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.

Supahero
RJD2 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Supahero
Baby I'm your star, but you looking for a super hero
And Superman don't fly no more cause he ain't one with the people
He ain't nowhere to be found, when he should be fighting evil

You make me whole It's not the movies, but it fake the role
I try to take control for the sake of soul
But the only thing I get to do is scrape the bowl

When God made me, said â??break the moldâ??
I put foot to the concrete and shake the road
I don't have powers like a caped crusader
But I do have powers like an Ace invader
Back in the days he had so much flavor
He was so major to get you out of danger
Now you can't find him, and he's just a stranger
And if you did he'd probably give you the finger
Your hit channel's evil on your channel changer
And your hero with a lifesaver threw you an anchor

I really don't know what you thinking of
I can't make it wet from underneath my glove
I can't see through walls but I can see through you
You dress up the ball but that's all you do
You fell for him, he didn't fall for you
And just me is what I got to offer you
I don't save the day, I just pave the way
In the city of Gotham where every day's a day
I know it pays to play, but I ain't playing
I ain't laying my coat down; know what I'm saying?
You want lots of muscles and lots of green
But my hustle and bustle is my only thing

It ended all bad as my last song seems
You need a star in your life and not in your dreams

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to RJD2's song Supahero explore the theme of insecurity and feeling inadequate in a relationship. The singer expresses that they are willing to do anything for their love interest, but they feel like they cannot meet their partner's expectations because they are not a superhuman figure like those in movies and comics. The singer compares themselves to Superman, who is no longer an active superhero and seems disconnected from the people, symbolizing the singer's fear of being unable to save their relationship from falling apart. Despite the singer's limitations, they take pride in their unique qualities and attempt to pave the way for their partner while acknowledging that they cannot offer flashy and superficial traits like lots of muscles and lots of green.

Overall, the lyrics to Supahero highlight the universal fear of not feeling good enough in a relationship and the importance of embracing one's individuality and strengths in the face of insecurities.

Line by Line Meaning

Supahero
The title of the song

Baby I'm your star, but you looking for a super hero
The singer recognizes that they are important to the listener, but the listener wants someone who is much more heroic

And Superman don't fly no more cause he ain't one with the people
Superman is no longer around because he is not in touch with the people, and therefore not a true hero

He ain't nowhere to be found, when he should be fighting evil
Superman is not present when he should be protecting people from evil

You make me whole It's not the movies, but it fake the role
The listener completes the artist, and though their relationship may not be perfect, they are willing to pretend for the sake of the role they play in each other's lives

I try to take control for the sake of soul
The singer attempts to have control over their life for the good of their soul

But the only thing I get to do is scrape the bowl
Despite their efforts, the singer is only able to achieve very little

When God made me, said â??break the moldâ??
The artist was made to stand out and be unique

I put foot to the concrete and shake the road
The artist takes action and makes a difference in the world

I don't have powers like a caped crusader
The artist is not a superhero with extraordinary powers

But I do have powers like an Ace invader
The singer has a different type of power, and can still make an impact

Back in the days he had so much flavor
There was a time when the superhero in question had a great personality and was very respected

He was so major to get you out of danger
The hero was once so important that he could save people from danger

Now you can't find him, and he's just a stranger
The hero is now nowhere to be seen and is therefore unknown to the people he once helped

And if you did he'd probably give you the finger
If someone was able to find the hero, he would likely do something rude or unhelpful

Your hit channel's evil on your channel changer
The things that the listener likes are no longer available to them

And your hero with a lifesaver threw you an anchor
The hero who once saved the listener is now doing more harm than good

I really don't know what you thinking of
The singer does not understand what the listener is looking for in a hero

I can't make it wet from underneath my glove
The singer cannot do the impossible or make unrealistic things happen

I can't see through walls but I can see through you
The artist does not have x-ray vision, but they do understand the listener very well

You dress up the ball but that's all you do
The listener only appears to be making an effort, but is not truly accomplishing anything

You fell for him, he didn't fall for you
The listener is in love with the hero, but the hero does not feel the same way

And just me is what I got to offer you
The singer does not have much to give, but what they can offer is genuine

I don't save the day, I just pave the way
The artist may not be able to solve immediate problems, but they can make things easier for others in the future

In the city of Gotham where every day's a day
The singer lives in a city where there is always something happening

I know it pays to play, but I ain't playing
The singer knows that it is often beneficial to pretend or play a role, but they are not doing that here-- what they say is true

I ain't laying my coat down; know what I'm saying?
The singer will not put on a show or pretend to be something they're not

You want lots of muscles and lots of green
The listener is looking for someone who is physically strong and wealthy

But my hustle and bustle is my only thing
The only thing that the artist has is their hard work and determination

It ended all bad as my last song seems
The singer's last attempt at something ended poorly and may have been portrayed in a previous song

You need a star in your life and not in your dreams
The listener should focus on finding someone who can be a partner in their life, not someone who only exists in their imagination or daydreams

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: EDWIN M. JR. HAYES, RAMBLE JON KROHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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