RJD2 | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Ramble Jon Krohn |
Also known as |
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Born | Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | May 27, 1976
Origin | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 1993–present |
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Website | www |
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]
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]
Jaime Meline, better known by the stage name El-P, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a driving force in alternative hip hop since the mid-1990s, producing for rappers including Aesop Rock, Cage, and Mr. Lif. He was a member of The Weathermen and is the co-founder, owner, and CEO of the Definitive Jux record label.
Jeffrey Michael Haynes, better known by his stage name Mr. Lif, is an American rapper from Boston, Massachusetts. While being praised because of his political lyrics, he has released two studio albums on Definitive Jux and one on Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. Mr. Lif is also a member of the hip hop group The Perceptionists with long-time friends and collaborators Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One.
Theodore Arrington III, better known by his stage name Vast Aire, is an American rapper from New York City. He is one half of the New York hip hop duo Cannibal Ox, which consists of him and fellow rapper Vordul Mega. He is also a member of the rap group Atoms Family and Scienceninjateam. He was born in Mount Vernon, New York, then lived in Jamaica, Queens before moving to Harlem, and became acquainted with the underground rap scene, performing in many clubs while still a teenager. He was once a part of the underground hip hop group The Weathermen.then went on to record with Al Babblez and the group scienceninjateam until kicked from the group.
Deadringer is the debut studio album by RJD2. It was released on Definitive Jux on July 23, 2002. It features vocal contributions from Blueprint, Jakki da Motamouth, and Copywrite. Some editions include a hidden song on the last track, titled "Here's What's Left." The album was reissued in 2009 with two additional tracks.
Edwin Maximilian "Eddie" Hayes, Jr., better known by his stage name Aceyalone, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California, United States. He is a member of Freestyle Fellowship, Haiku D'Etat and The A-Team. He is also a co-founder of Project Blowed. Aceyalone is best known for his role in evolving left-field hip-hop on the West Coast at a time when the West Coast was dominated by gangsta rap.
Forgotten Freshness Volume 4 is a rarities album by American hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. It features rare and unreleased tracks recorded throughout the group's career. It also came with a bonus compilation album of all of the Insane Clown Posse's yearly Hallowicked song releases, titled Hallowicked Compilation. The album is unique for having a pumpkin scent to its discs, matching the Hallowicked theme. It is the group's 4th installment in the "Forgotten Freshness album series", their 6th compilation album, and their 21st overall release.
Robert Smith, better known by his stage name Rob Sonic, is an American rapper and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He has been a member of the groups Sonic Sum and Hail Mary Mallon. He is a founder of the record label Skypimps Music.
The Horror is an EP by RJD2. It was released on Definitive Jux on February 11, 2003.
Soul Position is an American alternative hip hop duo hailing from Columbus, Ohio. It consists of DJ/producer RJD2 and rapper Blueprint. The duo has released two albums and one EP on Rhymesayers Entertainment.
The Weathermen was an American hip hop production group, formed in 1998 in Middletown, New York, composed of East Coast rappers and producers Cage Kennylz and Masai Bey, until further expanded into a rap group, and included; Aesop Rock, Tame One, Yak Ballz, El-P, Jakki Tha Motamouth, Camu Tao, Copywrite, Vast Aire, and Breeze Brewin. The group took its name from the revolutionary organization Weather Underground, and its debut album was to be called The New Left.
Magnificent City is a full American studio album by American rapper Aceyalone, accompanied by American hip hop producer RJD2. It was released on Decon and Project Blowed in 2006. It peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 43 on the Independent Albums chart.
Tero Smith, better known by his stage name Camu Tao, was an American rapper, singer, and producer.
Kenny Jenkins, better known by his stage name Diverse, is an American rapper. An underground hip hop artist, he has received critical acclaim "from knowledgeable heads worldwide".
The following is an incomplete discography for Definitive Jux, an independent hip hop record label based in New York City, United States. Artists such as El-P, Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox, Mr. Lif, RJD2, and Cage have released records through Definitive Jux.
Grand Imperial is a mixtape by American rapper Aceyalone, released on Project Blowed and Decon in 2006.
Decon is a New York–based creative studio that houses production, creative, strategy, and music divisions. The company creates campaigns on behalf of brands and advertising agencies.
The Colossus is the fourth studio album by RJD2. It was released on RJ's Electrical Connections on January 19, 2010. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, number 4 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and number 25 on the Independent Albums chart.
Albert Andrew Shepard,, better known by his stage name Blueprint, is an American rapper and record producer from Columbus, Ohio. He is a founder of Weightless Recordings.
The Fun Ones is the seventh studio album by American musician RJD2. It was released on April 17, 2020, through RJ's Electrical Connections, with distribution via The Orchard. It features guest appearances from Aceyalone, Homeboy Sandman, Jordan Brown, Khari Mateen and STS.