I wasn’t surprised Columbus, Ohio’s RJD2’s new album is with North Carolina’s SUPASTITION.
Supastition rapped from RJD2’s 2022 album with Philadelphia’s STS. We know there are various perspectives at understanding 2000’s underground rap.
RJD2 is from Columbus. New York’s El-P and Minneapolis’ Slug owned Columbus’ biggest platforms from a national perspective. RJD2 lived in Philly for awhile. RJD2 is a one of Columbus, Ohio most revered creatives. New York and Philly are sorta equally the same driving distance from North Carolina and Columbus.
Supastition is someone I associate with Phonte, 9th Wonder, Foreign Legion and adult North Carolina rap. RJD2’s and Superstition “According To..” raps about middle class life, aspirations, vocations and family. RJD2’s “According To’” production sounds like RJD2 studied his own instrumental albums. RJD2 picked up a guitar, drum, bass and Moog. RJD2 played and then chopped extensions of his body of work. “According To” isn’t RJD2 playing Dead Ringer and sampling himself
RJD2 continues the same sounds we liked during P.Blackk’s 2013 song “Bath Water” except made with an older purist instead of a Columbus kid who attended CCAD and then found work with Adult Swim. I’m sure RJD2 played those sounds and didn’t sample them either.
Point, “According To…” sounds like a full length of rap version of recent RJD2’s instrumental albums, “The Colossus” and “Insane Warrior” sequenced for a fundamental “normal” east coast rapper.
Supastition’s previous solo collabs include KRS-1, Blueprint, Elzhi, Skyzoo, and Royce da 5 9.
RJD2’s production for “According To…” sound like Supastition can play “According To…” for his friends that view Phonte rapping over 9th Wonder as their region’s sound. The ultimate compliment. I don’t really need to mention any particular song because “According To …” is dope and consistent for the entire album.
If you need to test drive a RJD2 + Supastition song, you can watch “Machine Like Us’” YouTube video. J-Live guests for a couple of “According To..” Songs. STS sings like Devin the Dude complaining about affordability during “Rent Money.” I think Young Guru could like “According To…”
RJD2’s and Superstition’s album “According To…” sounds like DJ Shadow producing Defari for a call center supervisor that liked “Streets Is Watching,” Dr. Octagon, and Planet Asia and still didn’t devolve into a complete sociopath.
