Phoenix, AZ – For nearly two decades, Phoenix-based rapper Mega Ran has taken the scenic route through hip-hop — from dusty comic shops and gaming conventions to classrooms, tour vans, and festival stages. Now, that long grind has reached a new milestone:
Mega Ran is officially a Grammy nominee.
The rapper—born Raheem Jarbo—has earned a nomination at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in the category of Best Children’s Music Album for his 2025 project “Buddy’s Magic Tree House.” (Wikipedia)
For a guy who once rapped in the deepest corners of nerdcore and built a global fanbase off video game and anime-inspired bars, this nomination is proof of what persistence, reinvention, and heart can do.
Cue up the victory theme from Mega Man.
From Nerdcore Corners to the Grammy Stage
Mega Ran first made his name as a nerdcore trailblazer, turning classic video games and geek culture into smart, emotionally grounded hip-hop. Over time, he stacked accolades, including a Guinness World Record and Billboard-charting releases, while touring the world and collaborating with artists in Phoenix and beyond. (MEGA RAN)
But his latest chapter has taken him somewhere new: into the world of children’s music.
In 2023, he released his first kids’ album, “Buddy’s Magic Toy Box,” a project inspired by the child he and his wife fostered and later adopted. (Mega Ran) That album set the stage for the follow-up: “Buddy’s Magic Tree House,” a 14-track record that dropped on June 27, 2025, and leans fully into playful storytelling, emotional growth, and lessons for young listeners. (Apple Music – Web Player)
Phoenix New Times described the project as a continued departure from the nerdcore material that defined his first 18 years in rap, noting how the new music focuses on topics like bullies, friendship, and everyday kid struggles instead of video game lore. (Phoenix New Times)
The Grammy Category: Who He’s Up Against
Mega Ran’s Best Children’s Music Album nomination puts him in a seriously competitive field. For the 2026 Grammys, the nominees in the category are: (Wikipedia)
- Mega Ran – Buddy’s Magic Tree House
- Tori Amos – The Music of Tori Amos and the Muses
- Flor Bromley – Herstory
- FYÜTCH & Aura V – Harmony
- Joanie Leeds & Joya – Ageless: 100 Years Young
It’s a mix of legends (Tori Amos), respected children’s music veterans (Joanie Leeds), and innovative family artists like FYÜTCH and Flor Bromley. Mega Ran enters that lineup as the wild card: a former teacher and nerdcore emcee who brought his skills into a new lane and nailed it.
According to the Recording Academy’s own artist page, this is Mega Ran’s first Grammy nomination. (GRAMMY.com)
A Personal Note: Watching the Grind Pay Off
Here at Habari Entertainment, this story hits a little closer to home.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Mega Ran back when I worked with Danyo Hoyer on the Danyo & Tita Podcast. At the time, he was working with the Rappers Guild, and even then, it was clear he wasn’t just another local rapper trying to catch a buzz—he was a craftsman.
He’s always been a great rhymer, able to move through all types of styles and adapt to any beat or theme without losing who he is. Seeing his career continue to evolve—from nerdcore to children’s music, from small crowds to Grammy recognition—has been one of those rare joys you get from watching real talent stay the course.
Mega Ran is the epitome of dedication and drive. It’s been a pleasure to see his career prosper, and this nomination feels like a win not just for him, but for every independent artist who kept going when the rooms were half empty.
Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the “Buddy” Universe
The heart of “Buddy’s Magic Tree House” is family.
The album, like its predecessor “Buddy’s Magic Toy Box,” is inspired by the journey Ran and his wife took through foster parenting and adoption. “Buddy” is the nickname of their son, whose growth and everyday life became the emotional engine for both projects. (KJZZ)
In interviews, Mega Ran has discussed using music to navigate things that every parent and kid recognizes: brushing teeth, dealing with bullies, making friends, and processing big emotions. (Phoenix New Times)
He’s even joked that one of the songs exists purely because Buddy hates brushing his teeth—and that putting the track on makes at least half of that two-minute battle a little easier. (Phoenix New Times)
Musically, the album isn’t just simple kiddie tunes. It’s full of bouncy beats, clever rhymes, and big imagination, with a production palette that swings between hip-hop, pop, ska, R&B, and more. (Constant Contact)
Phoenix on the Grammy Map
Mega Ran’s nomination isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s another chapter in a long story of Phoenix-connected artists making noise at the Grammys.
A few notable names:
- Stevie Nicks – Born in Phoenix, she’s a Grammy-winning legend for her work with Fleetwood Mac (Rumours won Album of the Year in 1978) and a multiple-time nominee as a solo artist. (GRAMMY.com)
- Dom Flemons – Born in Phoenix, he co-founded Carolina Chocolate Drops; their album Genuine Negro Jig won the Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2011. (Med City Beat)
- Lewis Nash – A South Phoenix-raised jazz drummer, Nash has played on numerous Grammy-winning albums, contributing to award-winning vocal and instrumental jazz projects. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV))
- Charles Bruffy & Phoenix Chorale – Phoenix Chorale’s conductor, Charles Bruffy, has earned multiple Grammy awards, including a win for Best Choral Performance, lending the Valley serious classical and choral credibility on the national stage. (AZCentral)
This list isn’t exhaustive—depending on how you count producers, engineers, and backing musicians, the number of Grammy-winning artists with Phoenix roots grows quickly. But it’s clear that Phoenix is no stranger to the Grammy conversation, and Mega Ran now stands firmly in that lineage.
His nomination adds a new twist: a nerdcore-raised, children’s music-powered story that feels uniquely modern and deeply local at the same time.
“Absolutely Unbelievable”: Mega Ran Reacts
On Instagram and Kickstarter updates, Ran has been open about how overwhelming this moment feels:
“Almost 20 years of making music. Countless verses, van rides, lesson plans, late rent payments, conventions and crowds in the single digits … And now… a GRAMMY nomination. I’m honestly floored.” (Phoenix New Times)
He’s also taken time to thank his wife, his son Buddy, his engineers and producers, and every listener who supported this creative pivot into children’s music. (Phoenix New Times)
What This Moment Means
Whether or not “Buddy’s Magic Tree House” wins on February 1, 2026, the nomination itself already lands like a victory:
- It validates nearly two decades of independent grind.
- It shows that nerdcore, boom-bap, and family music can coexist in the same artist.
- It puts Phoenix back on the Grammy radar in a big way.
For Habari Entertainment, for Phoenix hip-hop, and for independent artists everywhere, Mega Ran’s Grammy nod is proof that you can stay true to yourself, evolve, and still end up on the biggest stage in music.
Teacher. Rapper. Hero. DJ. Author. Father.
And now: Grammy-nominated artist.
We’ll be watching when the Grammys go live in Los Angeles—rooting for Buddy’s dad from right here in the Valley.
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