RJD2

RJD2
RJD2 performing at Moogfest in 2014
RJD2 performing at Moogfest in 2014
Background information
Birth nameRamble Jon Krohn
Also known as
  • RJ
  • The Insane Warrior
Born (1976-05-27) May 27, 1976 (age 48)
Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
OriginColumbus, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Music producer
  • DJ
Years active1993–present
Labels
Websitewww.rjd2.net

Ramble Jon Krohn[3] (born May 27, 1976),[4] better known by his stage name RJD2, is an American musician and record producer based in Columbus, Ohio.[5] He is the owner of record label RJ's Electrical Connections.[6] He has been a member of groups such as Soul Position,[7] MHz Legacy,[8] and Icebird.[9] His stage name derives from the popular Star Wars droid R2-D2.[10]

Life and career

Born in Eugene, Oregon,[11] Krohn was raised in Columbus, Ohio.[12] He began making music in 1993.[13]

In 2002, RJD2 signed to El-P's record label Definitive Jux and released his debut solo studio album, Deadringer, to much acclaim.[14] RJD2 later collaborated with rapper Blueprint under the name Soul Position, releasing 8 Million Stories on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2003.[15]

He released his second solo studio album, Since We Last Spoke, on Definitive Jux in 2004.[16] Soul Position's second album, Things Go Better with RJ and AL, was released in 2006 under Rhymesayers Entertainment.[17] 2006 also saw the release of Magnificent City, his collaborative album with rapper Aceyalone.[18] Magnificent City includes "A Beautiful Mine", which features in the title sequence of Mad Men.[19]

In 2007, RJD2 released the solo studio album, The Third Hand, on XL Recordings.[20] In 2010, he released his fourth solo studio album, The Colossus, on his own label RJ's Electrical Connections.[21] In 2011, he released the album, We Are the Doorways, under the pseudonym The Insane Warrior.[22]

RJD2 formed Icebird with Aaron Livingston, vocalist of a Philadelphia-based band called The Mean.[23] The duo's debut album, The Abandoned Lullaby, was released in 2011.[24] In 2013, RJD2 released his fifth solo studio album, More Is Than Isn't, on RJ's Electrical Connections.[25]

In 2015, RJD2 released a collaborative album with rapper STS, titled STS x RJD2.[26] His sixth solo studio album, Dame Fortune, was released in 2016.[27]

In 2020, he released his seventh solo studio album, The Fun Ones, on RJ's Electrical Connections.[28] It features guest appearances from Aceyalone, Homeboy Sandman, Jordan Brown, Khari Mateen, and STS.[29]

He released a course on sampling and arranging, RJD2: From Samples to Songs, with online music school Soundfly on July 27, 2021.[30]

Discography

See also: MHz Legacy discography and Soul Position discography
RJD2 in 2007

Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • In Rare Form: Unreleased Instrumentals (2004)
  • The Third Hand Instrumentals (2007)
  • Inversions of the Colossus (2010)
  • In Rare Form, Vol. 2 (2018)

Mix albums

  • Your Face or Your Kneecaps (2001)
  • Loose Ends (2003)
  • Lobster and Scrimp (2003)
  • Constant Elevation (2005)

EPs

  • Pryor Convictions (2000) (with Poppa Hop, as The Dirty Birds)
  • The Horror (2003)
  • The Mashed Up Mixes (2004)
  • Tin Foil Hat (2009)
  • The Glow Remixes (2011)

Singles

  • "June" / "The Proxy" (2001)
  • "Rain" / "Find You Out" (2002)
  • "Here's What's Left" (2002)
  • "Let the Good Times Roll" (2002)
  • "The Horror" / "Final Frontier (Remix)" (2003)
  • "Sell the World" / "Ghostwriter (Remix)" (2003)
  • "1976" (2004)
  • "Through the Walls" (2004)
  • "Exotic Talk" (2004)
  • "Fire" (2005) (with Aceyalone)
  • "Superhero" (2006) (with Aceyalone)
  • "You Never Had It So Good" (2007)
  • "No Helmet Up Indianola" (2020)

Guest appearances

Productions

References

  1. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (May 15, 2004). "Hip-Hop Review; Dissolving the Border Between CD and Live". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Faraone, Chris (May 6, 2008). "Experiment illness – RJD2 at Paradise Rock Club, May 3, 2008". The Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Jurgensen, John (January 15, 2010). "Beyond the 'Mad Men' Sound – The theme song's creator releases a genre-bending album". The Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ Spano, Charles. "Rjd2 – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  5. ^ Gensler, Andy (April 7, 2016). "RJD2 Explains Losing and Winning With 'Mad Men,' the Licensing Inspiration of His New Record". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  6. ^ Coplan, Chris (January 4, 2011). "RJD2 drops free remix EP, announces Insane Warrior album and more". Consequence of Sound.
  7. ^ Chennault, Sam (October 23, 2002). "Soul Position: Unlimited EP". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ Eddy, Lincoln (February 13, 2013). "Resurrecting a MHz Legacy: RJD2 and Tage Future chase inspiration in "Out of Room"". Alarm.
  9. ^ Coplan, Chris (August 1, 2011). "RJD2 and Aaron Livingston form Icebird, ready debut album". Consequence of Sound.
  10. ^ Watercutter, Angela (October 10, 2011). "Building a Modular Synth With RJD2". Wired. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  11. ^ Notman, Alex (May 13, 2014). "Dub Ball Recap: Medium Troy, Devin the Dude, RJD2 and more". Eugene Weekly. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  12. ^ Dominic, Anthony (May 2014). "Editors' Picks the Best of the City this Month". Columbus Monthly.
  13. ^ Peck, Jamie (February 20, 2014). "Daily 5: Creed Bratton at Webster Hall, La Soiree Burlesque in Union Square, More". Newyork.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  14. ^ Reyneke, David (April 23, 2013). "Our 12 Favorite Definitive Jux Albums (4/5)". Potholes in My Blog.
  15. ^ Rabin, Nathan (November 11, 2003). "8 Million Stories". The A.V. Club.
  16. ^ Heaton, Dave (May 25, 2004). "Rjd2: Since We Last Spoke". PopMatters.
  17. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 3, 2006). "Soul Position: Things Go Better With RJ and Al". Pitchfork.
  18. ^ Adams, Erik (March 27, 2013). "Untangling the threads of the Mad Men theme". The A.V. Club.
  19. ^ DeVille, Chris (February 19, 2014). "Beck Turned Down Multiple Offers To Write The Mad Men Theme". Stereogum.
  20. ^ Harris, Keith (March 15, 2007). "RJD2, 'The Third Hand' (XL)". Spin.
  21. ^ Sisson, Patrick (January 18, 2010). "RJD2: The Colossus". Pitchfork.
  22. ^ Schiller, Mike (February 28, 2011). "The Insane Warrior: We Are the Doorways". PopMatters.
  23. ^ Amorosi, A.D. (December 26, 2012). "RJD2/Icebird". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015.
  24. ^ Curtin, Kevin (January 17, 2012). "Traveling at Different Speeds: An Interview with Icebird's RJD2". PopMatters.
  25. ^ McCurry, Francisco (November 21, 2013). "RJD2 – More Is Than Isn't". Potholes in My Blog.
  26. ^ Newman, Jason (April 8, 2015). "RJD2 Plots 'Soulful' New Album With Philly Rapper STS". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  27. ^ Peters, Taylor (January 6, 2016). "RJD2 announces Dame Fortune, shares track". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  28. ^ Minsker, Evan (February 19, 2020). "RJD2 Announces New Album The Fun Ones, Shares Song". Pitchfork.
  29. ^ Blistein, Jon (February 19, 2020). "RJD2 Returns With the Funk on New Song 'Pull Up on Love'". Rolling Stone.
  30. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Hip-Hop Innovator RJD2 And Online Music School Soundfly Team Up To Release New Music Course". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
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