Aug 11, 2021
Super Smack & Mega Ran’s new single“BXG” is one not to ignore
Hip-hop artist Super Smack and Mega Ran are both known for telling stories through lyrics. As first time collaborators, these artist united to speak about two topics we all have seen in the media recently. If you have scrolled through social media, most likely you have seen the hashtags #BLM or #AAPI trending and people from all backgrounds speaking about both matters.
With such a pivotal moment in society, Super Smack and Mega Ran sat down one day and had a conversation about these movements being more than a hashtag and the true importance of speaking about these topics and coming together to spread unity.
When listening to “Black X Gold” the instrumental is very fun and from my perspective invites the listener in and that immediately captured my attention!
I had the pleasure of speaking to Super Smack and asking him questions behind the process, what is next with his music career, and learned more about his inspirations. Read below to tap into Super Smacks story.
1. Q: Medium- What inspired the meaning behind BXG?
A: SMACK- Earlier this year, Mega Ran and I were getting lunch in Phoenix and we started talking about #BlackLivesMatter and #StopAsianHate. It was awesome that these movements were growing, but we felt like something was missing from the discourse online. Not alot of people were talking about the ways that Black and Asian American experiences actually intertwine, the tensions that exist in some places, and also the opportunities for real solidarity between our communities. We wanted to say something about this. We felt like we could make one of the first songs, in hip-hop and in music more broadly, to tackle it. So we teamed up. That’s BXG.
2. Q: Medium- How did you and Mega Ran meet? Was this your first time working on a project together?
A: SMACK- This is our first time collaborating. We met at SXSW in Austin in March 2019. Ran was playing a dope DJ set and I was getting ready to perform at the Nerdcore Dayz showcase produced by DJ Rockman. We got introduced after the show and I fan-boy’d a bit haha — I think I confessed that his song “Dreamcatcher” was the first rap track to make me cry (his origin story of being an outcast-turned-hero really resonated). He saw my set and I’m pretty sure I made him crack up during my song “Sandra Bullock” with a punchline about Chauncey Billups. A couple months later I opened for him at Brooklyn Comic Con and we’ve stayed in touch ever since.
3. Q: Medium- I know you are Asian-American. How do you incorporate your heritage into your music?
A: SMACK- Growing up (and I don’t know if this is a Filipino thing or just my family thing, probably a bit of both!) live music was a part of every family gathering. So whenever I’d see my aunts and uncles, they’d always ask me or my sister or one of my cousins to sing or dance or play our instruments. I loved always performing, and it was such a big part of our culture to value music and entertainment. At the same time, I grew up as an American and I feel like alot of American culture is about speaking your mind. I think hip-hop music, and the African-American artists who shaped it, totally embody this “If you’ve got something to say, pick up a mic and say it” vibe. So being an Asian-American rap artist now is my way of mixing what I got from my Filipino family and my American culture — speaking my mind and entertaining at the same time.
4. Q: Medium- What artist either mainstream or underground inspire you today?
A: SMACK- Janelle Monae. Ever since I saw her video for “Many Moons” I’ve been so inspired by her power, style, and imagination — she comes up with these fantastic otherworldly concepts and just transports you there. She also has this ability to bake complex themes and narratives into her lyrics, while also making a track with so much pop accessibility and danceability. I love that and that’s a big goal of mine too. I’m also a huge sci-fi nerd and a dancer, so yeah she freaking rocks.
5. Q: Medium- From listening to BXG, I caught myself grooving to the beat. When I played it a second time, I listened to the lyrics more in depth and truly loved the overall message! Please tell the readers what are some of your favorite lyrics in this song?
A: SMACK- Thanks so much, that was exactly our goal! Even though the subject matter might be “serious”, we wanted to make the song groove and bop. That was really important, to make it uplifting and hopeful, not a downer.
One of my favorite lyrics is from the final verse: “If you’re traumatized, don’t forget to cry / It’s quite natural to feel desensitized.” This is as much a reminder for myself as anyone else. Don’t let the waves of bad news turn you cold, keep your warm heart beating because that’s what’ll get us through it.
I also like during the second verse when we both say together “Rest in peace. Vicha Ratanapakdee”. It’s so simple but it means so much to me. A lot of Asian-Americans feel that our struggles don’t get visibility, and that erasure can be painful. Vicha was killed on the street in broad daylight in 2021 because he looked like how my family looks. Getting to put his name into a song — — “Hey, remember this man. Do not forget his name.” — That’s special.
6. Q: Medium- Do you see yourself creating more songs with a message like this in the future? What can we expect from you moving forward?
A: SMACK- Absolutely. I’ve actually got three projects in the works right now, each with its own message and groove. The first is a lo-fi EP called NEON BLUE where I get to be a bit more chill but also introspective- that one comes out in the Fall. The second is a mixtape I’m dropping in the Winter, which is gonna be super fun and boppy. And the third is my debut full-length album, which I’m not sharing much details on quite yet, but couldn’t be more excited more excited about.
Mega Ran has a new album called Live ’95 which just smashed its Kickstarter goal by over $10,000. It comes out in the Fall and I’m crazy hype for it.
7. Q: Medium- Do you all plan on releasing any more collaborations in the future?
A: SMACK- We haven’t talked about it yet, but it could happen!
8. Q: Medium- Please attach your social links so our readers can follow you!
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