Schaffer the Darklord (STD), or Mark Schaffer, is one of the most unique and exciting rappers in the sub-genre of nerdcore. He's from New York City but in 2007 he embarked on a national tour with MC Frontalot.

Track List:
1 - I am Schaffer the Darklord
2 - Serious Metal (skit)
3 - Your Band
4 - Attack of the Clonef*cker
5 - Pure Evil
6 - Dedication (skit)
7 - The Heckler
8 - Black Metal Queen
9 - Enter Soundman
10 - The Rhyme of Lord Nordak
11 - Eeing
12 - Black Condom (skit)
13 - Quel Que Chose

The first track is basically a high energy intro to STD. Even if it wasn't an intro track, it'd be awesome. Your Band is a story about hating a band Schaffer performed with that was really lame. I'm not sure if it's based on real life, but its a good track. Attack of the Clonef*cker is probably the best track on the album, but it has a very dark and twisted theme. If you don't take it too serious it's actually kind of funny.

Chorus:
"Clonef*cker it'll be like humpin a mirror,
oh won't you touch me right here
or whisper into my ear.
Sick and addicted like so many are
to power or wealth.
Clonef*cker'll chuckle knucklehead,
go f**k yourself."

Unless you hear the whole song it's hard to understand why it's funny. But anyway... Pure Evil is ok. It's a little too grimy for me. The Heckler is kind of self-explanatory. It's a track about an annoying person in the audience. Black Metal Queen is a dark, alternative love song about a white boy rapper falling in love with a black metal queen. I like this one. Enter Soundman is a song about the ever useful person at live performances. "Do all the sound guys get to go to heaven?"

The Rhyme of Lord Nordak is another storytelling track about an evil guy named Lord Nordak. Honestly, I have no idea what Quel Que Chose is about because it's in French. The only phrase I recognize is - "Ooh la la".

Schaffer's Bio (CDBaby):
Schaffer the Darklord (or STD) is an entertainer from New York with an act comprised of rap songs and stand-up comedy. From his many years as a drummer in groups like SF-based noise metal behemoths Burmese, STD harvests material dealing with sex, drugs, and rock bands. Imagine a Frankenstein-esque creature assembled from equal parts Prince, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Hicks, Eminem, and Darth Vader...all rolled into a jaded rock and roll ex-patriot, covering topics from Jesus zombies to post-apocalyptic clone sex. It is advised that you see his act before he is consumed by his own wickedness.


Get More STD:
CD & Track Previews Available on CDBaby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/schaffer
Website: www.schafferthedarklord.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/schafferthedarklord


Conclusion:

I recently saw the Darklord in Portland, OR at the Hawthorne Theater performing with MC Frontalot. It was an awesome show! I liked STD's music before the show but after that live performance I had even more respect for his music, he's a great performer.

STD's content is more mature than most other nerdcore rappers, but if you're over 16 or 17 years old you should be good. He is a very unique rapper, with clever rhymes and no "F*ck the cops" or "B*tches and H*s" type crap.

If you like DnD, cats, clones, Darth Vader, and nerd stuff - you'll love Schaffer the Darklord. I'd also recommend it to non-nerds too because it's that good.

I also highly recommend STD's second album Mark of the Beast (available on CDBaby).

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends