan, Gym Class Heroes, T-Pain, and Insane Clown Posse, as well as alternative and nerdcore staples like Say Anything, Bowling for Soup, MC Frontalot, mc chris, and Wheatus.[17][18][19]

MC Lars performing with Wherewolves at Bang! Nightclub, Melbourne (May 2009)

His live shows combine laptop-driven beats with live instrumentation, visual projections, and spoken word. Depending on the tour, he has performed solo or with full bands assembled from frequent collaborators. In May 2007, while on the UK’s third Good To Go Tour, Lars was backed by Wheatus, who learned his set and performed it live each night. He and frontman Brendan B. Brown later co-wrote several songs that appeared on This Gigantic Robot Kills.

Later that year, he returned to the UK with the pop-punk band Last Letter Read, who opened the shows and then joined him onstage. Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, Lars toured with bands such as Bowling for Soup, Simple Plan, and The Matches, often incorporating their members into his set. In 2010, during a European tour supporting Zebrahead, he was joined live by drummer Ed Udhus, guitarist Greg Bergdorf, and tour manager Bobby Conner.

In 2019, to mark the tenth anniversary of This Gigantic Robot Kills, Lars toured the UK again, this time backed by Newcastle-based alt-rock band Ruled by Raptors. It was his first fully live setup without backing tracks, relying instead on instruments, samples, and MIDI triggers to recreate his catalog on stage.[20]

Musical Style and Influences

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MC Lars at the Vans Warped Tour 2013

MC Lars began his career performing under the names Lars Horris and MC Lars Horris, eventually shortening it to MC Lars. The name "Lars" references a character from the 1995 film Heavyweights, while “Horris” was a cartoon character he created in middle school, inspired by Horace from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. “Horris” later became the namesake of his independent label, Horris Records.[2]

Describing his style as "post-punk laptop rap", Lars blends hip-hop with punk rock, emo, and indie influences. Samples play a central role in his production, drawing from artists like Supergrass, Piebald, Brand New, Fugazi, and Iggy Pop. His track "Signing Emo" notably features a sample from “Cry Tonight” by the fictional band Hearts That Hate, a satirical creation. When Lars toured with Bowling for Soup, the band performed as Hearts That Hate live. A full version of "Cry Tonight" appears as a B-side on the UK release of "Signing Emo".[21]

Literary Themes and Education

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Lars is widely recognized as a pioneer of "lit-hop", a genre that merges hip-hop with themes from classical and American literature.[6][5] Many of his tracks are literary adaptations: "Rapbeth" references Macbeth; "Mr. Raven" draws on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven"; "Ahab" retells Moby Dick; and "Hey There Ophelia" offers a modern take on Hamlet.

His academic background—studying English literature at Stanford University and Shakespeare at Oxford University—informs this thematic focus.[12] In 2012, after releasing the Edgar Allan Poe EP, he performed "Flow Like Poe" at Carnegie Hall for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, accompanied by a live string ensemble.[22]

Lars has also promoted the use of hip-hop as an educational tool. At TEDxUSC in 2012, he linked the death of Tupac Shakur to the final act of Hamlet, and performed the witches’ chant from Macbeth as a rap.[23] He later gave a similar presentation at TEDxYouth@Homer in Alaska.[24]

In 2003, he coined the term "iGeneration" to describe those born primarily in the mid-to-late 1980s. His song "iGeneration" was released for free through Facebook and iTunes in 2006. That same year, his single "Download This Song" was featured on the Canadian CBC Radio program Definitely Not The Opera.

Independent Distribution and Horris Records

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In 2004, MC Lars released The Laptop EP, establishing his DIY ethos and laying the groundwork for future independent projects. That same year, he founded Horris Records, initially launched as an imprint under Nettwerk and Oglio, before transitioning to full self-distribution.[2]

In 2006, Lars released the single "Download This Song", a critique of the music industry’s response to file-sharing. Issued through Nettwerk as part of The Graduate, the track reached number 29 on the Australian Singles Chart. Shortly after its iTunes release, Lars was contacted by a 15-year-old fan whose family was being sued by the RIAA. Nettwerk CEO Terry McBride and several label artists publicly supported the family’s legal defense, drawing national media attention.[25][26]

Lars has credited digital piracy with expanding his fanbase and aligning with his punk-inspired belief in open access.[27][28] In 2007, he released the stems of "White Kids Aren’t Hyphy" under a Creative Commons license via the Jamglue platform, inviting fans to create remixes.[29]

In 2009, Lars partnered with Crappy Records—founded by Bowling for Soup's Jaret Reddick—to release This Gigantic Robot Kills, featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic, Jonathan Coulton, Parry Gripp, MC Frontalot, and Wheatus. Horris Records has also occasionally served as a platform for other up-and-coming artists in the indie and alternative scenes. In 2009, Horris also released a collaborative EP with K.Flay, marking an early moment in her career before her breakout and eventual signing with Interscope Records after being discovered by Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons. In 2011, Lars signed Coheed and Cambria drummer Weerd Science and launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for Lars Attacks!, which featured KRS-One, Mac Lethal, and Sage Francis.

In 2015, he raised over $42,000 to fund The Zombie Dinosaur LP.[30][31] Subsequent independent Horris Records releases included The Dewey Decibel System (2019, with Mega Ran), Blockchain Planet (2021), 999 (2024, with Schäffer the Darklord), and The Edgar Allan Poe LP (2025).

Film and TV work

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Lars's music has been featured on MTV News, CNN Money, HBO's Hung, G4's Attack of the Show! and Ninja Warrior.[32][33][34][35] In 2008, he played a key role in G4's rebrand alongside Del the Funky Homosapien, YTCracker, and MC Frontalot, creating musical bumpers and segments aimed at millennial gamers and hip-hop fans.[36]

He has also contributed music to the soundtracks of various films, including Nerdcore for Life (2008), Little Boxes (2016), Pick It Up! (2019), and Challengers (2024).[37][38][39]

Discography

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Main article: MC Lars discography

References

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  1. ^ Elderkin, Beth (May 26, 2020). "10 Nerdcore, Nerd-Folk, and Other Geeky Artists to Add to Your Playlist". Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c MC Lars and Weerd Science interview Part 1. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. ^ Cabrera, Marc (November 20, 2008). "Nerd rap". Montereyherald.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  4. ^ Thornton, Stuart (December 13, 2007). "Already ambitious MC Lars further expands his sound". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Sewell, Amanda (2015). "Nerdcore Hip-Hop". In Justin A. Williams (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Hip-Hop. Cambridge University Press. pp. 233–247. ISBN 978-1-107-03746-5.
  6. ^ a b "Is Shakespeare Getting a Bad Rap? Not If MC Lars Has His Way". Portland Monthly. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Talking 'Bout iGeneration - MC Lars". ascap.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11.
  8. ^ Williams, Justin A. The Cambridge Companion to Hip-Hop. 12 February 2015. ISBN 978-1-107-03746-5.
  9. ^ "MC Lars at Carnegie Hall". Scholastic. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  10. ^ "The hip-hop of Shakespeare: MC Lars at TEDxUSC". YouTube. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Education Through Rap and Hip Hop – MC Lars – TEDxYouth@Homer". YouTube. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  12. ^ a b "MC Lars Bio". Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  13. ^ "MC Lars FAQ – Nerdcore origins". mclars.com. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  14. ^ Elderkin, Beth (May 26, 2020). "10 Nerdcore, Nerd-Folk, and Other Geeky Artists to Add to Your Playlist". Retrieved January 5, 2021 – via io9.gizmo.com.
  15. ^ Cabrera, Marc (November 20, 2008). "Nerd rap". Montereyherald.com. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  16. ^ Thornton, Stuart (December 13, 2007). "Already ambitious MC Lars further expands his sound". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  17. ^ Friends, Debbie and. "Boston's Own Debbie And Friends Among The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards Vox Populi Winners". PRLog. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  18. ^ "Independent Music Awards - 2009 Judges". 12 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 April 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  19. ^ "MC Lars Interview on DCG Con, ICP, Nerdcore, more! [May 2018] - Faygoluvers". Faygoluvers.net. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  20. ^ "MC Lars". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26.
  21. ^ Newitz, Annalee (March 1, 2005). "Adam Curry Wants to Make You an iPod Radio Star". Wired.com.
  22. ^ "MC Lars at Carnegie Hall". Scholastic. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  23. ^ "The hip-hop of Shakespeare: MC Lars at TEDxUSC". YouTube. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  24. ^ "Education Through Rap and Hip Hop – MC Lars – TEDxYouth@Homer". YouTube. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  25. ^ Thornton, Stuart. "Already ambitious MC Lars further expands his sound". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Spotlight Artist: MC Lars". Full Effect Magazine. 16 March 2006. Archived from the original on 23 April 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  27. ^ "MC Lars: Reinventing the Music Business". CNN. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  28. ^ "MC Lars Talks Music Biz on CNN Money". PunkNews. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Jamglue.com has shut down". Archived from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  30. ^ "The Zombie Dinosaur LP – AVAILABLE NOV. 6th!". Bandcamp. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  31. ^ "MC Lars at Le Poisson Rouge". LPR. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  32. ^ Scott Iwasaki (January 21, 2005). "MC Lars: Kids are enjoying tour". Deseret News. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  33. ^ "MC Lars: Reinventing the Music Business". CNN. November 5, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  34. ^ "Hung (2009–2011) – Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "MC Lars at Reggie's Live". Reggie's Live. July 25, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  36. ^ Ken Denmead (June 25, 2008). "MC Frontalot Shows What Nerdcore Truly Means". GeekDad. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  37. ^ "Nerdcore for Life (2008) – Soundtrack". Nerdcore for Life. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  38. ^ "Little Boxes (2016) – Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  39. ^ "Pick It Up! (2019) – Soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
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