Shortly after Raheem “Random Beats” Jarbo made a name for himself in the concious hip-hop scene with 2006′s “The Call,” he found himself gaining popularity in the nerdcore scene after releasing “Mega Ran,” which featured him rapping over 8-bit beats.
Fan demand was enough to spur a sequel, “Mega Ran 9,” available as a free download. We got ahold of him and, as always, we begin by asking him to introduce himself.
Random: Okay. Well, the name is Raheem, aka Random, aka Mega Ran. Mild mannered teacher by day, nerd and hip-hop fanatic by night.
Kwanzoo: How long have you been in underground hip-hop?
Random: Performing or being a fan of it?
Kwanzoo: First one, then the other.
Random: I’ve been performing since about 2000. Recorded my first (horrible) song on a 4-track recorder at my mom’s house in about 1995. It was all for fun until people kept convincing me to take it beyond the bedroom.
I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember. Even while my friends were huge fans of the commercially successful artists (sorry Hammer), I was always into the lesser-heralded guys … one of my all time faves is Chubb Rock, who has one huge mainstream hit (Treat em Right), but that’s probably my least favorite song by him.
Kwanzoo: You’ve got an album coming out now pretty much entirely based on Mega Man, but what were the first songs about?
Random: Originally, I preferred to rap about what most rappers rapped about; themselves. I just talked about being the best, being the freshest, the flyest, etc.
Eventually I grew out of that and into what’s called ‘conscious hip hop.’ I just feel like the art of MCing is a gift, and so you shouldnt waste too much time using a gift to boast. But dont get me wrong, I love freestyles and shredding opposing rappers too.
Kwanzoo: Do you remember who convinced you to take it out of the bedroom?
Random: Well, there were a number of people, but the most influential was one of my good friends from the block, Chris. Chris introduced me to one of his friends, Red, who had a studio. Red introduced me to Ali, who had a studio but needed an engineer. Ali hired me as an in-house producer and engineer, and that allowed me to record my demo during down time. That got me connected to RAHM Nation Recordings.
And nowadays, Chris is a super dope graphic designer who did the artwork on my album “Patches and Glue.”
Kwanzoo: How did the Mega Ran persona come about?
Random: I really don’t know, Matthew. It was all destined, I believe.
I was always a huge gamer, and I loved the Mega Man series. but I never thought about combining that with my love for hip-hop … until one day when I was surfing the net, and came across some mp3′s of old VG tunes. And when I heard Mega Man 2′s music, I got really nostalgic.
Something—I dont know what—gave me the idea to sample one of the tunes, Woodman’s Stage, and work on a song to it.
Kwanzoo: (That was a good one.)
Random: Yes, one of my faves. And once that worked out, I heard another tune that I thought would work as a hip-hop track. And another, and another, and before I knew it, I had an entire album’s worth of ideas … so Mega Ran was born.
Most of my friends thought I was crazy when I came to them with that idea … and I probably was. It was very risky considering what I had accomplished up to that point.
Kwanzoo: You risked blowing your credibility?
Random: Yes, somewhat … in hip hop, your reputation is pretty much everything. I had just done a soulful, political album (The Call) and had gotten some very good feedback on it. Most people were expecting me to repeat the formula, but I went WAY left field on this one.
Turned out that many of the people who I thought would turn their back on me embraced their nerdiness with open arms.
I had to ask myself, “Would I really be RANDOM if I did what everyone expected me to do?” I like for each album to have a separate mood … so for that time period I felt like a video game geek.
Kwanzoo: When you made that album, had you heard of the other artists out there calling themselves “nerdcore”?
Random: No, I hadn’t. all of that was new to me. I did however, hear YTCracker’s phenomenal “Nerdrap Entertainment System” album, and I must say that was the first time I had gotten the idea for rapping over 8-bit beats. I credit YTC for planting the seed back in 2005.
I started searching the net for video game hip hop and VG cover bands and realized that there was a huge network of people who liked the same stuff that I did … it was great. and they instantly welcomed me with open arms and i’m very grateful to the nerdcore community.
Kwanzoo: Kind of a side question, but have you been over to OverclockedRemix?
Random: Yes. I believe that I first ran into them while doing research on the Mega Ran album. There are some incredible musicians over at OC Remix, and I’m extremely proud of them and the job they did on the Super Street Fighter HD Remix Soundtrack.
In fact, I collaborated with 2 OCR producers on Mega Ran 9, Mutherpluckin’ B who helped with Boss Battle: Jewel Man and Shadix on the remix of Splash Woman.
Kwanzoo: As a musician, what appeals to you in these old 8-bit songs? I don’t know much about old Capcom development, but I’ve read the people who composed them, pushing those anemic chips to their limit, didn’t even get their real names in the credits.
Random: That’s what appeals to me … the fact they worked with so little and made so much happen.
It’s amazing that those compositions were so good 15 years ago that I can still use them today and make stuff that sounds decent.
I guess its because i was brought up on it … the 8 bit sound defines my childhood. I guess I’m trying to stay young 
Kwanzoo: The Woodman theme is the one that became “Grow Up“, right?
Random: Yes. That was the song that scared me the most; because it was poppy, it was fast, and that i had liked it!
Again, that was some of my own insecurities coming out. I would be very selective of which venues i would perform “Grow Up” at.
Kwanzoo: It seems to have become a pretty solid part of your lineup, since you’ve got back to Mega Man for a new album.
Random: Yes … well, this one was for the fans.
I constantly get asked about doing another … so I thought about it. Then i found myself as a finalist for an Online Hip Hop Awards, and I said that if I had won, I would work on a Mega Ran sequel. I didn’t win … but it wasn’t because of a lack of fan support.
Kwanzoo: How do you feel about it now? It seems like a lot of people who do nerd stuff, music or otherwise, have to struggle to just come out and say “Yeah, I like this stuff,” like someone’s about to jump out of a locker and give them a wedgie.
Random: Very true … I feel great about it. I’m so glad to be free. It’s a wonderful feeling. I get especially pleased when people who are typical undergroud hip hop heads can appreciate Mega Ran, or when a nerdcore fan compliments me on non-Mega Ran work.
Kwanzoo: You’re a school teacher by day, right? What do your students think of your music?
Random: They love it. I try to incorporate my music into lesson plans as much as I can. They see the videos and hear the voice and immediately say “that’s not you!”
I give them CDs when they’re good, bribes work!
Kwanzoo: So, are you associated with Capcom now? I wasn’t sure if they had a hand in the new album.
Random: I’m officially licensed by Capcom. that all came about last year, when a film director wanted to use “Grow Up” on a soundtrack.
Not creatively or anything, but they have promised their support and have been very helpful.
Kwanzoo: Is Mega Man 9 insanely hard or was I just better at video games in 6th grade?
Random: I think its a little of both! I mean, i don’t know how my hand-eye coordination has fallen off so bad … but that game is virtually impossible.
I’ve developed a strategy for it. It’s called the ‘try and die.’
Kwanzoo: I loaded it up today and couldn’t even take Splash Woman. Though I might have felt kind of bad about it after hearing the song.
Random: That’s funny. I get that way once in a while. Splash Woman was extremely hard, but once I got through that stage, I breezed through the rest … till Dr. Wily’s stage.
Kwanzoo: I choose to blame the Xbox 360′s d-pad. But anyway.
Kwanzoo: What’s going to be next for you as far as hip-hop goes?
Random: Well, I made a promise (I’m not too good at keeping those) that I would stay away from releasing anything else in 2009 … just wanted to work on building up the brand and securing some business deals … but …
In the midst of that, I’m in talks with a few labels—in Japan, ironically—who want to release some music sometime in the future.
No set date for those moves, but the immediate present is Mega Ran 9. So far the feedback has been astounding, and the numbers equally baffling. It’s at 800 downloads in its first 24 hours.
Last one did about 2000 in 10 days until I killed the link, but this one looks like it’ll smash that. I guess the demand was there. the people have spoken … or something.
Kwanzoo: How long will it remain free?
Random: I haven’t thought of that. I mean, at this point I can’t stop it. I can kill my original link, but it’s in like 15 places now.
So I’ll let it go up until the album hits Amazon, iTunes and the like. Expected date for that is March 24.
Kwanzoo: Who are you talking to in Japan, if you don’t mind me asking?
Random: GoonTrax, Hydeout, and River City … any ring a bell? I’m not much of a follower. I hadn’t heard much about them, but RC put out an incredible album by 1773 a while back and I really dug that one.
So it’s all about whoever’s talking the right language at this point. They all seem to be comfortable with me being Random, which is awesome. I’ve always had a dream of rereleasing my first album The Call if a label could do it the right way … maybe …
Kwanzoo: I’ve never heard of 1773, actually.
Random: Ah … http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=11787070
Kwanzoo: If it works out, you could unironically say you’re big in Japan.
Random: Absolutely! Looking forward to that moment. It’ll be my Facebook status update message
Kwanzoo: Doing any upcoming live shows?
Random: Yes, I just confirmed a show on Feb 11 with Mickey Factz; he was just on the cover of XXL as a part of the ’09 Freshman class … should be a great show.
After that, I have a short Spring Break tour through the south— hitting Orlando, Daytona, Jacksonville and Atlanta March 16-21, then ending it all at the granddaddy of them all, SXSW in Austin.
Kwanzoo: You’re based in Arizona, right?
Random: Yes, I am. I moved here from Philly in 2006. Had enough of the cold winters … now it’s sunny everyday. But I’ll always love Philly and it’ll always be home.
Kwanzoo: Now that you’ve done a politically conscious hip-hop album and a hip-hop album about a blue robot, what’s in store for future tracks?
Random: Well, the next step was The 8th Day, which released on 8/8/08, and had more of a futuristic feel. It was a concept record about Hip Hop being in a post apocalyptic state. It was more experimental than anything I had done … so now that I’ve conqured that hurdle, I honestly don’t know what’s next.
I mean, I’m random in more ways than one. I could wake up tomorrow and get an idea to do a country album. I really don’t know the next move.
I am, however, working on an EP with my longtime friend and colleague DN3, tentatively titled “The RandomBeagle Show,” named after our podcast we record … periodically.
I have a lot of ideas in my head, but I never really know which one will stick. So in the meantime, go dig up The Call, Mega Ran, Patches and Glue, The 8th Day and Mega Ran 9 … and by the time you get through all that, I’ll have something new for ya.
Kwanzoo: Heh. Fair enough.
I’d like to ask you something I asked MC Frontalot when he talked with us:
Random: Okay, shoot.
Kwanzoo: What’s your take on the whole nerdcore thing? On the surface it people nerding out over nerdy hobbies, but it also seems like people banding up in a way that cuts across usual divides, in a way I can’t quite get at.
Random: Well, I don’t know … I told another interviewer that I think there are some extremely talented artists within the nerdcore ranks, and some really bad ones … but the good ones are so good that I’d put them up against anyone that does ‘traditional’ hip hop.
People look at nerdcore as a novelty act and think it’s making fun of ‘real hip hop.’ But it’s not. It’s just people speaking on what they know. We’re the same critics who would get mad at them if they came out rapping about killing and getting all the girls, when they don’t. Nerdcore is ‘keepin’ it real’ at its best.
My problem with it is some of the sound quality issues. I think if you want to be a serious musician, talent aside, you have to be willing to work, and even spend money to get a good sound. if you’re not willing to do that then it’s just a hobby.
Kwanzoo: As opposed to, say, a $20 headphone mic from Radio Shack?
Random: Absolutely. I know people who record through the headphone mic, so I can’t speak too much on it.
Here’s a good barometer to knowing whether or not you suck: if no one ever offers you any free services (beats, guest spots, studio time) you should probably keep your day job.
Kwanzoo: It kind of seems like the same Sturgeon’s Law you get with everything, though: 90% of everything is crap.
Random: Absolutely. except when you’re referring to Simpsons episodes.
Kwanzoo: Well, they’re still putting them out. They might hit it yet.
Random: True … I really think they need to let the show go out gracefully rather than die a painful death like so many of my favorites … I really think that Matt Groening must’ve sold his soul or something … nothing can stay funny for 20 years.
Kwanzoo: I don’t think he’s involved anymore, but hey, Futurama was good.
Then they cancelled it.
Random: Yes … it just didnt have the magic touch. I havent seen them all, so I occasionally catch a new one in syndication.
Kwanzoo: Anything you want to say before we wrap up?
Random: Um … yes. To anyone who’s curious, go to www.megaran.com/sounds and get a few of the Mega Ran 9 tracks. If you haven’t even played Mega Man 9, I feel sorry for your mother. This is Random— I teach kids, I rock the mic, and I’m kinda good at both of those things. Other than that, I’m just a regular guy.
Gotta thank Kwanzoo for this cool opportunity. I’m on Kwanzoo! Sorry, got excited.
And also my mom, who’s gonna be celebrating her 59th b-day on Valentine’s Day. Love ya.
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