‘The Infinity Gauntlet’ might be one of the greatest stories that Marvel has ever told. The heroes of earth put everything on the line to save not only their world but the universe as well.
Fast forward 20+ years later, Enter Eugene Ahn a.k.a. Adam WarRock. Since his debut in October of 2010, ‘The War For Infinity’ WarRock has been grinding non stop. Coast to coast tours with the likes of MC Chris, Lars & Megaran and releasing themed based projects like his ‘Parks & Rec’ EP & for you Firefly fanatics his ‘Browncoats Mixtape’. These types of moves show and prove that WarRock is hellbent on making musical universes fun to explore and explode.
First off, tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Adam WarRock and I make raps about comics and other geeky things. I do this full-time. I know, I don’t get how it works out either.
What first got you interested in music, and who were some of your favorite acts and musical influences growing up?
This is an incredibly embarrassing question to answer, because my earliest memories of music were listening to, and singing along with, Lionel Richie and Simon & Garfunkel albums that my parents used to listen to. Music was always in my home: my mom was a voice major, my sister was a classical pianist, my dad sang and played guitar casually. There was always music in my life, and those were the earliest memories, along with things like Cole Porter and Nat King Cole.
As far as rap, I was a huge pop-punk kid, some hardcore, growing up. It wasn’t until my friend handed me a mixture that had Redman’s Dare Iz A Darkside and M.O.P.’s Firing Squad did I GET hip hop, in that visceral way. After that, I picked up Wu Tang’s Enter the 36 Chambers, and my life would never be the same. By the time I got to Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions, there was really no turning back.
How would you describe your music?
Me and an emcee who I work with a lot named Tribe One came up with the phrase Silver Age Hip Hop, which was a callback to Silver Age comics, as well as post-Golden age hip hop. But honestly, I just describe my music as indie hip hop; the kind of indie hip hop that doesn’t exactly happen anymore, these days. I make music that sounds like music I used to love, and it just so happens to be about very specific, geeky things.
Tell us about ‘The War For Infinity’ & ‘This Man…This Emcee’ and the progression of ideas and content from album to album.
The War For Infinity was an idea I had from very early in the formation of Adam WarRock. I love Marvel’s Infinity Gauntlet saga, it’s easily my favorite comic book run of all time. I wanted to make an album that somehow incorporated that comic. Time progressed, and I realized that I could just make a whole story album based on that storyline. It was a weird way to burst onto the scene, an album full of songs that don’t exactly make perfect sense separate from each other, so I’m always very grateful that people received it so well. I really poured a lot into it.
This Man… This Emcee! was an EP I made because I realized I should probably have a release to sell that wasn’t story-based. I had the ideas for “Marvel vs. DC” and “Nerd Corps” for a while, and finally put them into single form. It still sounds like a very cohesive product, since I used a single producer, Dale Chase, to make the aesthetic of the album.
What did you think of the reception of ‘The War For Infinity’ when it dropped? And what was it like gaining a following within the ‘Nerdcore’/Chip Hop’ genre?
People were extremely receptive to it. I think we are entering an age where people are starting to appreciate “albums” again, rather than just loose collections of songs, no doubt because of the whole mp3/single scene becoming its own separate thing.
Nerdcore was something I was only partially aware of: guys like MC Chris, Lars and Frontalot. I never really immersed myself in that scene, and so when people started calling it that, I was a bit scared that I would be pigeonholed into a genre that I didn’t really sound like, or even try to make. There’s nothing worse than having people come to your music expecting it to sound like one specific thing, and being disappointed that it’s not. But meeting people in the genre and seeing the loyalty and passion fans have for it, that all faded away. I am now proud to call it Nerdcore, or geek rap, or whatever else you want to call it.
What was the first comic book you got as a kid?
I got an Avengers Annual in 1989, Part 4 of 5 of The Terminus Factor. I got it at a grocery store.
What is/are your all time FAVORITE single issue book and/or title?
My favorite is probably that first issue of Infinity Gauntlet. I love that one; the introduction of Thanos is hard to beat.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Telekinesis. Because it would just make life easier, like running errands and lifting things. Oh, and tripping people on the street.
What was the first gaming system that you owned growing up?
I had an Atari 5200, I guess b/c my parents thought it was better than the 2600. But it sucked, because the 5200 not only had less games, but the games cost more because it was a “better” system, whatever that means. I played a lot of Frogger, a lot of Jungle Hunt and a lot of Popeye.
What is your present console of choice?
I only have an Xbox 360, since my PS3 died on me. So I guess that would be it.
What game are you currently playing?
Nothing, because I’m touring. But before I left, I was basically playing NBA2K11 every day against my best friend in NY, and a lot of Bastion, because I just like smashing things with the hammer or shooting them with the carbine.
Describe one of your shows to someone who has never seen you rock live?
I love talking to the crowd, goofing off in between songs. I come from a very punk/hardcore background, so I try to bring a lot of energy to a rap show. I personally think a lot of rap shows are boring as hell, so I try to make sure they go home having seen someone give a lot of energy on stage. Plus, I jump in the air sometimes, if you’re lucky, during certain songs.
In the fall, you finished a tour with MC Lars, Mega Ran-K Murdock & MC Chris- describe the craziest thing that has happened so far? Hijinks or otherwise.
We were in Minneapolis at 7th Street Entry, and this girl was standing in front of our merch table facing the crowd. All we saw was her bend over, and then book it out of the club. It turns out she had puked all over all these people in front of her. It was pretty disgusting. They had to bring out the wood chips stuff they use in elementary schools, and that smell made me gag from the nostalgia. I feel bad for those people she yakked on. Gross.
Not including yourselves, who are your favorite acts to listen to currently?
I love Shad, this emcee from Ontario. I can’t get enough of POS and Doomtree. I’m a gigantic Yelawolf fan. And I find myself listening to a lot of K. Flay on the road. That’s pretty much it.
Is there anything you’d like to promote or plug?
Just the website: adamwarrock.com
Adam’s new LP (Released yesterday 2/13!), ‘You Dare Call That Thing Human’ is available off his bandcamp page:
http://adamwarrock.bandcamp.com/
Adam also dropped a FREE 5 track EP all about Mass Effect via the good peeps @ Destructoid.com:
http://www.destructoid.com/dtoid-exclusive-adam-warrock-s-mass-effect-ep-221138.phtml
http://adamwarrock.com/AWR_ME3_EP_download.zip
And if you haven’t read ‘The Infinity Gauntlet’ six issue run circa 1991 (Marvel Comics), Do it!
http://marvel.com/digital_comics/issue/2017/infinity_gauntlet_1991_1