Internet gives nerds a second chance

WASHINGTON, July 22 (UPI) -- Nerds across the United States are getting a second chance at being popular, musician MC Frontalot said, thanks to the growth of the Internet.

The hip-hop musician, whose real name is Damian Hess, said nerds have a voice they never had before, thanks to the connectivity offered by the Internet, Britain's Sunday Telegraph reported.

"When I was at school, being branded a nerd was a terrible thing. We would band together in small groups for self defense," Hess said. "But the Internet has allowed the creation of a nerd legion with a distinctive nerd identity."

Hess -- who self identifies as a "nerdcore" rapper -- raps about the advantages of being a nerd outside the constraints of high school.

"By the end of high school, I was trying to be cool but not succeeding," he said. "When I grew up, I no longer felt ashamed of being a nerd, because that's what I am."

The newspaper said Hess is not alone in his pursuit, as comedian Brian Posehn and upcoming TV series like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Chuck" also praise the nerd life.