as an old-​school def-​jux fanboy, i pretty much was a fan of everything that label released, regardless of whether or not it was actually good music. just the fact that it was one of the few independent hip hop labels reppin’ the east was all that mattered. regardless of what you think of el-​p (aka james meline) personally, his cadre of musicians under his label was pretty impressive and was the who’s who of independent beatmaking. i mean yeah, it was the preeminent backpacker label, but who gives a shit, right? backpacker hip hop was basically the only decent hip hop being released for a long time. so when rjd2 released deadringer on def-​jux back in 2002, an entire community basically shit their pants. hot off the heels of dj shadow’s second effort, the private press, rjd2 stepped up to the batters box to challenge for the title of turntable supremacy.

» — – »»> continue reading …