Remember back in the golden years when your childhood was held captive at gunpoint by your addiction to the blue robot with a cannon for an arm? Well Random (or Mega Ran) steps into that robots shoes to help you relive the good ole’ days. He is accompanied by renown producer K-Murdock (of Panacea). Their mutual love for video games brought them together to create a link to the past with Forever Famicom. Who ever said you can’t relive those moments?
The feature that separates this album with any other is that the beats are composed of samples from your favorite NES games. They never failed to tantalize and engage your young soul into to them back then and, well, that much is probably still very much true. If there was anyone that could master this strange art, it would be K-Murdock. Naturally he creates magical landscapes with sounds that are usually out of the norm. They never run dry because they switch off in so many different forms, taking different twists and turns throughout.
Random (aka Mega Ran) paints a self portrait with vivid imagery of a past that a lot of us Hip-Hop junkies can probably relate to. I mean, for a lot of us, before it was about turn tables and mics, it was probably about joy sticks and D pads. Random definitely has a niche for story telling as he turns his memories into a side scrolling 2D video game that you can’t really go back on. You know, the Super Mario levels where for some reason the screen leaves you behind only to crush you with an invisible surface against some wall in a cavern. I guess that’s what it really means to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
My favorites from here would have to be those songs that just pull at the heart strings with what seems like hardly any effort. “Dream Master” uses a sample from the NES title Little Nemo: The Dream Master. The theme of alienation is explored by Random and even the game it is sampled from holds relevance as the main character proclaims to having never played with a girl in the game’s introduction. The beat will probably have you running to your closet to dig up that old NES for more.
[wpaudio url=”https://www.thewordisbond.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/03-Dream-Master-1.mp3″ text=”Mega-Ran – Dream Master (Prd. K-Murdock)” dl=”0″]
The song “Forever” begins with the opening theme from the classic role playing game Earthbound. Now i don’t know about you guys, but every time I heard this little tune i got all riled up for it. Also it’s very similar to the one from Zelda games, you know, when you found the hookshot or the boomerang? Yeah, that’s when i knew I had found stumbled across a real gem. The beat rides on smoothly and feels kind of like you’re bouncing on clouds in a catchy rhythm. Random reflects on his roots and how it has brought him to his current position. Emilie Bogrand does a fantastic job at singing the chorus as her voice serves as a force of gravity by bringing you back to earth while you slowly begin to doze off, spacing out to the melodic riffs.
[wpaudio url=”https://www.thewordisbond.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/02-Forever-1.mp3″ text=”Mega-Ran – Forever (Prd. K-Murdock)” dl=”0″]
“World Tree” picks up the pace, but maintains the same effect of the previously mentioned songs. The beat is fast paced until about halfway into the song where it gradually transitions and the keys are traded for the alluring voice of a woman that drops her pitch throughout her riff. The NES title, Faxanadu, is used as the sample. Random uses the world tree as a metaphor for Hip-Hop and tells the story of it’s growth from the roots up while Damu The Fudgemunk throws in his well placed scratches and voice cuts.
[wpaudio url=”https://www.thewordisbond.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/08-World-Tree-1.mp3″ text=”Mega-Ran – World Tree (Prd. K-Murdock)” dl=”0″]
Random carries a unique message with him in this album as well regarding video games. On “Drop The Load,” he goes on a somewhat humorous, yet, very true rant about the way the video game industry works nowadays. It’s not really one that would listen to on repeat because the last minute is, well, a rant. His very valid point is true not only about the video game industry, but arguably the music industry as well. “CONtact” is a list of tips for people to attend what are known as CONs. He definitely makes it sound intriguing. “For The Gamers” is just as the title implies. Int80 and Shaffer The Dark Lord have rock solid and powerfully delivered verses that come across and pull you right into the song.
If you’re looking for something fresh, different, and out of the norm you’ve found it right here. This album will appeal to a large audience including video game lovers, Hip-Hop lovers, and a entire generation of people who grew up in the early 90’s and 80’s playing their NES. In a era where society often places its preference in flashy aesthetics over actual quality, this album will likely be overlooked by the masses, but will definitely be treasured by those fortunate enough to have found it.
-Gerald
The Author
