the a.r.w. recommends: RJD2
Ramble John Krohn goes by the pseudonym RJD2 and he’s badass. Clearly influenced by DJ Shadow, RJD2’s first solo album was released in 2002. Dead Ringer is a genius mix of samples, hip hop, electronic and ambient music. The New York Times called Dead Ringer an “extraordinarily fluid, meticulous disc of instrumental hip-hop.” RJD2’s second album, Since We Last Spoke (2004), incorporated more of a rock flavor, and The Third Hand (2007) departed from sample-based hip hop/rock to feature RJD2’s own singing and musicianship. Originally, RJD2 was signed to Definitive Jux, an independent record label that hosts artists like Aesop Rock, Mr. Lif, El-P, Del the Funkee Homosapien and more. Recently however, he has joined forces with XL Recordings (Beck, Radiohead, M.I.A, and then some) to create a more poppy sound.
Places you may have heard RJD2? Prime, Wimbledon, CSI, and various skateboarding/snowboarding videos.
Specific tracks to check out? Ghostwriter, The Gentle Rain, and De l’alouette.
According to wikipedia, RJD2 currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
5 responses so far
God I saw him spin here in Salt Lake, and it was seriously amazing.
i’m jealous!!
You are totally going to get me hooked on this stuff and all of my redneck friends are going to disown me.
narm…would that really be so bad??
the gentle rain is basiclaly my life theme song… i play it allll the time !!