RJD2 - new album coming up Jan 19th

While we're all eagerly anticipating the release of his 4th studio album "The Colossus", the guys at Motherboard.tv sent some stoner down to Phillie to hang out with Ramble John Krohn aka RJD2 (one of my personal fav's) at his place for a lesson in cobbler-making and an even more exciting tour of his sweeeeeet home studio, filled with vintage awesomeness. The dude was definitely paying more attention to the cobbler.






Here's what RJD2 had to say about his new album:

"10 years! My god, that is a LIFETIME! I cant believe I have been making records on a national level for 10 years. In 1999, I was just making these little beats in my bedroom for release on an independent label. Fast forward to 2009, and I'm... making these little beats in my bedroom for release on an independent label. Okay, to be fair, some things have changed — a bigger studio, I OWN the studio, I OWN the independent label, and instead of driving 10 blocks to a gig in my hometown, I fly 10 hours to a gig in another country. But when it all comes down to its most basic level, the goal is still the same — to make a piece of music that is going to hopefully rearrange your brain, or at least provide some relief from real life for a moment or two.
As The Third Hand was my first TRULY solo album, with NO guest performances whatsoever, I decided to do the opposite of sorts this time — an album that is as collaborative as possible, an overview of all the different types of working approaches Ive used over the years. Some songs are strictly sample-based; some are live; some songs are completely instrumental while others are vocal songs , some have guest vocalists, a few songs I sing myself; and I brought a few rappers on board. As this was all tracked at the same time and in the same place, it has a nice cohesive feel to it, but retains the diversity throughout that I think has become a trademark. It features Phonte Coleman (Little Brother, Foreign Exchange), Kenna (Star Trak, VA Beach), Aaron Livingston (The Roots Guns Are Drawn), Columbus MCs The Catalyst, Illogic, and NP, and a slew of instrumentalists. And I think I can safely say this is the most sonically lush and varied record Ive ever created. The album also marks my debut behind the drum kit (Games You Can Win,The Shining Path, Tin Flower,Gypsy Caravan,Walk With Me). Save for A Sons Cycle which features MCs, all songs were written and arranged by myself. When my instincts were telling me that something like horns, flute, or mandolin were needed, I hit the Rolodex. Same goes for the execution of vocals — if a songs vision was something I couldnt pull off myself, I went on the hunt for the right person to pull it off. Id rather not spend time describing the music, but I honestly do feel that this album is a kaleidoscopic look forward, as well as back."


Visit RJD2's website to pre-order his upcoming album AND for a chance to win limited edition packages, tickets to his shows and a private DJ lesson with the man himself. How cool is that?!

A sneak peek into the album's first release:

RJD2 - Games That Can Be Won (feat. Kenna)