Showing posts with label RJD2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RJD2. Show all posts
RJD2's Glow remixes
The Candy Panther remix is cruising around in bell bottoms smacking asses on a sunny day.
01-12-10 RJD2, The Constellations, Dope Sandwich @ Livewire
Wow. Tuesday's are usually reserved for hard chilling, or maybe the occasional foray down to Hip Hop Night at the Jinx. But last night was something special. RJD2, The Constellations (ATL), Dope Sandwich (SAV), and Happy Chichester (who I actually didn't see because I got there late, and I think his set time got bumped up at the last minute).
As I approached, I could hear the "Beautiful Mine" aka that RJ Beat used for the Mad Men theme. His live set was off the chain. It combined turntables, a beat machine, sampler and live instruments. The end result was powerful - all the awesomeness of RJD2 without the constraints of simple sequencer patterns or a DJ set.
Here's his rendition of "Ghostwriter" off Deadringer.
After he finished his set, by which time Livewire was packed to the gills and everybody was feeling good, the action shifted upstairs, where local hip hop group The Union of Sacred Monsters killed a fast and furious set mixing a couple new tracks with some old favorites. They also handed out 5 track sampler CDs with a few new joints off their upcoming album. Nice.
Like a couple of true gentlemen, USM wrapped just in time for The Constellations, an Atlanta-based group that I was unfamiliar with until last night, but who were impressive. (Their video is coming soon. I didn't have time to edit it yet.) They were a 6 or 7 piece band that was so deep they even had girls in mini-skirts singing back up and shaking tambourines. Their sound was a mix between 70s jam session super groups and early 90s grunge. Definitely keep an eye out for them in the future. They seemed to have a good time, and I think they'll be back once they finish the tour with RJ.
If you missed the video last week for RJ's new video "Let There Be Horns" - you should check it out.
As I approached, I could hear the "Beautiful Mine" aka that RJ Beat used for the Mad Men theme. His live set was off the chain. It combined turntables, a beat machine, sampler and live instruments. The end result was powerful - all the awesomeness of RJD2 without the constraints of simple sequencer patterns or a DJ set.
Here's his rendition of "Ghostwriter" off Deadringer.
After he finished his set, by which time Livewire was packed to the gills and everybody was feeling good, the action shifted upstairs, where local hip hop group The Union of Sacred Monsters killed a fast and furious set mixing a couple new tracks with some old favorites. They also handed out 5 track sampler CDs with a few new joints off their upcoming album. Nice.
Like a couple of true gentlemen, USM wrapped just in time for The Constellations, an Atlanta-based group that I was unfamiliar with until last night, but who were impressive. (Their video is coming soon. I didn't have time to edit it yet.) They were a 6 or 7 piece band that was so deep they even had girls in mini-skirts singing back up and shaking tambourines. Their sound was a mix between 70s jam session super groups and early 90s grunge. Definitely keep an eye out for them in the future. They seemed to have a good time, and I think they'll be back once they finish the tour with RJ.
If you missed the video last week for RJ's new video "Let There Be Horns" - you should check it out.
Video: Let There Be Horns
RJD2's new video for "Let There Be Horns" is ridiculous. Talk about flipping 'horns' - it's got a day in the life of a Minotaur. The sound is some classic RJD2.
If you're in Savannah, the man himself will be at Livewire on Tues. Jan. 12. I heard the venue doesn't have any more tickets, but there are still a couple available online through their website.
If you're in Savannah, the man himself will be at Livewire on Tues. Jan. 12. I heard the venue doesn't have any more tickets, but there are still a couple available online through their website.
New RJD2
Check out this new track from RJD2 called "Games You Can Win".
This new track is interesting. For those hoping for something reminiscent of Deadringer's sample-blasted hip hop instrumentals, this is not that. With each album, he's kind of hinted at moving in this direction, more of a funky, mid-to-late 70s aesthetic blended with some electronic and pop all jumbled on top of his well-crafted drum tracks. "Games You Can Win" is the most successful attempt at achieving that to date.
If you were worried, after listening to "Games" that he might have gone soft and sentimental during his sabbatical, don't worry. The album's opening cut, "Let There Be Horns" is classic, booming RJD2. The third track "Giant Squid" is ridiculous. Proggy, funk fusion that will peel a layer of dirt off your brain. Pounding breaks, Gentle Giant interludes, and a Tubular Bells-esque feel to some of the instrumentation.
Wow. I'm not going to go through the whole album track by track, but let me tell you this much, this album is gonna be a pretty big deal. The further into the album it gets, the bigger it gets. There are some well-chosen cameos, and the whole thing goes in a direction similar to Mark Ronson's Version chock full of this chopped up feel-good soul vibe with tight arrangements and nice vocal collabos. Just wait until you hear "The Shining Path" and "Crumbs off the Table". You'll be excited.
The new album, Colossus will be out January 19 on his new label, RJ's Electrical Connection.
If you're interested, you should go read this message from him that I posted a while back where he explained his whereabouts, and starting his new label.
A message from RJD2
This was delivered via electronic mail last week. A message from RJD2 (via his publicist), a friendly note to say hello, because he seems to have been away for quite a while. The last thing I remember from him was the project with Aceyalone that was dope.
Dude's got style.
Now he's got his own label. Nice work. Here is what he has to say:
Dude's got style.
Now he's got his own label. Nice work. Here is what he has to say:
I’ve had a busy year, and have waited what seems like an eternity to talk about this stuff. I wanted to have a little music to put on the table as well, so you don’t think im just some windbag that’s wasting your time blabbing away left and right. So much has changed in the last 12 months, so lets just get to the point:
After much legwork/lawyer hours/busting ass, I announce to you that I have started my own record label, RJ’S ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, and the first signing is…….RJD2!!! I am now a free agent, working for myself. Been a long time coming, and it is truly one of the most exciting moments of my career. The hardcore completionists out there may know that I have previously done some “smaller” releases on my own, under the label Bustown Pride. That was small peanuts; this time out, I have FULL worldwide distribution through The Orchard (world digital, US physical), and !K7 everywhere outside of the US (physical). Furthermore, I also have acquired the first 3 RJD2 releases for my label; my first 3 babies-Dead Ringer, The Horror EP, and Since We Last Spoke. But that’s not all….
This past Tuesday (technically today, as I write this at 11:30pm; running a label is no joke!) saw the first ever digital release of 3 cds of b-sides and rarities I had previously released on Bustown Pride: Your Face Or Your Kneecaps, In Rare Form, and Things Go Better Instrumentals. Your Face Or Your Kneecaps also features 2 brand-new, previously unreleased tracks, as a bonus. But wait, there’s more….
On October 20, there will be the release of a box set commemorating close to 10 years in the game: RJD2 2002-2010. A strictly vinyl affair, it will include full length LP versions of Dead Ringer, The Horror EP (first time on vinyl!), Since We Last Spoke, The Tin Foil Hat EP (a BRAND NEW EP of 7 unreleased songs!), a hand silk screened, signed and numbered poster, a download card for exclusive treats, plus a beautifully printed box.
Oh, and lastly, my new album is done. I know I said before it would be out in 2009-you did know I meant FISCAL year, not CALENDAR YEAR, right? You wouldn’t want me to rush this out all willy-nilly, would you? good, I didn’t think so.
One last thing before I go; just to be forthright, this is only a portion of what I’ve got lined up for you. I have been SERIOUSLY busy in the last 2 years; and very little of it has to do with twittering. At the risk of sounding all corny, I feel the need to say something that’s important to me: I’ve realized recently that I do music, make records, LISTEN to records, tour, and generally hole myself up in the studio because I love it, not cause its my job. Its become as natural as breathing, and keeps me sane-most of the time. Im much more concerned with making a timeless record, than with how to sell a record nowadays. Also, if you don’t see me posting left and right on whatever the most current social networking site is, its not cause I don’t like being social, its cause I feel like our time on earth is very very short, and that the most I have to offer this planet in my little window of time here is through the vessel of music. I would rather leave behind something you can hopefully use a little more than an update on my belly button lint. Hopefully, a catalog that speaks more volumes than all the blogs I could possibly write in a hundred years.
Alright, that’s it for the moment. What are you doing here? Mad Men is back!
-rj
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