Video-game inspired rapper Mega Ran will visit The Record Exchange (1105 W. Idaho St.) for a special all-ages performance at 6:30pm Wednesday, June 8. As always, this Record Exchange in-store event is free. Mega Ran is performing a free 21+ show at the Olympic later in the evening.

ABOUT MEGA RAN

“One of the most prolific and innovative rappers of the 21st Century.” -Phoenix New Times.

“Random’s proven he can excel in storytelling, punchlines, poignancy, freestyling and, well, pretty much any other way you can measure an MC.” – LA Weekly

Mega Ran, aka Raheem Jarbo of Philadelphia, is arguably the world’s most well known video-game influenced performance artist. Since signing an unprecedented licensing deal with international developer Capcom, the former teacher’s high-energy shows and fun, nerdy persona have led to world tours, festival and video game tournament performances, and a legion of smart art fans he calls “Team Mega.”

When LA Weekly said that Ran’s “fanbase and niche audiences are growing at a rate not seen since Tech N9ne,” they meant it. A former middle school teacher, Mega Ran (formerly Random) blends education, hip-hop and gaming in amazing new ways, penetrating the farthest reaches of the galaxy with his unique rhyme style and electric performances.

Ran cut his teeth in the city of Philadelphia as a moonlighting emcee and producer, performing, freestyle rapping, producing and later engineering at a studio. After relocating to Phoenix, competing in the Scribble Jam emcee battle championships and taking an early exit, Ran almost quit before he was even started, when a creative lightning bolt struck, and a fire was lit.

Retro video games were the catalyst. Random began the transformation into Mega Ran, his alter-ego, an ode to the classic video game character Mega Man. After creating a tribute album and receiving an unprecedented level of support and blessing from Capcom to continue, Ran was reborn and became a trailblazer in the budding nerdcore and chiptune subgenres, while coining his own term to describe what he had done Chip-Hop.

Mega Ran’s newest release RNDM debuted at #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, and ended the year 11th on CMJ’s Year End Hip Hop Chart, above Dr. Dre’s “Compton” and several other notable releases.

Various video game developer co-signs and admiration from the genre’s toughest critics have led to placements in TV, movies, university coursework and, of course, games. Random’s music and story have been shared on stages across the world, on television (ABC/NBC News, ESPN, Portlandia, Tosh.O, WWE Wrestling) and in leading music, gaming and tech publications, print and online.

Today, Random is no longer a teacher by title, but maintains a rigorous touring and recording schedule, traveling the world to entertain and educate through the gift of rhyme. With over 3 million YouTube views and “Team Mega” beside him, the future looks brighter than ever.

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