Another M
Sammus
2014
Another M is a seven-track ep that retells the story of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran from the classic Nintendo game Metroid as she is imagined by producer, rapper, and feminist warrior Sammus.
Using the vehicle of self-produced hip hop beats inspired by the game’s soundtrack in combination with heartfelt lyrics and delivery, Sammus takes listeners on a journey from Samus’ lonely childhood with the Chozo race to her epic battle against the evil Mother Brain.
So, why devote an ep to Samus? What is the connection between a space-traveling bounty hunter and a rapper and producer from upstate New York?
For the uninitiated, Samus Aran’s identity remains a secret for the entirety of the original Metroid game and only upon beating the game’s boss, Mother Brain, is it revealed that underneath the armor stands a beautiful woman in unapologetic glory. For many male and female gamers, young Sammus included, this revelation marked a critical shift in their assumptions about gender in games and the world more generally. In similar ways Sammus challenges gender stereotypes — in her case those related to her prowess as a producer. In addition, young Sammus found in video games a welcome escape from everyday life, so much so that her eventual identity as a producer emerged from a desire to craft music for video games.
Whether the extra M stands for melanin, or musician, Another M serves as a tribute to one of many exceptional women who first taught Sammus to dream.
Stand-Out Tracks
Cybernetic Armor
Crown
Power-Ups
