RJ Krohn, better known as producer-DJ RJD2, has been creating innovative music since 1993. Featuring a diverse mix of hip-hop, soul and rock influences in his songs, RJD2 has been able to connect with multiple audiences and gain a strong fan following over the years, including at Syracuse University’s 2010 MayFest. In January 2010, RJD2 released ‘The Colossus,’ his fourth and entirely self-produced studio album. Since then he has continued to record, tour and spread his music across the airwaves. Here, The Daily Orange chats with RJD2 about the new album, hip-hop and artistic vision.

The Daily Orange: ‘The Colossus’ was released last year. What was it like to produce, promote and release the album on your own label this time around?
RJ: It was a lot more work, but rewarding — I have no regrets. I didn’t expect this level of success. Going into this album, I was thinking it could be a nail in the coffin — you know, biting off more than I could chew. I wasn’t necessarily sure if this would chart and do as well as my previous albums.

DO: The music returns to your earlier style of sample-based beats. What inspired that decision?
RJ: The previous record, ‘The Third Hand,’ had more of a pop sound. That was the point, and it was refreshing to get away from sampling for a bit. I had hit a wall in terms of, you know, results versus effort. So this time around, I wouldn’t say that I returned to sampling as much as I incorporated it.

DO: How do you feel about the current trends in hip-hop — crossing genres, Auto-Tune, subject matter, etc.? How do these alter your approach to making music?
RJ: Honestly, the world of music is so fractured now … I don’t pay much attention to ‘hot’ trends. Because of what I do currently (with Soul Position), I have vested interests in soul and R&B music. Really, I exist in a post hip-hop time in which a lot of people have grown up on hip-hop, internalized it, and gone through a process of recognizing hip-hop’s DNA. Now the dividing line is blurred, and it’s hard to figure out hip-hop’s distinctions. I look at people like Just Blaze — a big influence of mine — who cross genres and push boundaries. I’m more concerned with how they achieve certain sounds. You know, from a technical, nuts-and-bolts perspective.

DO: Lots of people know you as the guy who did the ‘Mad Men’ theme song. How has that reputation or status changed your career?
RJ: It hasn’t, actually. I don’t remember the last time someone approached me like, ‘Hey, I heard about you through the ‘Mad Men’ theme song and I want to check out more of your stuff.’ Most of the time, people already know about my music. They recognize that the ‘Mad Men’ theme is just a part of my catalogue.

DO: Are you concerned with how musicians will make money in the future, considering the age of digital downloads and file-sharing?
RJ: I am getting concerned. … There are problems with monetizing online plays and collecting revenue. If we get to a point in the future where there’s no money to be made and people make music for art, then I’m cool with it. As in, ‘I’m gonna put my heart and soul into this, and if I make money, great.’ Making money off of art is not an inalienable right. But as soon as you cross into making art for money, then you’re heading down a slippery slope.

DO: Who’s your favorite MC right now?
RJ: Ludacris. He’s funny and prolific — a lot of content, and he’s on everyone’s tracks. Ludacris reminds me of older-school MCs like KRS-One and Pharoahe Monch — he’s hilarious and always maintains his sense of humor.

DO: What’s your favorite venue that you’ve performed at. Why?
RJ: The 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. It’s a big music club — great vibe, lots of different types of music.

DO: How do you feel about other DJs and producers using your beats to mash up songs and make remixes?
RJ: It’s fine, it’s cool — I really have no problem with it. In a sense, I feel like I’m still trying to make it, so it’s actually a bit surreal, the idea of young, upstart DJs and producers using my music as inspiration. It really puts into perspective just how fast the past 12 years of my career have gone by.

To see the rest of the interview with RJD2, go to dailyorange.com.

ajhaeder@syr.edu
 

Published on May 2, 2010 at 12:00 pm