RJD2 Deadringer CD

Continues to stride toward really being definitive in the catalog of independent hip-hop.

His debut LP for Definitive Jux, DJ/producer RJD2's DEAD RINGER is a deeply creative and musically poignant hip-hop record for summer 2002. Creating a raging underground listenership from a series of 45s and white labels and being the only non-MC signed to Def Jux, RJD2's talent as a DJ and as producer, to match beats and lay cult/pop gems over dusty soul tracks, is paralleled only by people like DJ Shadow and Z-Trip. However, his ability to record and marry MCs to his primarily instrumental and sample-based style is evidenced in outstanding tracks with Copywrite and Blueprint as well as his legacy with the MHz crew; at the end of the day that puts our man from Ohio ahead of his primarily one-dimensional peer group. This set will stand out as monumental for Definitive Jux, who with their first record outside of the New York MC box continues to stride toward really being definitive in their roster and catalog of independent hip-hop.

Recording information: Deathtrap; Intalec's.

Arranger: Rjd2.

Personnel includes: RJD2, Blueprint, Jakki, Copywrite.

Audio Mixers: Jon Chinn; Rjd2.

Rolling Stone (9/19/02, p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...RJD2 takes a brooding cinemascope approach to hip-hop that is undeniably influenced by DJ Shadow's ENDTRODUCING..."
Spin (1/03, p.72) - Ranked #31 on Spin's list of 2002's "Albums of the Year"
Spin (10/02, p.118) - 9 out of 10 - "...The kind of raw funk breaks that most groove merchants only dream of uncovering...a trip straight to your heart..."
Uncut (9/02, p.116) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "One for discerning beat-heads..."
CMJ (7/29/02, p.12) - "You know that feeling you get when you hear a perfect song?...well, brace yourself, because you're about to feel like that for a whole damn album."
NME (Magazine) (8/17/02, p.34) - 8 out of 10 - "...DEAD RINGER is singular because of the way the samples are assembled with a love and musicality...Better still, RJD2 works over the soundscapes with cartoon scratching and joyful guest raps..."