This may be a somewhat hastily-conceived notion, but DJ RJD2 might be the best thing to happen to the ever-expanding genre in years. He may be even the way to bridge that widening gap between the terminally unhip and old-fashioned instrument players (read: music snobs), and the countless DJs also slaving at their craft and bringing their own variety of musical influences into it all. Ramble (as people call him) is no exception.
The man is truly a diverse musician who explores nearly every conceivable musical classification — from jazz to trip-hop, from 80′s synth tinkery to film scores and soundtracks, from country licks to stand-up comic bits, he always manages to make it all blend together perfectly. And RJ’s worked hard to get this far, beginning nearly 20 years ago, steadily climbing his way to the top of that mountainous pile. From the jazzed-out funk of soul of “Here and Now” to the Kill Bill-worthy, exploitation film-soundtrack reverberations of “Take the Picture Off”, should you talk to anyone worth their weight in music criticism, you’ll hear nothing but the best about the guy.
Clever, diverse, and lending that certain undefinable, sprawling epic-ness to his mish-mashes, RJD2 is ahead of the game. Recently Ramble sat down and chatted with ChinaShop about his history, his influences, and how he’s gotten so far.
