RJD2

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]

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
Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
OriginColumbus, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Music producer
  • DJ
Years active1993–present
Labels
Websitewww.rjd2.net

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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