Commodore 64 (named after the 1980s computer of the same name) is an American hip hop band that was one of the pioneers of the hip hop music subgenre known as geeksta rap or nerdcore. Formed by four members of a math club and breakdancing troupe in 1992 at a concert in New Jersey, Commodore 64 was the first group to release a single produced entirely using an Apple Macintosh computer, "Horton Hears A Ho" in 1999.

Commodore 64
OriginNew Jersey
GenresHip hop
Nerdcore hip hop
Geeksta rap
Years active1992 – present
LabelsPhatinum
MembersSmart Money "Bass-I.Q."
Teddy Ruxpin (HMO)
The Professa MC Squared
DJ Goodbeats

Three of the four members of Commodore 64, Smart Money "Bass-I.Q." Teddy Ruxpin, HMO and The Professa MC Squared are well-respected as intellectuals in their jobs, as a mathematics professor, an economics writer and a deconstructionist philosopher respectively. DJ Goodbeats, the "fourth member", is a computer.

Commodore 64 released one album, K-Minus Initiative, in December 1999. As the first full-length nerdcore/geeksta rap record to be commercially released, it sold over 130,000 copies in its first three months of release. Their sound and beats have been likened to that of the early Beastie Boys.

The band is currently on their self-released, DIY, independently based label, Phantium Records. They're currently not signed to any major label.

Albums

edit

References

edit