"Unknown from M.E."[1] is the theme song of Knuckles the Echidna[2] in the 1998 Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure. It is a rap song played during the end credits of Knuckles' campaign, and its instrumental is also played in some cut-scenes involving the character. A new version sporting a new beat and different lyrics also appeared in Sonic Adventure 2 alongside several new rap songs for the character such as "Kick the Rock!" and "A Ghost's Pumpkin Soup", while the instrumental of the original was later reused in Sonic and the Black Knight as Sir Gawain's theme (Knuckles' counterpart in this game's alternate reality). Although it has never been officially confirmed, the "M.E." in the title stands for "Master Emerald", an ancient and powerful artifact that Knuckles must protect.
The rap was performed by Dred Foxx in SA1 and Hunnid-P in SA2, with Marlon Saunders providing the second voice in both versions of the song (the second version reuses voice samples from the first). Contrary to popular belief and despite the song being "performed" by Knuckles, none of them are Knuckles' voice actor in those games (the credits go respectively to Michael McGaharn and Scott Dreier).
The first documented appearance of "Unknown from M.E." was February 22, 2016[3] on the defunct GiIvaSunner channel[4] in the form of "Unknown From M.E. - Sonic Adventure", a purposely bad redub of the rap that would eventually get reuploaded on SiIvaGunner on April 30, 2016. Its first appearance on the current SiIvaGunner channel however was with the rip "Unknown From M.E. (Instrumental) - Sonic Adventure 2", a mashup of the song's instrumental with "Greenhorn Forest" from Wario World published on April 22, 2016. The track would however only achieve meme status a month later on May 25 with the release of "Unknown from M.E. (OST Version) - Sonic Adventure", a word salad remix by Triple-Q which became very popular even outside the SiIvaGunner fandom, the rip currently being the 9th most viewed video on the channel with more than 600k views.
The track is actually thematically very close to DK Rap, both being arguably cheesy raps from the late 90's and earning their fame on the channel thanks to a word salad like "DK Rap (Unused Version) - Donkey Kong 64", although "Unknown from M.E." never spawn something as memetic as the Coconut Gun; the closest things would be "Oh no!", a poorly delivered line from Knuckles in Sonic Adventure (which notoriously had no directing) as well as "& Knuckles"[5], which were already popular in-jokes in the Sonic community and are sometimes associated to this song.
"Unknown from M.E." is frequently used alongside songs related to Maki Nishikino (most notably "Aishiteru Banzai!") as a reference to the "Maki is Knuckles" meme started by Triple-Q.
Lyrics[]
Click "Show lyrics" to see the lyrics.
Here I come - rougher than the rest of them
The best of them - tougher than leather
You can call me Knuckles - unlike Sonic, I don't chuckle
I'd rather flex my muscles
I'm hard as nails - it ain't hard to tell
I break 'em down whether they solid or frail
Unlike the rest, I'm independent
Since my first breath, first test
Feel the right, then the worst's left
Born on an island in the heavens
The blood of my ancestors flows inside me
My duty is to save the flower from evil deterioration - yeah
I will be the one to set your heart free true
Cleanse yourself with them evil spirits that's in you
Streaking lights, loud sounds, and instinct
Are the elements that keep me going
I am fighting my own mission
Nothin's gonna stand in my way
No, no
I will be the one to set your heart free true
Cleanse yourself with them evil spirits that's in you
Won't be frightened - I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
Just believe in myself - won't rely on others
Get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy
This is my planet - gonna fight for my destiny
Here I come - rougher than the rest of them
The best of them - tougher than leather
You can call me Knuckles - unlike Sonic, I don't chuckle
I'd rather flex my muscles
I'm hard as nails - it ain't hard to tell
I break 'em down whether they solid or frail
Unlike the rest, I'm independent
Since my first breath, first test
Feel the right, then the worst's left
I have no such things as weak spots
Don't approve of him, but gotta trust him
This alliance has a purpose
This partnership is only temporary - yeah
I will be the one to set your heart free true
Cleanse yourself of evil spirits that got in you
Won't be frightened - I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
Just believe in myself - won't rely on others
Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored
This is my planet - I shall not surrender
Won't be frightened - I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
Just believe in myself - won't rely on others
I get this power to wipe out the havoc and anarchy
This is my planet - gonna fight... I... (oh)
Won't be frightened - I'll stand up to all the pain and turmoil
Just believe in myself - won't rely on others
Freedom will be waiting when serenity is restored
This is my planet - I shall not surrender
Yeah
Shall not surrender - no
Yeah
Woo... Woo!
The new porcupine on the block with the buff chest
Outta wilderness, with the ruggedness
Knock-knock - it's Knuckles - the bloat thrower
Independent flower
Magical Emerald holder
Give you the coldest shoulder
My spike goes through boulders
That's why I stay a loner
I was born by myself
I don't need a posse - I get it on by myself
Adversaries get shelft
Right on
