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RJD2 Information
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'RJD2' is 'Ramble John Krohn', a hip hop music producer born in Eugene, Oregon, but raised in Columbus, Ohio. He is part of the Definitive Jux label and has produced tracks for many of its artists, as well as having a solo career. Along with the rapper Blueprint he is one half of the group Soul Position. They have released one EP and one album.
Biography
His first album, Deadringer, garnered huge critical attention, pushing him into the company of such esteemed producer/composers as DJ Shadow and Prefuse 73.
The reason behind Krohn's rising popularity lies in his tendency to forgo the traditional constraints of instrumental hip hop. His label (Def Jux) specialises in experimental and abstract acts, but Krohn's work began as an ultimately funkier form of music and then progressed in a more rock-based direction. Deadringer was widely perceived by everyone as an entirely enjoyable celebration of instrumental funk and soul with a little bit of hip hop (aided by Blueprint, Jakki and Copywrite) thrown in for good measure. As is often the case with instrumental hip hop, some of his songs have been put to commercial use in advertisements and TV shows. At this point, Krohn's work was comparable to DJ Shadow, but by 2004 his music had reached an entirely different direction with the album Since We Last Spoke. The work on this album was even more consistent than his first full lenghth release, though not as commercially praised. While 'Deadringer' was a tour de force of soul and funk powered by Krohn™s infectious style of boom bap hip hop, on 'Since We Last Spoke' his feelers are out, experimenting with everything from rock and grunge, to pop and new wave. In fact, he™s got everything but an emcee. As talented as the Def Jux affiliates are on the mic, many will argue that their inclusion on Deadringer put a damper on the cohesion of the album. The album's a completely MC-free affair, where RJ refuses to overtly place his hip-hop foot forward. 'Since We Last Spoke' bears only a passing resemblance to the straight-up hip hop that the scene is used to. Look to RJD2 to push boundaries and defy expectations.
Discography
Albums
* Your Face Or Your Kneecaps (2001)
* Deadringer (2002)
* Loose Ends (2003)
* Since We Last Spoke (2004)
* Constant Elevation (2005)
* In Rare Form Unreleased Instrumentals (2005)
EPs
* The Horror (2003)
Singles
* "Rain"
* "Let The Good Times Roll"
* "June"
* "Through the Walls"
* "Ghostwriter"
Collaborations
*Pryor Convictions - The Dirty Birds (RJD2 & Poppa Hop)
*Unlimited EP - Soul Position (Rjd2 & Blueprint) (2002)
*8,000,000 Stories'' - Soul Position (Rjd2 & Blueprint) (2003)
Appearances
* 27 June 2004 Played a livemix at The Breezeblock at BBC Radio 1
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