Dual Core formed several years ago, as a computer programmer and aspiring emcee from Cincinnati named int eighty teamed up with a graphic designer and aspiring hip hop producer from Manchester named c64. Their first album, Zero One, released in 2007, was as nerdcore as could be. They rapped about Star Wars, War Games, MySpace, Lord of the Rings, and so on, with samples to add to the references. It’s fun, but it certainly crutched a bit on the novelty of the references, a complaint that many outside of nerdcore have about the subgenre. As they kept going, though, both the production and the rhymes kept getting stronger, and their sound grew and expanded. Up until their last album, 2009’s Next Level, they still gave their fan some obvious nerd tracks, such as “Natural 20s.” Even though the production was some great, funky hip hop that sounded really crisp, and the rhymes and flow came easily from skilled emcee, it was still the type of song that would go over great with the nerdcore crowd, but would be a tough sell to the rest of hip hop fans. Three years later, Dual Core drops All the Things, are set to cross over with a fantastic hip hop album that just happens to be made by nerds. All hip hop fans should take note.

I don’t know to what extent it was a conscious choice, but one listen to the opening track, “Drifter,” and it appears that Dual Core really want to be taken seriously with this album. This isn’t to say they’ve abandoned the fans that got them where they are, but the tone of the record abandons any sense of novelty. “Drifter” bumps a midtempo beat with a dirty slide blues guitar, as int eighty discusses their musical career, the time they’ve spent on the road, working as independent musicians, making music for nerds who felt like outsiders. int eighty has composed some great lyrics, combining interesting imagery about travel, heartfelt compassion for his fans, and clever references and turns of phrase. It’s an excellent opening song, and it really sets the bar high for the rest of the album. “Fear & Chaos” is some fantastic boom bap that will require to you to pump your stereo way up, with some really fun rhymes and a great hook with nerdy references that could easily pass you by if you weren’t paying attention. “Hear Them Talking” is a dark but important story, with the narrator overhearing child abuse coming from the apartment next door, trying to reach out and help, but ultimately feeling helpless when things take a turn for the worse. “Staring at the Last Star” is another dark song, as int eighty gets really introspective and dissects a relationship that’s now over, wondering where it went wrong. “Running,” featuring Remington Forbes and Blueprint gives us a great tribute to underground hip hop, uncovering each emcee’s journey, while also paying homage to some of the greats of the last fifteen years, such as Pharoahe Monch, Hi-Tek, Mr. Dibbs, Sage Francis, Blueprint, Rhymefest, Brother Ali, Eyedea, J-Live, Binary Star, and others. The album continues on from there, never slowing down. The more I listen to All the Things, the more it becomes apparent that int eighty has really taken his abilities to the next level as an emcee, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this album becomes a favorite amongst other emcees. It’s an excellent album overall, but eighty has really stepped his game up. He’s become incredibly confident in his delivery, and it’s allowed him to expand his subject matter, and as a result, this album isn’t just fun, it’ll also move you on a very personal level.

It’s always exciting to see a group make a jump from good to great, and Dual Core has done that with All the Things. c64’s production has never been better, and int eighty has become the all around emcee that I’m sure many detractors never thought he would be. Nerdcore can be a label that pigeonholes artists, but with All the Things, Dual Core have transcended these labels. This is great hip hop made by some nerds, but it’s for everybody. I encourage everyone to listen to this album with an open mind.