Random

Raheem Jarbo (born September 3, 1977), known as Random or Random Beats or Mega Ran is an American underground rapper and record producer.

Early life
Raheem Jarbo was born in Philadelphia to an American-born mother and African-born father. He has stated in interviews that he wrote his first rhyme in 1993 and began producing in 2000. After college, Random landed a job as an engineer in a Philadelphia studio, and recorded his first demo which caught the ear of Philadelphia emcee Ohene, who had created RAHM Nation Recordings as a home for creative hip-hop music.

Random resided in Philadelphia until a 2006 move to Phoenix, Arizona.

Education
Random holds a Bachelor's degree from Penn State University worked full-time as a special education teacher, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then as a middle school teacher in Phoenix, Arizona. Random maintained both a music and teaching career until 2009. Random's albums are currently being utilized in coursework at Penn State University, Temple University, and Virginia Tech among others.

Music
Random released his debut album, The Call, in 2006, but is noted for releasing an album called Mega Ran, a tribute to the Mega Man video game series in 2007. This album was also named "best of the year" from several sources and landed Random a licensing agreement with video game distributor Capcom and an opportunity to perform at the Capcom booth at Comic-Con in San Diego, CA. This album gained Random a fan base within the rising Nerdcore genre, as well as press coverage by Nintendo Power, IGN], Okayplayer, Complex Magazine, Exclaim Magazine, Blender Magazine and more.

In 2009 Random signed a one-album deal with River City Records in Japan and released an import-only album called Randomonium in May 2009.

In 2010 Random collaborated with producer K-Murdock of progressive hip-hop group Panacea and released "Forever Famicom," an album containing samples from video games from various publishers on the NES and Super NES consoles.

Video Games
After leaving teaching in 2009, Random began actively pursuing video game soundtrack placements, and landed his first in an iPhone game called "Caster." Random's song "Caster" is the opening theme song of version 2.

Shortly thereafter, Random teamed with Capcom once again to feature on a Hip-Hop alternate soundtrack to hit title Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Random appears on a song entitled "The Remainder is One." The album is available on Playstation Network and at [[Marvel Comics' website.

In 2009 and on, Random's work as Mega Ran has been featured in video game publications, such as Game Developer Magazine and the April 2010 issue of Nintendo Power Magazine.

Random has announced in 2011 that he will release an album based on the video game Final Fantasy VII.

Film and Television
Random's song "Grow Up" from the Mega Ran album plays during the end credits of Second Skin, an independent film which debuted at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas in 2008.

In 2010, Random's song "Splash Woman" played on episodes of TNA IMPACT!! and on the American Broadcasting Company special "The Ten Most Fascinating People in America" hosted by Barbara Walters.

Performances
Random has performed and collaborated with acts such as Common, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Little Brother, 88-Keys, Naledge of Kidz in the Hall, LMNO of The Visionaries, MC Frontalot, YTCracker and more, in venues across the United States and in the Bahamas. He has performed at the SXSW Music Festival in 2008 and 2010, and the Nerdapalooza festival in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Discography

 * 2006 - The Call (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2007 - Mega Ran (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2008 - Patches and Glue (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2008 - The 8th Day (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2009 - Mega Ran 9 (RAHM Nation, Capcom)


 * 2009 - TeacherRapperHero: The Random Mixtape (self-released)


 * 2009 - RANDOMONIUM (River City Records)


 * 2010 - Forever Famicom (Neosonic Productions)

Featured:


 * 2005 - "Beats & Rhymes" on The Chancellor (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2007 - "Gnosis" & "Faculty Meeting" on Legend of ... The Chancellor (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2007 - "No Grudge" on Nina Simone by ... Ohene (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2008 - "Don't Look Back" on Escape Plan (Deep Scene Productions)


 * 2008 - "Grown" on American Scholar (RAHM Nation Recordings, LLC)


 * 2009 - "The Remainder is One" on Marvel vs. Capcom Mixtape (Capcom)


 * 2010 - "To Whom Much is Given" on Back and Forth (Koyto Mixtapes)


 * 2010 - "Dustman" by MC Esoteric on "Fly Casualties"