Random

Random is the stage name of Rahim Jarbo, a Philadelphia-born rapper and producer also known as Mega Ran. He works in hip hop and nerdcore, and is also associated with chiptune and electronic music.

Music career

He begins releasing music in the early 2000s and is based in Phoenix after starting out in Philadelphia. His early work includes The Call, released in 2006 on RAHM Nation Recordings. The record helps establish him within underground hip hop and is used in university curriculum.

In 2007 he releases Mega Ran, a concept album built around the Mega Man video game character. The project combines hip hop with rock and other genres, and receives support from Capcom, the creators of the game. It brings him wider attention beyond his existing underground following.

He follows this with The 8th Day, a conceptual release that features guest appearances from Naledge of Kidz in the Hall, LMNO of the Visionaries and MC Frontalot. He also competes in the Scribble Jam MC Battle and is profiled by Blender Magazine.

Style and activities

Random is known for performing at both underground hip hop venues and anime conventions. Media coverage includes Wired Magazine, IGN and Complex Magazine. He is described as a 12-year rhyme veteran and uses creative storytelling and concept-based writing in his work.

Other artist using the name

The name Random has also been used by several other acts, including a Swedish chipmusic artist who begins making Game Boy-based music in 2004 and helps organise Stockholm's Microdisko, as well as bands and solo projects from Argentina, San Francisco, Australia, Austria, Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Minnesota, the Netherlands, Serbia, Italy and Taiwan.