Interview: Weerd Science
Weerd Science “Conspiracy Theories Without Mel Gibson”
by Jason Schreurs
Betcha never thought the side project from a member of Coheed and Cambria would be an old school rap CD. But that’s exactly what Coheed drummer Josh Eppard has unleashed on the world with Weerd Science, his long-running rap project finally available to the masses. But do they want it? “Friends and Nervous Breakdowns” is a skilled rap album full of anger and cussing, usually directed towards authority figures and other bullies in Eppard’s life, and it’s already causing quite a stir with its uncompromising lyrics and completely un-Coheed style. You gotta give this dude credit for sticking his neck out there and waiting for the guillotine to fall. Weerd Science is important to Eppard (he’s been rapping since he was 13) and it’s cool to see him following through with it for the release of this CD. If Coheed heads don’t like it, fuck ‘em. Weerd Science will find an audience somewhere, and Eppard will deserve it. Fuckers.
What’s been the response so far from Coheed and Cambria fans to the Weerd Science CD?
The response from Coheed fans has been pretty much mixed so far. The people who like that shit seem to really like it (believe it or not!) and the stupid retards who don’t like it REALLY don’t like it. That’s why they’re stupid retards. For real though, I think it’s hard for some people to grasp the fact that it’s so different.
Your bio says this CD is a rallying cry for the outcasts, the geeks, the nerds.
Well geeks, nerds, outsiders, etc. are what we are. Is it too cliche to say that any Weerd record I’ve done is truly an outlet for what’s inside. Going to school I never felt like I fit in. I never was accepted as one of the elite, cool kids. That’s when Weerd started and it’s kind of been a running theme throughout all this shit. I mean, look at a song like “Joshua They’re Laughing at You” and that speaks for itself. Other songs though, like “My War, Your Problem” where the general idea is artist vs. record label I say, “I been rappin’ since I was a lil’ coward” and talk of being slapped around at school.
Are you a fan of that ‘80s movie, Weird Science?
Yes.
The songs on this CD are very angry. Is a large part of doing Weerd Science to have that kind of emotional release?
Of course, I think it’s obvious. I’m in a pretty successful rock band and put out what some might view as an insanely offensive record. Knowing damn well people will call me an Eminem wannabe, say I suck, just shit all over me, but that record is still sittin’ in a motherfuckin’ store right now, right? I can’t deny this release. This shit is important to me, as important as anything. What kills me is when I read a review where these stupid assholes assume I just threw a record out in the world and expected it to sell like fuckin’ hotcakes. I do this ‘cause I love it, ‘cause if I heard this shit I’d be fuckin’ down. People are just waiting for the trendy kid at school to like it first or their favorite band to say it’s cool. Fuck those people, I don’t want ‘em to like my shit.
Tell me about rhyming? Is it hard to master? What about in a live setting? Is it a challenge to pull it all off?
Yes, I imagine it would be hard to master. For the most part, my whole record is shit from two years ago. I’d like to think if we got up in the studio right now I’d be doper than before, at least I’d like to think so! A lot of those songs have been kickin’ around in my room for so long. Some got leaked to the 300 people who give a shit, but some were actually new to everyone. Like, nobody heard it. My point is the stuff on the CD is old, so if I could ever master rhymin’ (which I couldn’t), right now I’d be two years closer. Live is crazy hard, I’ll leave it at that.
2005 Friends and Nervous Breakdowns (Equal Vision / Super Rap)
