CLOSE-UP : Def in Venice

“While other people entertain to live, I live to entertain, and put geekness into the brain to kind of help ease the pain--that’s the name of my game. White, black, rich or poor, y’all get geekacized and come back for more.”

And so goes another upbeat message from Dr. Geek, a self-proclaimed “goodwill ambassador of people” who brings his improvised rhyme to the crowds at Venice Beach or various football games every weekend. Although his rhythmic stream conjures up the rapper image, Dr. Geek prefers the term “wordologist.” He got his name (he refuses to answer to any other) while at Kettering High School in Detroit, where “geeking” refers to pumping up a crowd, not wearing high waters. He came to Los Angeles six years ago to cheer on the University of Michigan football team and liked it here so much, he stayed.

Since then, he has geeked up any crowd around--at Venice Beach, on Hollywood Boulevard and, of course, at the Rose Parade. He also does parties and was recently hired as a rapping Spock at Universal Studios.

Wider fame is just around the corner. He’s about to release his first album, “Wordology 101,” on the Ten Squared label. But Dr. Geek claims that fame and fortune hold little allure. “If I can make people feel better for even two or three minutes, then I’m happy.”