Schaffer the Darklord (or STD) is a New York City-based rapper, drummer and

comedian with material best-suited for nerdy and/or hedonistic audiences. With manic

energy fueling a cartoonishly commanding stage presence, STD skewers such topics

as substance abuse, sexual compulsion, urban anxiety and obsessive cat-enthusiasm.

Imagine a Frankenstein-esque monster assembled from equal parts Bill Hicks, Adam

Yauch, Joey Ramone and Prince, stitched together inside the shell of a maniacal heavy

metal ex-patriot. STD has released nine albums and is a founding member of the

touring nerdcore hip-hop collective known as the Four-Eyed Horsemen, along with MC

Lars, Mega Ran and MC Frontalot. When he's not on the road, he produces the NYC

burlesque/wrestling hybrid event called “TasselMania.” STD continues to write, record

and perform with great frequency and has no intention of stopping until his rock and

roll lifestyle destroys him.

MC Frontalot (née Damian Hess) is the original mastermind of Nerdcore Hip-Hop

and still its Final Boss.

Prowess The Testament is a powerhouse hip- hop artist and cultural storyteller from Washington, D.C., known for fusing sharp lyricism with cosmic narrative. Named by KRS-One after a standout performance, she’s shared stages with Wu-Tang Clan, Pharoahe Monch, Citizen Cope, and more. Following her acclaimed Lunar Prelude: Sailor Overture, she released Legend of the Moon in May 2025 — a Sailor Moon-inspired boom bap saga. A co-author of the Amazon bestselling nonfiction book Boom Bap Review Vol. 6, she’s also performed at SXSW (2024 & 2025) and recently lit up a sold-out MAGFest. Her upcoming project, Sacred Water — a Dragon Ball Z–themed collaboration with producer Tsoh Tso — blends anime, alchemy, and emotional grit. Offstage, Prowess is an Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) strategist and leadership consultant, equipping fundraisers with wellness-rooted, trauma-informed strategies to thrive.