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.
Final Frontier
RJD2 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[the show is over]
Welcome to the final frontier
Soul position
Rjd2 on the beats plus myself, blueprint, on the
Rhymes
[the show is over]
Live and direct
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
We breathe adrenaline, elevate organically
Life begins when the record spins and ends
When blended into the next with scratches
Rj constructs the canvas, I find a color that matches
Outline the rhyme and increase the content
Blueprint the piece that completes the concepts
Sequence the song steps to make it more complex
Soul position in, sole possession of
Poll position, hold your breath and listen
While I resurrect these twenty-six letters
A lesson to beginners that tend to pale in comparisson
You're not ill, and if you are
[my notepad's full of medicine]
Plus my freestyle is [excedrin]
Take two hours and call me back with a new style
[and show me you're prepared for the final frontier]
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
[we breathe adrenaline,] elevate organically [right]
My pen like a turntable arm moves mechanically
Even when the groove shifts or skips dramatically
I accurately etch out my welded fine fantasy
Across a skyline covered with sound
I move into position like a cumulus cloud
Acid rain slang still a part of my emosis
My first demo, known to soak instrumentals
With brainstorms, capable to break in the calm
Created by strange tongues that praise the norm
But while they make a living giving false testimony
I often impress the ceremony with an exercise in exorcism
First I ride the rhythm, then I spit a venomous
Open mic sermon for the trife vermon
That had a hard time learnin'
How to properly prepare for the final frontier
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
We breathe adrenaline, elevate organically
Escaping out of milk crates with modern-day tragedies
Of lost verse, or crews you coulda looped first
But refuse to do the work when the whistle blew
So in a world dominated by the digital
The metrinome I listen to beats inside of my chest
It speeds up with a level of stress
It's built to last, but analog at best
Ingest another measurement of time served
My lifeline swerves kinda like a sine curve
Time blurs, during my breakneck ascend
To apex and then slows during my lows
Tone-deaf soundmen work my shows
The ass of my artform's always exposed
But I'm inspired by the front rows
They're the reason I prepared for the final frontier
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
We're here [the show is over]
The final frontier
[the show is over]
[the show is over]
[the show is over]
The song Final Frontier by RJD2 featuring Blueprint is a high-energy rap anthem that speaks about the journey of an artist who is passionate about creating music. From the opening lines, "Welcome to the final frontier", the song builds up an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. The artists compare their passion for music to "breathing adrenaline" and "elevating organically". They highlight the importance of the process of creating music, where a life begins with the record spinning and ends when it blends into the next with scratches. RJD2 constructs the canvas, while Blueprint outlines the rhymes and increases the content. The song's overall message encourages artists to push themselves to continuously improve, much like preparing for the final frontier.
The overall theme of the song is about the journey of an artist preparing for the final frontier, or the peak of their musical career. The lyrics often reference the challenges artist face, such as escaping out of milk crates with modern-day tragedies of lost verse, or crews that could have been looped first. Blueprint mentions how he often impresses the ceremony with an exorcism exercise to show he had learned how to properly prepare for the final frontier. He emphasizes the importance of hard work and preparation.
Overall, Final Frontier by RJD2 featuring Blueprint is a motivational song that focuses on the journey that artists must undertake in order to achieve greatness. It seeks to inspire listeners to push themselves out of their comfort zones, work hard and prepare for the final frontier.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, what up
Greeting to the audience
[the show is over]
The performer announces the end of the show
Welcome to the final frontier
The beginning of a new musical adventure
Soul position
The name of the artist group
Rjd2 on the beats plus myself, blueprint, on the Rhymes
Credit to the songwriters and producers
[the show is over]
Reiteration of the end of the show
Live and direct
Broadcasting or performing right now
We're here [the show is over]
Introduction to the final frontier
The final frontier
Where the artist intends to push their creative limits
We breathe adrenaline, elevate organically
The creative process energizes them
Life begins when the record spins and ends
Their music is their life force
When blended into the next with scratches
The art of seamless transitions in music production
Rj constructs the canvas, I find a color that matches
The division of labor between the producers and the songwriter
Outline the rhyme and increase the content
Building the lyrics with precision
Blueprint the piece that completes the concepts
The idea of a blueprint for the song's design
Sequence the song steps to make it more complex
The art of song structuring
Soul position in, sole possession of
The ownership and identity of the group
Poll position, hold your breath and listen
An invitation to the audience to pay close attention
While I resurrect these twenty-six letters
The use of words to bring the song to life
A lesson to beginners that tend to pale in comparison
Encouragement to aspiring artists
You're not ill, and if you are [my notepad's full of medicine]
The importance of writing to improve one's skills
Plus my freestyle is [excedrin]
His freestyle is his remedy
Take two hours and call me back with a new style
The need for constant innovation and improvement
[and show me you're prepared for the final frontier]
The challenge of the final frontier
My pen like a turntable arm moves mechanically
The pen's precision in crafting rhymes
Even when the groove shifts or skips dramatically
The need for flexibility in music production
I accurately etch out my welded fine fantasy
The act of creating something that feels and sounds perfect
Across a skyline covered with sound
A metaphor for the landscape of his music
I move into position like a cumulus cloud
The ability to control the musical environment
Acid rain slang still a part of my emosis
The use of underground slang and culture in his music
My first demo, known to soak instrumentals
The story of his beginnings in music production
With brainstorms, capable to break in the calm
The creative process that breaks monotony
Created by strange tongues that praise the norm
The uniqueness of his artistic expression
But while they make a living giving false testimony
The disingenuousness of commercial music
I often impress the ceremony with an exercise in exorcism
The use of music to exorcise personal demons
First I ride the rhythm, then I spit a venomous
The combination of music and poetry
Open mic sermon for the trife vermon
A message for the marginalized and oppressed
That had a hard time learnin'
Empathy for those who struggle
How to properly prepare for the final frontier
Advice on how to approach the final frontier
Escaping out of milk crates with modern-day tragedies
The role of music in hip-hop culture
Of lost verse, or crews you coulda looped first
The choices and sacrifices that come with music production
But refuse to do the work when the whistle blew
The importance of hard work and dedication
So in a world dominated by the digital
The challenges and opportunities of modern music production
The metronome I listen to beats inside of my chest
The internal rhythm and heart of his music
It speeds up with a level of stress
The adrenaline that comes with performing
It's built to last, but analog at best
The limitations and advantages of different music production methods
Ingest another measurement of time served
The value of experience in music production
My lifeline swerves kinda like a sine curve
The ups and downs of life and music
Time blurs, during my breakneck ascend
The fast-paced growth of his career
To apex and then slows during my lows
The highs and lows of his career
Tone-deaf soundmen work my shows
The challenges of performing live shows
The ass of my artform's always exposed
The vulnerability and authenticity of his music
But I'm inspired by the front rows
The importance of the audience in music production
They're the reason I prepared for the final frontier
The drive to push creative boundaries for his fans
[the show is over]
Final reminder that the show has ended
[the show is over]
Final reminder that the show has ended
[the show is over]
Final reminder that the show has ended
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RAMBLE JOHN KROHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind