It's Music Monday! Oakland Local got the chance recently to sit down with Erk tha Jerk and pick his brain about music, life and what he loves about Oakland…

At first glance, I doubt anyone who sees Erk the Jerk thinks "rapper." With his thick-framed glasses and clean cut appearance, his geeky looks are definitely deceiving.

This rapper/producer/songwriter has been around for quite some time. From collaborating with legendary artists such as Too Short to touring with his former rap group Kali Fam, Erk is no stranger to the music biz.

The Richmond native now lives in Oakland, and is preparing to release a follow-up to his hit single, “Right Here." When asked about the tremendous success of the single and how it changed his life, Erk said the only thing he's seen change is other people.

“Every day, I feel like a regular guy," he said.

Erk said many parts of his life are centered in Oakland, adding that his favorite part of the city is “The people… they stand out… they're different."

The self-proclaimed “Hood Nerd” loves classic oldies such as “Backstabbers” by the O’Jays, which he's been listening to recently in his ride, and prides himself on being a fan of good music.

“I fell in love with rap as a kid but never thought I’d be doing it professionally and I’ve been making music for over 10 years," he said. "It always seems to follow me."

Erk said he picked up his stage name in high school from his close friend, and fellow recording artist, London.

Check out their collaboration “Make it Wetter” and keep up with Erk tha Jerk via Twitter, Facebook or Myspace.