RJR2 Interview!

Strictly For all the Nerd Hopers........Jokes aside,I'm open Minded,Check it
out!



RJ D2
Checking the Mainframe:

For the sake of recapping RJD2 is the man behind those funky remixes
of your favourite tunes on the Def Jux label. But wait, there is far more to
him than meets the ear so to speak, he is also an accomplished DJ and
general hard worker within the hip hop spectrum, not to mention hes
worked with some of the greats as far as the underground network of
rappers is concerned, and with the recent release of his debut album
RJD2 has been extensively touring the UK and Europe bringing his own
unique style of music with him, we managed to catch up with him for a
brief chat on what actually makes this droid tick…




So to start from the beginning, If you would like to say how you got
started as a dj and how did that lead you into the production side of
things that your doing now?

RJD2) Sure I started djing back in about 93 94, and got into producing
in about 96, I had always been into music and collecting vinyl from an
early age, so when I heard that a friend of mine was selling his
turntables along with his record collection I had some money saved
and I brought them of him as complete package because I needed the
turntables and I also need the records to further my own collection, So it
was about then that I got into djing just by having they chance to mess
about with them at home I got more and more interested in the scene,
So it was a natural progression which lead me into production, when I
brought my first sampler I found that making my own beats was much
more fun than any thing else that I had been doing up to that point, and
natural I progressed from that to what I am doing now which is making
and producing my own records.

After hearing the sort of music you make it you can tell that you use a
wide range of musical genres within in it, what would you say have been
your main influences?

RJD2) well to start with theirs the old skool rap crews like UTFO,
jazz Jeff and the fresh prince, beastie boys, Run Dmc, then there's stuff
like Michael Jackson, the Beatles, steveie wonder, straight through to
Nick Drake, and The Zombies, they have all influenced me in some way
with the hip hop music that I make, specially the sort of def jam era
because I started listening to rap music in the mid eighties that is where
I take most of my inspiration from because it was such a golden era in my
opinion, But really there is so much music that has influenced and its not
just hip hop any thing ranging from rock to pop or blues, any thing that
catches my attention really, and that has something to it which sets it
apart from the crowd so to speak, just good music in general really,

Obviously most people will be familiar with your production work but what
do you feel more comfortable doing the production side of things or the
DJing?

RJD2) I personally find that the production side is more of a priority to me,
the djing is fun but doesn't really compare to producing your own tracks,
the bottom line for me is, when your djing your djing, there is huge
limitations to what you can do compared to production, when I sit down
and make a track I don't really think too much about it, I try not to get
caught up in musical genres or anything like that, I just try and make my
self happy and do something that sounds good to myself, where as when
I'm djing I'm playing more for the crowds enjoyment , I see the djing as
more of an exstension of what I do…

So as far as the production goes what sort of equipment are you using,
is your studio based at home?

RJD2) Yeah I have a studio at home and right now I'm using an Mpc
2000 XL, I used an Mpc 2000 to make Deadringer, then earlier this
year I up graded to the XL, but apart from that its a pretty bare bones
operation really, I have turntables and a mixer, Sampler and a couple of
old key boards which I use from time to time, but other than that Ive got
a 24 track mixing desk with a few effects units, Which is all at my home
and that is where I do most of my work from…

So to bring us up to date you recently released the album "Deadringer",
what was your main driving force behind it?

RJD2) To be honest all I wanted to do was make good music, Hell,
I didn't think about a lot of stuff that I should have been thinking about
when I made it, But you know some times that's how the best things
come about, And with dead ringer I personally achieved that, it was a
lot of hard work but the final product was worth waiting for, I just wanted
to make something that was diverse and interesting with varied musical
content, the last thing I wanted to do was to make something that was
boring to the listener, I always try and make my music so that it holds
your attention and doesn't have a disposable feel to it, I want people to
be able to come back and listen to it time after time and find something
else within it and that's the most important thing to me…

You are signed to the independent label Def Jux could you tell us how
that all came about?

RJD2) I have been involved with Def Jux for about two years now and
through that time I have grown to be close with people within it like Lif,
El-p and aesop, I have spent a lot of time working with them and they
are a good source of inspiration to me, everyone involved with the label
is super nice and it's a great situation to be in, I get to make music with
like minded people and have fun at the same time I couldn't ask for more
personally it's a dream come true….

With that said is there any work in progress that we should be aware of?

RJD2) Erm yeah, Ive got a record coming out soon under the name of
Soul position, I do all the production on there and Bluprint who features
on deadringer is doing the mcing on it, and that's coming out later this
year probably in the fall, the other things I have been working on include
Aceyalones new album I done a couple of tracks with him and Ive also
been working on a new 12" by Chicago based rapper diverse, but apart
from that I don't think I'm going to do much else from now to the next
album but you never know..

You are on tour at the moment in the UK and Europe how are
you finding that?

RJD2) Its been great, people have been really responsive, And I have
been getting a good vibe from the venues that I have been playing,
I definitely don't have any complaints personally from touring just always
try and make the show as entertaining as possible for the audience, and
I am always try to take the shows to a different level at every gig I play,
It seems like every night I'm thinking about how to make the shows better
and more eye catching visually I want to get some big screens and video
cameras involved so that it is both stimulating to the eyes as well as the
ears,any thing really that can add to the set that I do now,,,

With that said what are people likely to see and hear when they come
and witness one of your live events?

RJD2) When I play live it involves 4 deck mixing so its essentially a DJ set,
but I think it's a little more intricate than just playing my favourite records or
putting on a load of party tunes You know what I mean" I'm trying to build
up the crowd with different sounds and styles of music, I try not to think
about what I'm going to do when I'm up there so that way it gives it more of
an experimental edge to it, and I hope that comes across to the crowd, plus
I want people to enjoy themselves and that's what really drives me as a DJ,,,

And finally are their any words of wisdom or mentions that you would
like to give?

RJD2) Id just like to say thanks to every body that has come out to the gigs
and supported myself and the def jux label in any way we really appreciate it.
And to the people that let me do what I do as a job it was a dream of mine to
do this as a child and now its some what of a reality so I'm just grateful that
people still buy records instead of just downloading S*£t off the internet,
Thanks….