LAYIN' DOWN THE BEAT

The past few years have seen the producer rise to the forefront of hip-hop. They're becoming as famous as the MCs they're backing up, putting a whole new face on the genre.\nJust as producers like Timbaland and the Neptunes have been conquering mainstream hip-hop, RJD2 is beginning his reign among underground hip-hop's top producers. \nA little humble, a little sarcastic, he quickly gained respect in the business. Sparking interest early from his work with the Megahertz out of Columbus, Ohio, RJ began to work with top underground acts. \nHis major debut was producing four tracks on Copywrite's "The High Exhaulted," a gig through which he met frontrunner of Definitive Jux Records, El-P. Coupled with the success of Def Jux, RJ's skills have been earning him a lot of attention. The rest is history. \n His beats can be heard backing up Mos Def, Vast Aire, Aceyalone and recently MF Doom on his album as Viktor Vaughn, "Vaudeville Villain." May 18 will see the much anticipated follow-up to last year's breakthrough album "Dead Ringer." Fresh off an Australian tour, selling out three dates with Kid Koala, and excited about the release of "Since We Last Spoke," RJ took some time to answer a few questions about his career and the current state of hip-hop.\nWEEKEND: How'd you get into making beats?\nRJD2: From DJing -- it's a very common progression.\nSince 'Dead Ringer,' you've become one of the top producers. Did you feel a lot of pressure to uphold that throne?\nWell, thank you for saying that, but I don't think I've become a top producer in any other field than the graduating class of Columbus, Ohio. I still find myself on the phone with Freeway's manager trying to explain that I'm not just some kid making beats in my bedroom. Wait, I guess I am....\nDo you think 'Since We Last Spoke' will do that?\nI think that 'Since We Last Spoke' will propel me to a magical place -- a place so mystical and fantastic that I will walk on mist, and be greeted by wizards and fair maidens, dining on exotic fruits that I have never heard of.\nWhat did you change going into the new album? Did you approach it differently?\nMore live instruments. No rappers. I felt comfortable just screwing around on this record.\nWith a lot of recent releases in hip-hop, especially with the Kanye West's 'College Dropout' and the many remixes of Jay-Z's 'Black Album,' they're pushing the production to the forefront. Do you see your popularity growing as well?\nUmm, I think so. I mean, I feel like the most popular kid in school, you know? I got the letter jacket and the hot girlfriend and everything. Nerds-nerds-nerds-nerds….\nWhat did you think of the Black Album? Do you think this popularity of underground producers is coming through -- especially with 9th Wonder being on the album?\nI liked it. It's not Jay's best album, but hey, you know, what are you gonna do? I can't make a call on that issue -- 9th got called up from the ranks. It's great for him. 9th Wonder being on the Jay-Z album was big news in underground hip-hop, though. I don't think I would say it's been a trend or anything.\nWhat did you think when Bazooka Joe approached you to do the Silver Album? Did you like him using your production as his basis rather than making original beats?\nYou know, I basically said, 'Whatever.' I said, 'Hey, do this thing, I won't get bent out of shape or anything.' In hindsight, it has been seen as a project I did, which is not the case at all. While we're on the subject, somebody said they had a CD called 'RJD2 is God' -- I don't know what this is, and would like to go on record that I would never in my life name something that. OK, off the sandbox.\nYou've been producing a lot of tracks lately -- MF Doom, Aceyalone, Vast Aire -- do you like doing tracks that will be rapped over or do you like doing instrumental tracks more?\nI get bored of one, go do the other and then get bored of that. Repeat process.\nDo you have any more collaborations planned?\nMe and Gamecube are gonna sit down at the end of the year; try to get some shit done. It's been so hectic that I can't even remember to buy paper towels, nahmean?\nWho do you want to work with most?\nDavid Cross.… Or I would do a beat for "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" in a minute.\nWhat was it like remixing for Mos Def?\nIt was cool, a great opportunity. Never thought I would hear him rhyming over a beat I did.