By Sean R. Grogan


MCLars is arguably one of the best new school rappers today. The Stanford-educated hip-hop artist mixes phat beats with intelligent lyrics to create a sound that is as original as it is intellectual. Scouring literary masterpieces on his Apple Powerbook, MC Lars creates songs like "Ahab," a narrative of Herman Melville's 800+ page classic Moby Dick told in mere minutes while mixed over a Supergrass sample. The Graduate is full of songs that are sharp-witted and socially conscious. From "Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock" (featuring the Matches), a humorous view of the shelves of the mallrat sanctuary, to "Generic Crunk Rap," a track that takes Lil' Jon's perverse genre to task, nothing is sacred as MC Lars tosses aside convention to address our preoccupation with commercialism and corporate sensationalism in his facetious and charismatic style.

On his first two records and last EP, MC Lars garnered critical support for his cunning lyrics and innovative sound. These efforts formed a solid foundation for the self-made rapper that has built a following not through corporate marketing but through word-of-mouth and the Internet. Good thing too, because on the opening track "Download This Song," (featuring Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup) MC Lars bites the corporate hand. Hard. He blasts the greed of the music industry in a song that is a modern anthem foretelling the doomed future of the music industry as the digital revolution takes the world by storm.

The Graduate overflows with guests including Ill Bill of Non Phixion, who rocks with Lars on "The Dialogue," a rap tribute to their influences, political leanings and futures. In "Roommate From Hell," MC Lars explains what it's like to have Satan (voiced by MC Chris) as your roomate. Literally. Lars has to battle the lord of Hell who loves Nickelback and sacrifices goats (we're not sure which is worse) and soon realizes he should have found a place on Craigslist instead.

On this third effort, Lars leaves no pop icon stone untouched, whether it be iPods, blogging, or Internet dating. Armed with humor, old school breakbeats, and new school digital sampling, Lars is a refreshing addition to the hip-hop scene.