MC Chris
MC Chris at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2023
MC Chris at GalaxyCon Columbus in 2023
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Brendan Ward IV
Born (1975-09-02) September 2, 1975 (age 48)
Libertyville, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • voice actor
  • comedian
  • writer
Years active2000–present
LabelsMC Chris LLC
Websitemcchris.com

Christopher Brendan Ward IV (born September 2, 1975), better known by the stage name MC Chris (stylized in all lower case),[4] is an American rapper, voice actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for his high-pitched voice and for combining his "geek" background with the "gangsta rap" image which resulted in the genre of nerdcore. He has released ten albums, five EPs, one re-release and a tenth anniversary edition of his recordings with the Lee Majors.

Early life

Ward was born in Libertyville, Illinois. He attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.[citation needed]

Career

Voice acting

Ward performing in February 2008

Ward has appeared on, worked behind the scenes on, and contributed original lyrics to, many Williams Street Studios shows on Adult Swim, most notably Aqua Teen Hunger Force. He was a production assistant and starred as the character MC Pee Pants in the episodes "MC Pee Pants", "Sir Loin", "The Last One", and "Little Brittle",[5] and as the young Carl in episode 18.[6] He reprised the role of MC Pee Pants in Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters and in the PlayStation 2 video game Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am.

Ward worked on Sealab 2021 as a writer and as the recurring character Hesh Hepplewhite, and as the twins who play Dolphin Boy in a behind-the-scenes type of episode. He worked as a production assistant and writer for The Brak Show (including the episodes "Brakstreet" and "Shadows of Heat") and voiced a character on the episode "Brakstreet". He was a contributing writer for Space Ghost: Coast to Coast with a cameo in the episode "Baffler Meal", and voiced Ward Willoughby in the 2002 pilot for Welcome to Eltingville.

In October 2004, he announced his resignation from Cartoon Network on his blog[7] to focus on his recording career. He returned to Adult Swim as a red Gummi bear named Gummi in Cheyenne Cinnamon and the Fantabulous Unicorn of Sugar Town Candy Fudge.[8] He has worked on a cartoon called The mc chris Cartoon, and plans to work in conjunction with the creators of Metalocalypse, although it will not air on Cartoon Network.[9][10] Since August 2010, he has created the theme songs for several of the SModcast Internet Radio (S.I.R.) programs, including those for the original SModcast, [Blow Hard,[11] Bagged & Boarded, and Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.

Music

Ward originally performed with The Lee Majors. While he is one of the artists most closely associated with the genre of nerdcore,[12][13][14] he had been hesitant to accept the nerdcore label and described his music as "a genre in and of itself".[15] as well as expressing concern over limiting himself to such a narrow audience and subject matter.[16][17] He has appeared in news stories dealing with nerd culture and nerdcore.[18] Of his nerdcore background, he said, "It's nice that a lot of folks consider me part of it. It's actually embarrassing how I used to think I was the only one playing with Star Wars toys and making music, and it just wasn't true. I have absolutely no problem with the label now."[19] He self-releases with no record label.

Personal life

In July 2012, Ward told the security guards at his show in Philadelphia to eject an audience member who had posted a critical comment on Twitter about his opening act Richie Branson. After receiving criticism from fans, he posted a video in which he cried and apologized for his actions. The fan received a refund, and described in a Reddit post how he felt humiliated by the experience.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Children's albums

Compilation albums

Extended plays

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters MC Pee Pants
2008 Nerdcore for Life Himself

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2000-2005 Sealab 2021 Hesh Hepplewhite / Various / Yes Brains 19 episodes
2002 Welcome to Eltingville Ward Willoughby / Wilson Credited as Chistopher Ward
2002 The Brak Show Record Store Worker 2 episodes
2002-2015 Aqua Teen Hunger Force MC Pee Pants / Little Brittle / Sir Loin / Young Carl 6 episodes
2003 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Dancing Man Episode: "Baffler Meal"
2007 Fat Guy Stuck in Internet Gordon 2 episodes
2010 Cheyenne Cinnamon and the Fantabulous Unicorn of Sugar Town Candy Fudge Gummi
2011 Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell Episode: Pilot
2011 The Chris Gethard Show Musical Guest / Panel Episode: The Human Crane Episode

References

  1. ^ Roa, Ray (November 26, 2019). "Nerdcore favorite mc chris returns to Tampa for Friday concert". Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via cltampa.com.
  2. ^ Elderkin, Beth (May 26, 2020). "10 Nerdcore, Nerd-Folk, and Other Geeky Artists to Add to Your Playlist". Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via io9.gizmo.com.
  3. ^ "Alex Trebek Calls Nerdcore Rap Fans 'Losers'; MC Chris and Mega Ran Respond". Retrieved April 29, 2021 – via Billboard.
  4. ^ mc chris (2003). 10-Year-Old (song). DC Flag Records. Event occurs at 3:01. mc chris, lower case, no dots, rewind.
  5. ^ "Aqua Teen Hunger Force – Episode 9: MC Pee Pants". April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009.
  6. ^ "Aqua Teen Hunger Force – Episode 18: Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future". March 23, 2009. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009.
  7. ^ "goth beach - so unpredictable". livejournal.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2007.
  8. ^ "INTERVIEW: mc chris". You Sound Like A Robot. Archived from the original on May 10, 2009.
  9. ^ Wiese, Ben (April 20, 2018). "Nerd-Rapper mc chris Talks New Album, Animation, Trauma and Fatherhood". Westword.com.
  10. ^ "None". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
  11. ^ "SModcast #131: Limmortality". SModCo. Archived from the original on September 12, 2010.
  12. ^ Roa, Ray (November 26, 2019). "Nerdcore favorite mc chris returns to Tampa for Friday concert". Cltampa.com. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  13. ^ Elderkin, Beth (May 26, 2020). "10 Nerdcore, Nerd-Folk, and Other Geeky Artists to Add to Your Playlist". Io9.gizmo.com. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  14. ^ "Alex Trebek Calls Nerdcore Rap Fans 'Losers'; MC Chris and Mega Ran Respond". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Burton, Bonnie (June 25, 2007). "mc chris: Napping with Artoo". Fans. Starwars.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  16. ^ Williams, Alex (August 5, 2007). "Dungeons, Dragons and Dope Beats". Fashion & Style. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  17. ^ Miranda, Jeff (November 4, 2007). "Refrain of the nerds". Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 20, 2009.
  18. ^ myspace.com/mcchris Archived February 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine MC Chris blog. August 22, 2008
  19. ^ "All The Sucker MCs Can Call Me Sire: An Interview with mc chris - Comic Book Resources". comicbookresources.com. November 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Eakin, Marah (July 19, 2012). "MC Chris kicks fan out of show over a nasty tweet, cries about it". The A.V. Club.

External links

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