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From The Desk Of RJD2: “Something In Blue” By Thelonious Monk

RJD2 has had quite the curious career. The Eugene, Ore., native lives in West Philly, has transitioned from dirty, jazzy hip hop to wonky electropop, leapt from El-P’s Def Jux label in 2004 after several critically acclaimed albums to his own RJ’s Electrical Connections in 2010 (with his The Third Hand LP at the XL label in between). Though he doesn’t think of himself as a film composer, he has one of the most recognizable theme songs ever: AMC’s Mad Men. Now, he’s changed his sound around completely with one of the most compelling albums of 2013 in More Is Than Isn’t. RJD2 will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.

RJD2: Monk is one of the few musicians who literally changed what I had previously thought music could convey. From laughter to tears and so much in between, he is easily one of the most expressive instrumentalists I’ve ever heard recorded. This album was cut shortly before he stopped touring; he still was as bold as he was 15 years previous to this. A milestone recording artist of the 20th century.