What do video games, dungeons and dragons, love, and the universe have in common? When combined with pounding beats and sick flow, they fall under the lifestyle umbrella of nerdcore hiphop - a genre of music embracing and celebrating nerdy and intellectual pursuits. Hiphop artist, Alpha Riff, is an emcee immersed in the art with an eye to its growing community. Born in Biloxi, MS and calling many different locales home - including five years in Japan - Alpha Riff grew up in a diverse environment. Because of his interests, he also endured the standard bullying, teasing, and name-calling associated with his academic thirst and after-school hobbies. Luckily, because of his friends, a home split evenly between creativity and logic, and music, Alpha Riff found solace and a sense of self that helped him transcend an otherwise harrowing and humiliating experience. Music became a way of life, kickstarting the rest of his creative pursuits such as writing, game development and filmmaking. Until recently, Alpha Riff did not have a name for his musical stylings. Having once believed he was the only artist to heavily reference video games and space travel in his songs, he was surprised to find that there were others who not only created music with a similar feel, but also catered to an audience seeking it. His reflective soundtrack toes the line easily between socially conscious and scholastic. Some call him a jack of all trades - novel and screenplay writing, video game programmer, filmmaker and more. With a penchant for the theatrical, he deftly mixes everything he has learned into an amalgamation of pure and unique talent ready to take the world by storm. Alpha Riff’s influences are many, from hip-hop to heavy metal, from classical to video game and movie soundtracks. Whether it’s Lupe Fiasco, Childish Gambino, Coheed and Cambria, or Deftones, Alpha Riff creates his own spin on the shared struggle within all of the communities he’s touched. But, unlike others, who may approach the music for its sonic quality, Alpha Riff is a visual storyteller. With an expertise in filmmaking, he pulls those characteristics into his music allowing him to think theatrically when composing. His desire is to create truly captivating, moving stories that take the listener on a visual journey that lasts with them for the rest of their lives. Alpha Riff has released his debut album, From Beta to Alpha Riff, which details the story of his rise and love of hip-hop. As he builds his brand, he dreams of performing at SXSW, PAX, and more. Nothing will stand in his way until he achieves everything he’s after. The story is still being written. Join Alpha Riff in the telling.