MEET THE JUDGES

Blending hip hop, punk, pop, and whatever else they might wish together, Lex creates an experience that has captivated people across the world — in both recorded and live music.

A veteran of the VPC, Lex knows what it takes to succeed in this competition. And as an artist, Lex is constantly innovating in a way that's at the heart of what the VPC means and what it seeks to bring forth in the artistic community.

Fresh off the release of 'Toxpsychology' last year, Lex is also co-producer of the brand new festival Nerdcore Summer Camp — August 29 in Columbus, OH — and is ready to give some nerds some notes on their songs.

A multi-instrumentalist and sonic engineer without parallel — blending musicianship with foley art and implacable curiosity to create soundscapes that go beyond immersion to transcendence and timelessness.

Work outside the competition has paired him with titans inside the nerdcore space and beyond it. Part of some of the most powerful — and sometimes silliest — pairings the VPC has ever known.

The founder and progenitor of the VPC itself. Currently plays drums in a klezmer VGM band called Glitch Kibbitz. Judging for the very first time.

You may not know who he is, but he absolutely knows who you are.

A consummate supporter of music scenes across the United States and abroad, a curator of talent — and a damn fine tank and DPS in World of Warcraft.

Helps oversee the Music Division of Super MAGFest, and books every band at MAGStock and Game Over Richmond. The coolest part of the Protomans, the best Protomen tribute band on the planet.

Rapper, producer, actor, teacher — that last plaudit means he can give constructive feedback, even if you don't like it.

A veteran performer at dozens of festivals across the country and even more venues than that — and he's got his own coming up: Nerdivation, June 27 in Detroit, MI — Mr. Cooper's homebase. The roster is totally stacked.

A nerdcore architect. When the genre still lived on MP3 blogs and forum threads, Richie's early releases — 'The Cold Republic,' 'The Wing Zero EP' — broke through to IGN, Kotaku, and Crunchyroll and turned heads that had never heard the word before.

Earned the Otaku King crown and built Otaku Gang with Solar Slim and Plush Giant. Scored Rooster Teeth's Camp Camp (and voiced Jake Stonewall), soundtracked Adult Swim's Toonami revival, then crossed into game design at Harmonix and Epic — where he shaped Fortnite Festival.

This judge needs no introduction because he's the VPC OG. Full stop. Back in the ring to sit opposite the next wave and tell them whether they're ready.