Music

Mega Ran, Schaffer The Darklord

Mega RanSchaffer The Darklord

About Mega Ran, Schaffer The Darklord


Random, aka Mega Ran, Big Ran or Random Beats. Teacher, Rapper, Hero.

Random, aka Mega Ran. Teacher, Rapper, Hero. A 14-year music veteran, middle school teacher and videogame aficionado, Random's songs are filled with all of the heartache, pain, triumph, tragedy and fun that come with everyday living. A Philadelphia native and Phoenix transplant, graduate of Penn State University and former middle school instructor, Random speaks to the everyman, transcending race or class barriers."I never want anyone to predict my next move," he says. You can, however, expect the unexpected from Random, hence the name.

Random made waves by going way left of his backpack roots when he released "Mega Ran" in 2007. It was an album completely comprised of sampled 8-bit beats from the hit video game series "Mega Man." The album (and its follow up, Mega Ran 9) virtually exploded after video game corporation CAPCOM offered Random a special licensing agreement, and calling on Ran to perform at Comic-Con and other special events.

Random's unique combination of fantasy and true to life music has garnered him respect and admiration from the genre's toughest critics; Not many independent artists can boast having music utilized in television (TNA Wrestling, Portlandia), videogames (Rock Band, among others), movies, and university courses in several colleges in the US (Temple, Virginia Tech, Miami among others). Now that's Random.

Random's critically acclaimed projects as Mega Ran include FOREVER FAMICOM, a tribute to NES classics, and BLACK MATERIA, an album based on the music of hit Final Fantasy VII. Ran continues to reach new heights after video game corporation CAPCOM offered Random an exclusive licensing agreement, leading to movie, TV and game soundtrack placements and tours of the US, UK and Japan and more. Catch Ran on the front of leading hip-hop and gaming publications and sites, or at a show near you.

Today, Random is no longer a teacher by title, but still travels the world to entertain and educate through the gift of music. From the clubs and lounges to the packed comic and gaming conventions all over, Random's music has managed game and movie soundtrack placements and press coverage in Playstation Magazine, Wired Magazine, The Phoenix New Times, URB Magazine, Game Developer, Nintendo Power, and more.


Schaffer the Darklord? (or STD) is a New York City-based rapper and comedian with material best-suited for brainy and/or drug-addled audiences. With manic energy, verbose vocabulary and cartoonishly commanding stage presence, STD skewers such topics as hedonistic substance abuse, sexual compulsion, gender identity, urban anxiety and obsessive cat-enthusiasts. Imagine a Frankenstein-esque monster assembled from equal parts Bill Hicks, Eminem, Prince, Ozzy Osbourne and Darth Vader, stitched together inside the shell of a maniacal heavy metal ex-patriot. STD has released five full-length albums (2004's "Meet My Maker," 2007's "Mark of the Beast," 2009's "Manslaughterer," 2012's "Junk Drawer" and 2013's "Sick Passenger"), toured the country with such artists as MC Chris, MC Frontalot, Mega Ran and MC Lars and made multiple appearances on the Science Channel television program "Oddities." When he's not on the road, he emcees countless burlesque events and produces/co-hosts The Epic Piecast on the Nerdy Show Podcast Network. STD continues to write, record and perform with great frequency and has no intention of giving up until his masochist rock-n-roll lifestyle destroys him.

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