RJD2 is Ramble John Krohn, a hip-hop producer. RJD2 was born in Eugene, Ore… Read Full Bio ↴RJD2 is Ramble John Krohn, a hip-hop producer. RJD2 was born in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Until recently, he was part of the Definitive Jux label and produced tracks for many of its artists, as well as having a solo career. In 2006, RJ "ditched hip-hop" for the indie-rock label XL, releasing The Third Hand in March 2007.

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.

Good Times Roll Part 2
RJD2 Lyrics

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Ladies and gentlemen, you've heard the soul for sound part one.
Now, part two are you ready?
Do you wanna hear?

Part two Are you ready? [Yell]
Do you wanna hear? [Yell]
[x3]

Drifter went into my mama,
Before I was born.
"You got a poor child comin',
and the world's gonna know."

Got my black cat bone.
Got my mojo too.
Tricked all he came in,
"I'm gonna mess with you."

Drifter went into my mama,
Before I was born.
"You got a poor child comin',
and the world's gonna know."

Got my black cat bone.
Got my mojo too.
Tricked all he came in,
"I'm gonna mess with you."

Part two Are you ready?
Do you wanna hear?
[x4]

Just won't work no more. [x5[

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to RJD2's "Good Times Roll Part 2" touch upon themes of adversity, fate and superstition. The opening lines of the song refer to a preceding part one which primes the listener for an experience beyond the regular. The lyrics hint that the listener will need to brace themselves as they are about to be taken on a revelrous journey through the singer's life. The repetition of "part two" and "do you wanna hear" creates a sense of anticipation, encouraging the listener to engage with the singer's story.

The next verse talks about a "Drifter" who had visited the singer's mother before he was born. The Drifter forecasts the birth of the singer, who he subtly implies will have a tough life. The singer adopts a bluesy disposition, referring to possessing a "black cat bone" and "mojo." He chooses to adopt these symbols as his weapons to ward off any negativity that comes his way. The line, "Tricked all he came in, 'I'm gonna mess with you,'" suggests that the singer has had to fend off adverse forces.

The final section of the song talks about something that's just not working anymore, though it's unclear what that something is. These lyrics could hint at the singer's attempts to deal with the difficulties that the Drifter spoke of in the first verse, suggesting that whatever strategies he deployed didn't lead to his intended outcome.

Line by Line Meaning

Ladies and gentlemen, you've heard the soul for sound part one.
Welcome back, listeners. You have already enjoyed the first part of the amazing music collection of soulful sound.

Part two Are you ready? [Yell]
Are you excited to hear and experience the second part of our soulful journey? [Yell]

Do you wanna hear? [Yell] [x3]
Are you all set to enjoy and groove to the tunes of our music? [Yell] [Repeated 3 times]

Drifter went into my mama, Before I was born. "You got a poor child comin', and the world's gonna know."
When my mother was pregnant, a drifter visited her and predicted that she would give birth to a poor child who would make his mark in the world.

Got my black cat bone. Got my mojo too. Tricked all he came in, "I'm gonna mess with you."
I possess things like a black cat bone and a mojo, which make me capable of tricking and deceiving anyone who I interact with.

Part two Are you ready? Do you wanna hear? [x4]
Let's get ready to party and rock with the amazing soulful music that awaits us in this second part. [Repeated 4 times]

Just won't work no more. [x5]
Something that was once functional has now ceased to work and cannot be used again. [Repeated 5 times]

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: RAMBLE JOHN KROHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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