Joined by pals like G. Love & Particular Sauce, JER (Skatune Community), New York Brass (Kanye West, Jay Z, Eminem), Stacked Like Pancakes, Whitney Peyton, Kadesh Move, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, and extra, Mega Ran delivers a next-generation document for the following technology, giving the youngsters of at the moment and tomorrow one thing just a little extra up to date than, say, “Apples and Bananas” (as made well-liked within the ’80s and ’90s by the likes of Raffi and Barney) – although for his half, Mega Ran (actual identify Raheem Jarbo) does reference Raffi in his rap’s first verse, giving credit score the place credit score is due: “Shout out to Raffi, go the opples and bononos!“

“I name our child Buddy. He actually loves fruit and attempting new fruits,” Mega Ran tells Atwood Journal. “One time we have been at a restaurant, and so they introduced a fruit tray. It had a bunch of fruit that he hadn’t tried earlier than. I wasn’t positive if he was gonna like this, however he noticed the blueberries and went loopy. Ever since then, I’ll simply strive any fruit with him and see what occurs. He’s by no means turned down a fruit. My son jumps round a lot. His favourite fruit was blueberries, then strawberries and proper now he’s all in regards to the peaches. He’s completely loopy about fruits. So with each meal, I be certain he’s received fruit. I used to be explaining this to another person, and I used to be like, “if he might speak, he’d say ‘gimme the fruit!’ ” That’s when the concept for the music took place.”

“There’s an previous Infamous B.I.G. music referred to as “Gimme the Loot.” I assumed that was a Buddy take to name the music “Gimme the Fruit.” He’s considered one of my favorites, very influential to me in model and storytelling. I bear in mind leaving class early in highschool when his first album got here out, simply to go get it from the document retailer. Again when albums got here out on Tuesdays. My pal James and I ran residence to hearken to it on my stereo. I bear in mind my mouth extensive open the entire time. I used to be like, “Oh my gosh, did he simply say that? Oh, my God, I swear these beats are loopy.” I used to be blown away by that complete album. I nonetheless assume he’s one of many best to ever do it. So anytime I might pay just a little homage again in a enjoyable approach. I used to be gonna try this.”

“I began writing the music on Twitch, making the beat stay. Individuals have been actually into it. I used to be similar to, “Alright, that is the place it’s gonna go. We’re gonna create a fruit music. It’s gonna be foolish, nevertheless it’s gonna be plenty of enjoyable.” I made the beat and wrote the primary verse whereas on that stream. It was a enjoyable expertise. I’m actually massive on percussion and making fascinating percussion layers. Not only a kick, snare, increase, increase, bap. There’s some clapping that occurs all through the music and I spent plenty of time layering these claps and panning them in order that they’d sound like they have been coming from completely different locations in your audio system. I don’t even know if that comes by means of within the closing combine, however I spent plenty of time on these very minute particulars of manufacturing. I at all times need one thing that’s going to sound fascinating to me. Most listeners in all probability received’t even get it, however I undoubtedly spent a ridiculous period of time layering and panning these claps. 60% on the left on this aspect. 30% for the following one within the middle. I needed it to sound like this was an immersive expertise. I do get some music-nerd followers who will inform me, “Oh man, I actually like what you probably did with that.” However primarily, I’m simply attempting to impress myself after I put these collectively.”

Good for my soul,
I can use that
Put it in my water infuse that
Put it in yogurt enhance that
You don’t like fruit gotta transfer again
How might you not?
A lot selection, contemporary out the field
So many meals; I put fruit on the high
As soon as I get some, I simply can’t cease
Eh eh

Hey hey hey, gonna inform ya what I would like
Imma go on the sweet trigger I don’t need the sweets,
It’s the one kinda salad that I at all times wanna eat
Gimme an F
Gimme an R
Gimme a U
And an I and a T

Really, it is a candy and foolish two-and-a-half minute music with a deep groove and phenomenal move.

Philadelphia rapper Whitney Peyton even joins Mega Ran for a verse of her personal, indulging in just a little wordplay as she provides her personal taste to the succulent celebration. “Tomato, tamah-to, simply give ’em to me. Potato, potahto… wait that’s a veggie, however I’d take all of them for those who let me,” she raps.

Is tomato a fruit? Yup it has seeds
Tomato, tamah-to, just give ’em to me
Potato, potato? … wait that’s a veggie
However i’d take all of them if you let me
Cherries, berries, lemons too
Pears? who cares
Simply gimme the fruit!
Cherries, berries, lemons too
Pears? who cares
Simply gimme the fruit!

“Working with Whitney Peyton once more was nice,” Mega Ran shares. “We’d simply come off touring collectively after I began penning this music. She’d advised me that she’d achieved some youngsters’s work earlier than. She does a bunch of stuff with cheerleading squads. She was a cheerleader. We began having conversations about youngsters’s music and she or he stated that that is undoubtedly inside the wheelhouse. It was fascinating to get her aspect of issues and her connection to youngsters’s music. That’s what led to me getting her concerned within the music. I did a music on her album that we carried out on the street lots. This was the proper music for me to get the favor repaid. I used to be like, “You do like fruit, proper?” She’s like, “Yeah!” And I used to be like, “Okay, cuz you gotta be actually severe about fruit to jot down a music about it.” She was a terrific sport, and she or he did a terrific job.”

“We shot the video in Queens whereas we have been on tour,” he provides. “We received permission to shoot at just a little bodega fruit market on the nook. We have been having plenty of enjoyable there, and perhaps we have been pushing the boundaries of what was allowed by the top. We requested them if we might get behind the counter and fake like we have been testing one another’s orders. Like I’m the employee and also you convey your meals as much as me. We have been doing that, and we’re yelling and singing, individuals are coming within the retailer to purchase stuff. Persons are getting confused and I’m like, “Oh, I don’t truly work right here. Sorry, I can’t assist you.” Then one of many employees stated, “Hey, man. Our supervisor is watching on the cameras, and he doesn’t like this. So that you guys are gonna need to go.” So we go away, stroll just a little additional down, and discover this juicing, smoothie place. We purchased a bunch of fruit to take to this smoothie place. So now the storyline is that we’re taking our fruit in in order that they will make it juice after which we’ll convey it again out.”

“‘Gimme the Loot’ from Biggie is about robbing folks, taking issues from folks. And the ‘gimme’ in “Gimme the Fruit” is such a robust phrase. It’s like, “GIVE IT TO ME!” [laughs] You recognize you really need it. We needed to create a secret covert ops mission, like we have been going to get the fruit. Then, we’re going to take it to the juicer, and we’re going to stroll out with smoothies. Our tour supervisor was within the black van simply sitting ready for us, not wanting suspicious in any respect. [laughs] He’s simply sitting on the nook. We advised him to placed on darkish sun shades and get in your mobile phone such as you’re telling folks, “okay, go go go now go now!” He’s the person within the truck in these Mission Unattainable films. We end up with Whitney standing on the door of the juice bar. I come out with the 2 juices and I hand them to her. Mission achieved!

My favourite fruit varies, however mango is clutch, my man! I’ve by no means had a nasty mango. Typically I like watermelon, typically a superb orange. Strawberries are nice, however mango is primary for me. I simply discovered methods to slice a mango this yr. I like going to New York the place you possibly can simply get a mango on the road and anyone will simply lower it up for you. I needed to look on YouTube to discover ways to truly lower a mango. It’s only a bizarre formed factor. As soon as I figured that out… Oooooh, I could make it look fairly. It’s virtually too good to eat, however I’ll destroy a mango.”

Hey hey hey, gonna inform ya what I would like
Imma go on the sweet trigger I don’t need the sweets,
It’s the one kinda salad that I at all times wanna eat
Gimme an F gimme an R
Gimme a U and an I and a T

Gimme the fruit….
Gimme the fruit….
Peaches, plums, cherries grapes, Honey dew
Watermelons, mangos, kiwi too
In a bowl, in a juice even prunes!

Wait – that ain’t true
Something however a prune
I actually don’t like prunes.

“Gimme the Fruit” follows this yr’s earlier singles “The Story of Rap” – which feels significantly well timed, given 2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop – and “Recess,” a ska tune full of fireside and vibrant vitality. Mega Ran calls it considered one of his favourite songs on the brand new document.

“I needed one thing form of upbeat and enjoyable, just a little foolish,” he smiles. “This music encapsulates the entire album for me. Not being afraid to be just a little foolish about one thing that you just love, and being keen about it. It’s the stuff that I used to be working away from after I first began making the album. Then I spotted, no, this has received to be enjoyable! And if it’s going to be enjoyable, then it must be one thing you actually imagine in, one thing I really love. So why not fruit? Eat extra fruit? Yeah.”

Buddy’s Magic Toy Field is out September 15. For now, get down with the sweetness and stream Mega Ran’s “Gimme the Fruit” (that includes Whitney Peyton) solely on Atwood Journal!

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