From 1998 to 1999, he saw success blossom as DJ/producer for the Columbus-based group the Megahertz, with two twelve-inch singles on Bobbito Garcia's legendary NY label, Fondle 'Em Records. This explosive entrance to the underground hip-hop scene gave way to shows from Europe to Japan, not to mention garnering mention in Vibe magazine's "History of Hip-Hop" historical volume. Opening doors outside of the east coast, the MHz went on to appear on the Bay Area's ABB records compilation, Always Bigger and Better, Volume 1. Their contribution (entitled "This Year") was voted best track on the ABB website, while competing against major label heavyweights such as Dilated Peoples and Defari.
In 2000, the praise only continued for RJD2, producing Copywrite's debut single "Holier Than Thou" on Rawkus Records. The work certainly didn't stop there; spring of 2001 was RJD2's formal introduction to hip-hop as a solo artist on Def Jux Presents, a compilation showcasing the roster of his record label, Definitive Jux Records. Having to hold his own next to NYC underground legends such as Company Flow, Cannibal Ox, and Aesop Rock, RJD2 did no less. That summer he followed up this string of releases with his own twelve inch entitled June, which featured fellow MHz member Copywrite laying down two incredible book-end verses. Melding the hip-hop tradition of raw, gritty samples with a more classical approach to song structure, he has concocted a style of production that pleases the most discerning hip-hop scholar without compromising that old dance floor aesthetic.
2002 saw RJD2 release the critically acclaimed debut Dead Ringer, which not only solidified his spot as one of the underground's top producers, but also caught the ears of Grammy-man ?uestlove of The Roots who called the album one of his favorites of the year. Not to mention even landing the track Ghost Writer in a Saturn ad, with juggling solo ventures, producing rappers, and DeeJaying, the man is certainly in the hot seat at the moment. It has been said by many legendary producers that the ultimate goal is to move a crowd-not just to dance, but sometimes also to feel and think. In this vein, RJD2 is only continuing a time-honored tradition.
In 2003, RJD2 released The Horror, and the landmark Since We Last Spoke in 2004. A track from his 2006 release Magnificent City Instrumentals, "A Beautiful Mine," is the theme song of the AMC television drama Mad Men.
In 2007, RJD2 released The Third Hand which, if nothing else, showcased his ability to evolve beyond the hip-hop genre. Around this same time RJ created a compilation album with fellow underground DJ's Mick Boogie and DJ Flash for their A.B.B. compadres Little Brother entitled AND JUSTUS FOR ALL.
In 2010, RJD2 released The Colossus on his own label, RJ's Electrical Connections. The album could be described as RJD2's meshing of Since We Last Spoke's grittier tracks with The Third Hand's Moby-esque pop. The album contains a variety of recording methods, with most songs featuring an amalgam of sampled, programmed, and recorded sounds.
RJD2 has participated in numerous collaborations with artists such as Aceyalone, Ric Ocasek, and Goapele. RJD2 is also part of the group Soul Position with Blueprint. They have released two full length studio albums, 8 Million Stories and Things Go Better with RJ and Al.
Beautiful Mine
RJD2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that's not all
Broke the water, shined through
Shaped the earth, created the colder life
Radiated with energy, the great boat of life
The spark
Sparkling through the dark night
Then walked
Didn't hear a sound to the first "treat"
"Deaf to the ocean swelled" washed up a miracle
A Beautiful yours, a beautiful mine
By the grace of fire, out sprouts the land
And did desire, footprints in the sand
On top of the mountain peak where the man speaks to himself
Cursing to them with a start
What he felt can't be described
It's alive
Rise with the tide
Communicate with all sides, nothing wants to die
Buildin' this, build a bridge
Build a tower
Construct a dam, nigga, ho
Build a flower
Ultraviolet rays magnified the essence
All praise to the presence, one pure thought
Taught him the lessons
This spread with the first migration of the heads
The first wants to flock
A beautiful yours, a beautiful mine
One's so enlightened; one's so divine
The planet's hour line, all devoid of time
A beautiful mind
They opened up the brain and opened up the heart
What is man made of
Love from the dark
The will to invent the will
Work the field, the shield, the intent to kill, the uphill
Matter of existence, matter of persistence,
Matter of distance to search for the mystics
Finder of lost souls, teacher of apostles, the mind's so colossal
A beautiful mind
A beautiful mind, a beautiful idea
One that was right here, blind to the naked eye, tied to a fear
Once it was nothing and now it is here
A beautiful mind
Not accidental, coincidental, experimental
A beautiful man, though a touch so gentle
A life so simple to spin on the axis to access the temple
A beautiful mind
A beautiful mind, put fruit on the vine
At the same time he made love a crime
Mellowed out the strings of all mankind
Walked along side you when you was left behind
Purified the waters, carved the canyons
Fed the families when it was starved and famine
Drew the blueprints so everyone had a chance
Organized the people and made man advance
A beautiful yours, a beautiful mine
Something outa nothing
Oh, what a far cry
More than a hard tribe
Pointed out the start guide
Made love, made hate
Saved sake
Nothing left the crate but fate
Constructed structures, ? a labyrinth
Detailed a portrait
Healed nations
Took blame when no one else was happening
Evolved the species, and had patience
Wrote the scroll in thousands of languages
Came with us to fight against a giant ?
Created chaos, pervaded destruction
Made law and order and then corruption
Laid the foundation for all things to stand on
Then cleared the ground for the mother ship to land on
Sailed across the seas, followed the breeze
Cured disease
Made poison
Settled the fear, took them on the righteous path,
Gave them the math, and still had the time to laugh
What a beautiful mind to have
The lyrics of RJD2's song "A Beautiful Mine" is a tribute to the beauty and complexity of human existence. The song is a poetic reflection of how human beings have evolved through the ages, and how we have influenced the world around us. The lyrics suggest that we are products of a beautiful and intricate mind that has been at work since the beginning of time. The song references the creation story, where the universe was formed from chaos, and life emerged from nothingness. It also speaks of the human will to survive, the desire to create and innovate, and the struggle to overcome obstacles in order to achieve a better version of ourselves.
The verse "By the grace of fire, out sprouts the land, and did desire, footprints in the sand, on top of the mountain peak where the man speaks to himself" describes our journey from the early days of our existence when we were just trying to survive, to the present day where we have built structures, invented laws, and grappled with ethical and moral issues. The line "Matter of existence, matter of persistence, matter of distance to search for the mystics" suggests that we are a curious species, always seeking to explore and understand the world around us, and searching for answers to the mysteries of the universe.
In conclusion, RJD2's "A Beautiful Mine" is a beautiful and moving tribute to humanity and the divine mind that has shaped us as a species. It speaks to the beauty and complexity of our existence, and the incredible journey we have undertaken as a civilization. The song is a reminder that we are all part of something greater than ourselves, and that we should cherish the gift of life that has been bestowed upon us.
Line by Line Meaning
A Beautiful mind, turned water into wine
A brilliant intellect that can perform miracles
But that's not all
There is much more to this beautiful mind
Broke the water, shined through
Created life where there was none, and showered it with vitality
Shaped the earth, created the colder life
Formed the planet and all living things, both warm and cold-blooded
Radiated with energy, the great boat of life
Filled with an abundance of life-giving energy
The spark
The source of all creation and inspiration
Sparkling through the dark night
Bringing light and hope to the darkest times
Then walked
Moved forward with determination and purpose
And took forever without a thing in sight
Despite many obstacles and setbacks, continued to forge ahead
Didn't hear a sound to the first "treat"
Unmoved by distractions or taunts
"Deaf to the ocean swelled" washed up a miracle
Unaffected by the biggest challenges, still accomplished great things
By the grace of fire, out sprouts the land
The power and energy of fire creates new land
And did desire, footprints in the sand
A strong desire and determination to leave a lasting mark on the world
On top of the mountain peak where the man speaks to himself
A loner, who finds inspiration and peace atop mountains
Cursing to them with a start
Angry and frustrated with those who do not understand his vision
What he felt can't be described
The emotions and thoughts of a genius are beyond words
It's alive
The mind is alive with ideas and creativity
Rise with the tide
Follow the natural flow and rhythm of life
Communicate with all sides, nothing wants to die
Connect with all aspects of life, and strive to preserve it
Buildin' this, build a bridge
Constructing bridges of communication and understanding
Build a tower
Creating structures that reach for the sky
Construct a dam, nigga, ho
Harnessing the power of water for the good of all
Build a flower
Creating beauty and life where none existed before
Ultraviolet rays magnified the essence
The secrets of life illuminated by the power of science and technology
All praise to the presence, one pure thought
Grateful for the inspiration and clarity of thought that guides him
Taught him the lessons
Learning from life and its experiences
This spread with the first migration of the heads
Sharing knowledge and ideas to inspire others
The first wants to flock
A natural leader, inspiring others to follow
One's so enlightened; one's so divine
A mind that is both wise and spiritual
The planet's hour line, all devoid of time
A place where time has no meaning, and the planet's rhythms dominate all
They opened up the brain and opened up the heart
The ability to be both rational and emotional
What is man made of
Questioning the essence of humanity
Love from the dark
Finding love and beauty within the darkness of life
The will to invent the will
The power to create one's own destiny
Work the field, the shield, the intent to kill, the uphill
Working tirelessly to overcome obstacles and succeed
Matter of existence, matter of persistence,
The importance of persistence in order to survive
Matter of distance to search for the mystics
The value of seeking out the mysteries of life, no matter the distance
Finder of lost souls, teacher of apostles, the mind's so colossal
The ability to inspire and guide others, due to the power of the mind
Put fruit on the vine
Creating abundance and nourishment for all
At the same time he made love a crime
The complexity of human morality and societal norms
Mellowed out the strings of all mankind
Helping to soothe and ease the suffering of others
Walked along side you when you was left behind
Empathizing with the underdogs and the forgotten
Purified the waters, carved the canyons
Reshaping the natural world for the benefit of all
Fed the families when it was starved and famine
Providing food and sustenance for those in need
Drew the blueprints so everyone had a chance
Designing a world that enabled everyone to succeed and thrive
Organized the people and made man advance
Uniting the people and progressing humanity forward
Something outa nothing
Creating something where nothing existed before
Oh, what a far cry
Acknowledging the vastness of the undertaking
More than a hard tribe
More than a difficult challenge - this is a monumental task
Pointed out the start guide
Providing clear direction and guidance
Made love, made hate
The complexity and duality of human emotion and nature
Saved sake
Protecting and preserving what is important
Nothing left the crate but fate
The importance of destiny and the unknown
Constructed structures, ? a labyrinth
Building intricate and complex systems
Detailed a portrait
Painting a vivid picture of the world and its inhabitants
Healed nations
Bringing peace and prosperity to the world's nations
Took blame when no one else was happening
Stepping up and taking responsibility when no one else would
Evolved the species, and had patience
Creating a world that allowed for evolution and growth, and having the patience to see it through
Wrote the scroll in thousands of languages
Ensuring that everyone could understand and learn from his teachings
Came with us to fight against a giant ?
Standing up to the largest and most powerful obstacles, and fighting for what is right
Created chaos, pervaded destruction
The sometimes destructive and volatile nature of creativity and innovation
Made law and order and then corruption
The negative consequences that can arise from the ordering and structuring of society
Laid the foundation for all things to stand on
Creating the framework upon which all else is built
Then cleared the ground for the mother ship to land on
Preparing the way for a greater future and a better world
Sailed across the seas, followed the breeze
Venturing into the unknown and following intuition
Cured disease
Finding medical cures and remedies
Made poison
Developing destructive and deadly weaponry and methods
Settled the fear, took them on the righteous path,
Easing the fears and restoring peace, and guiding people towards the right path
Gave them the math, and still had the time to laugh
Teaching people important skills and knowledge, while also finding joy in life
A beautiful mind to have
A mind that is capable of incredible feats and creations
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWIN M. HAYES, JR., RAMBLE JON KROHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bryankanale6050
Nieeeeeeh neh/ Nieeeeeeh neh/
Nieeeeeeh neh/ Nieeeeeeh neh/
Nieeeeeeh neh/ Nieeeeeeh neh neh/
Toom/ Todoom/ To/ Toom/ Todoom
Toom/ Todoom/ To/ Toom/
Todoom
Braka brawka brakadooom doom brawka brawka brakadooom
(it's super hard to do the drums!!!)
@SQUIZZLER24
Someone on the Mad Men production team had great taste in obscure turntablist music.
@koolkitty108
Seriously. It sounds kind of like "Iβll have the Waldorf salad" by Amon Tobin
@elishacastaneda7797
Love this comment
@DLKCOMEDY88
Matt Weiner the creator found this song while listening to NPR
@firefistx7477
Thats good to hear rjd2 still up there
@ricardochevelle2240
@@DLKCOMEDY88 Thatβs why I Love β€οΈ NPR for their educational spot lights -and beautiful Muzic!
@BudderB0y2222
The intro always gives me goosebumps.
@koolkitty108
Serious "Iβll have the Waldorf salad" by Amon Tobin vibes
@lionpower286
Me tooππππ
@TheRipperxX9
The only intro I donβt skip on Netflix