Proto-nerdcore is a term used to describe music that was important precursors of nerdcore, or who have been cited by early nerdcore rappers as influential. This tag also includes very early nerdcore releases.

The earliest known recorded use of the term "nerdcore hip hop" was in 2000 by MC Frontalot. However, prior to that time artists as varied as Beastie Boys, Kool Keith, Deltron 3030, MC 900 Ft. Jesus, MC Paul Barman, Dr. Dre, Company Flow, and MF Doom began exploring topics far outside the traditional hip-hop culture, including stereotypically "nerdy" topics like space and science fiction. Though these underground artists were generally outside geek culture and are not considered nerdcore, they can be said to have set the stage for artists like Frontalot, who has listed several of them as influences. Beastie Boys outer-space sci-fi themed album Hello Nasty in 1998; including, among other potentially influencing tracks, the spacey robotic "Intergalactic" and the distinctively video game sound themed song "Unite"; garnered mainstream recognition years ahead of the popular movement. Nerdcore had clear influences from geek culture as well, including geek rock like They Might Be Giants, parodists like "Weird Al" Yankovic, and others.