by Joe Willard | Afterthafire
The Original Wu-Tang Clan had RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and ODB. The “Nerdy Rap" Wu-Tang Clan has MC Chris, MegaRan, Adam WarRock, Weerd Science and MC Lars. But, with his new album, Lars Attacks!, MC Lars is demonstrating himself as more than just a nerdy rapper.
"Lars Attacks! is definitely a darker album," Lars says. "More spiritual. More personal. I think it’s my best album, but it’s definitely a departure from the last two which are more pop culture, and more, maybe, comedic. And the reason for that is my last two albums were funded by labels.”
Lars went on to explain that it was the first time he was able to completely direct his own project. Whereas prior albums were in part directed by labels, publicists and other parties with a financial interest in the project, Lars Attacks! was funded by the fans via Kickstarter and allowed Lars to be his own A&R.
A great example of the difference in content, my favorite song (and Lars’, too!): "Art of Darkness."
“You know, when you do art full-time, you do it at the expense of a lot of things. You have to sacrifice everything. It becomes kinda like an addiction… like the syringe is the pen and your arm and like, the ink and [the writer] has the metaphor of being the drug addict. That song is just about sacrificing everything for what you believe in, ‘cause guess what – if you never do that, your dreams never come true.”
Aside from putting out this newest album, what are some other dreams Lars has? In the next 12 to 18 months he is writing a hip-hop almanac, releasing an EP based entirely on Edgar Allan Poe poems, putting out a collaboration with his newest signee Weerd Science and changing our youth – one TV show at a time.
“Eventually, I want to make MC Lars turn into a vehicle for a successful, hip-hop, kid’s TV show where it’s educational kinda like Sesame Street with my character. Yo-Gabba-Gabba style, but very […] educational, very fun, very different, very hip and […] really good music.” Lars
Fans can expect a pilot for MC Lars’ kids show in 2012. Big thanks to Gary and Matt for making this possible. Learn more about afterthafire radio/on location! afterthafire at www.thisisafterthafire.com.
~ Peshtigo