The Tip-Off: Mega Ran

[Jim]

Underground Rap + 8bit beats + Final Fantasy VII = Mega Ran (Random)

For those of you who have read my recent blog posts, I think you’ve got a good idea where musical tastes lie and my intrigue for Nerdcore and pop-culture related artists. This week I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite and most recently discovered artist - Mega Ran.

As with many Nerdcore artists (including I Fight Dragons), Chiptune is a common instrument - however Mega Ran takes it one step further, and raps over the soundtrack of his favorite video games.

spotify:track:6WDNGSBM4jQ0lehgzatYS6

Raheem Jarbo made a name for himself for when he released Mega Ran, a tribute to the video game series Mega Man in 2007. The album landed Jarbo not only a pretty sweet gig (the Capcom booth at the San Diego Comic-Con) but also a licensing agreement with the publisher. The album gained a huge following thanks to press coverage from IGN and Nintendo Power, among many others.

The album itself samples the 8-bit soundtrack while Jarbo takes lyrical duties. With his smooth flows and expert tongue, he narrates the story and the characters, making it a must-listen. Whether you’re a fan of the game franchise or not, you can easily lose yourself in his voice and lyrics.

Since then Mega Ran has become quite a popular name on the underground hip-hop scene and within the video game community. He’s continued to stick to the formula that made him popular and has since released such gems as Black Materia, based on the famous Final Fantasy VII story, Blur Bomber (Mega Man & Sonic The Hedgehog) and most recently Mat Mania: The Album, teaming up with the superstars of the WWE.

spotify:track:5aueCbTiEu1rHcf6mPLOY4

All three of these albums are works of art. No matter whether you’re interested in the theme of the music or not, you can easily lose yourself in his smooth voice and lyrical expressiveness… we just hope you don’t tear up again after THAT scene from Final Fantasy VII.

Mega Ran is able to stand tall among the scene with his style, wit, and lyrical ability. You’ll soon find yourself drifting and bopping along ;)

Monthly Listeners in Spotify: 10,010

Hometown: Philadelphia, US

Would fit best in a playlist called: Nerdcore

3 Related Artists: Optimus Rhyme, MC Chris, MC Frontalot