Mega Ran Is Playing The Rap Game Just Like Video Games – BET

September 6, 2023

Hip-hop’s relationship with the video game culture stretches as far back as the Super Mario Bros. TV show rap, which recently made a resurgence for blockbuster-related reasons. It makes loads of sense. They both grew into mainstream prominence during the late 70s/early 80s, were once relegated to simply being fads for the moment and were pushed along by technological innovations. Hip-hop is a pivotal foundation for contemporary pop music globally, while video games are currently the highest-grossing art medium. There isn’t a better example of the two cultures beautifully co-existing in one person than emcee Raheem Jarbo, a.k.a. Mega Ran.

For over a decade, Phoenix-based (by way of Philadelphia) artist has become a shining example of hip-hop subgenre Nerdcore. The style usually trades in more mainstream rap themes for topics revolving around nerd culture like video games, comics and sci-fi. The rapper, whose name is inspired by the Blue Bomber (also leading to a lucrative relationship with iconic developer Capcom), has managed to not only release over a dozen projects, tour the world, and found himself creating original music in top-selling video games like Mortal Kombat 11 alongside Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge but even earn a Guinness World Record for having recorded the most songs written about a video game that are available for commercial purchase. It’s how Mega Ran built a respectable following of fans with like-minded passions while spreading his love of hip-hop.

“These folks are hard workers, family-oriented, people who are very passionate about things that would be considered nerdy,” explained Mega Ran. “I see varying levels of hip-hop knowledge within my fans, but I enjoy that because that’s a teachable moment to show them more. Many of them come up to me and say “I’m not really into rap and then I heard you and thought about how your raps speak to me.”

Another way Mega Ran has built a solid fanbase with albums ranging from 2001’s Archetype to Live ‘95 is that his music avoids profanity. Though he quickly mentions that he doesn’t make that a selling point, it’s a way to make his music more approachable.

“I wanted to make music that my mom and them could listen to,” explained Mega Ran. “Or if I wanted to take this to academia or something like a school or university it wouldn’t be a problem. I just found ways over the past ten years plus to just do my best to not use any foul language. Now, it’s at a point where it’s second nature to me.”

For example, Mega Ran’s latest single, “Gimme The Fruit” featuring Whitney Peyton, draws inspiration from Notorious B.I.G. ‘s classic Ready To Die cut “Gimme The Loot,” the flamenco guitar riffs that sounds Kill Bill soundtrack related and Sesame Street.

With bars like “Good for my soul / I can use that / put it in my water – infuse that / put it in yogurt – improve that / you don’t like fruit? Gotta move back,” are standard Mega Ran bars with a push toward a first for the emcee. The newly made father is now making children’s music with “Gimme The Fruit” serving as the lead single for his latest project, Buddy’s Magic Toy Box, set for release on September 15.

“That’s really what fatherhood has done to my music taste because now we’re constantly playing kids’ music or podcasts or books on tape just to constantly keep him engaged,” explained Mega Ran. “I think some of this children’s music we listened to kind of sucks. I think maybe we can do this a little differently.”

Outside of artistically expressing his recent journey into parenthood, Mega Ran has also the experience of being a former educator. The Penn State graduate was a special education and middle school teacher before retiring to place full-time focus on music. He said that teaching and emceeing could be considered the same thing.

“I joke all the time that if you can teach middle school like I did, drunk adults in a bar is easy,” said Mega Ran. “It’s the very same skill set. I think teaching has definitely made me a better emcee through the times that I spent in the classroom. Pulling out the bag of tricks, as I used to call it as a teacher, is the same thing now when I’m freestyling, freewheeling and ad-libbing on stage and trying to keep things moving while performing.”

This year alone has seen hip hop and video game culture make unprecedented mainstream waves, whether Snoop Dogg, 21 Savage, and Nicki Minaj are playable in the latest Call of Duty or Lil Wayne’s Street Fighter VI collaboration. However, the inspirational career Mega Ran has built has been a dream come true.

“When it’s all said and done for Mega Ran, people will be able to say that this dude brought a lot of sauce to hip hop and video games,” said Mega Ran. “He did something different and he enabled this to get into even more places and more environments.”

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