The Colossus: RJD2 (***1/2) <RJ’s Electrical Connections> Genre: Hip Hop, Electronica A Modest Return To Form RJD2 is one of those guys who falls into the tragic story of the classic debut syndrome.  He debuted with Dead Ringer, an incredible hip hop sampling record that managed to stack up with the likes of DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, and Peanut Butter Wolf.  It had soul, it had an ear for good beats and hooks, it was just a great great record.  Everything that followed kind of… sucked.  Since We Last Spoke was sort of a dud, just an album that imitated Dead Ringer in almost every and fell short.  And don’t even get me started on The Third Hand, a failed experiment that came off as stupid and pretentious.   The Colossus is a return to form, despite being filled with a tiny bit of mediocrity and generic beats.  It’s been released under RJ’s own label, and features such guests as Phonte Coleman and Kenna.  The opening track, “Let There Be Horns,” is a thrilling ride through motown brass sections and Mark Ronson style funky beats.  It’s an exciting beginning to a more or less successful hip hop album.  ”Games You Can Win” is a bit “I’ve heard this all before,” but it has a charm to it that lets you forgive RJ.  It may sound a little generic, but just vaguely and not quite enough to turn you off.  RJD2 still has a knack for delivering some really cool ideas throughout his work.   Probably the more annoying part about the Colossus, though, is that it kind of goes all over the place in terms of style.  RJ has a head filled with countless ideas, so he opts for throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks.  Naturally, this makes The Colossus a very uneven listen, filled with real winners and real messes.  Some tracks seemed almost sloppy to me, while others just became forgotten amidst the better songs.  All in all, I’d say RJD2 is going in the right direction.  He may not have nailed it with this record, but if he keeps at it, I’d say he has the potential to make another classic. Key Tracks: “Let There Be Horns,” “The Shining Path” For Fans Of: Cut Chemist, Mark Ronson, Peanut Butter Wolf

The Colossus: RJD2 (***1/2) <RJ’s Electrical Connections>

Genre: Hip Hop, Electronica

A Modest Return To Form

RJD2 is one of those guys who falls into the tragic story of the classic debut syndrome.  He debuted with Dead Ringer, an incredible hip hop sampling record that managed to stack up with the likes of DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, and Peanut Butter Wolf.  It had soul, it had an ear for good beats and hooks, it was just a great great record.  Everything that followed kind of… sucked.  Since We Last Spoke was sort of a dud, just an album that imitated Dead Ringer in almost every and fell short.  And don’t even get me started on The Third Hand, a failed experiment that came off as stupid and pretentious.  

The Colossus is a return to form, despite being filled with a tiny bit of mediocrity and generic beats.  It’s been released under RJ’s own label, and features such guests as Phonte Coleman and Kenna.  The opening track, “Let There Be Horns,” is a thrilling ride through motown brass sections and Mark Ronson style funky beats.  It’s an exciting beginning to a more or less successful hip hop album.  ”Games You Can Win” is a bit “I’ve heard this all before,” but it has a charm to it that lets you forgive RJ.  It may sound a little generic, but just vaguely and not quite enough to turn you off.  RJD2 still has a knack for delivering some really cool ideas throughout his work.  

Probably the more annoying part about the Colossus, though, is that it kind of goes all over the place in terms of style.  RJ has a head filled with countless ideas, so he opts for throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks.  Naturally, this makes The Colossus a very uneven listen, filled with real winners and real messes.  Some tracks seemed almost sloppy to me, while others just became forgotten amidst the better songs.  All in all, I’d say RJD2 is going in the right direction.  He may not have nailed it with this record, but if he keeps at it, I’d say he has the potential to make another classic.

Key Tracks: “Let There Be Horns,” “The Shining Path”

For Fans Of: Cut Chemist, Mark Ronson, Peanut Butter Wolf