RJD2 is a Philadelphia based producer born in Oregon; Ramble John “RJ” Krohn has already produced five successful albums since 2002. You may have already heard his popular songs “Ghostwriter” and “The Horror”.  I first heard RJD2 on one of my favorite internet radio Trip Hop stations and I fell in love with the way this man grooves. His ability to create music captures the essence of head nodding music and compels your body to move.  If you’ve never heard his sounds, just imagine something between J-Dilla, DJ Shadow, Nujabes or any experimental hip-hop producer with a sense of soul.
RJD2 came back with his first LP since 2003, More Is Than Isn’t, released on Oct. 8, 2013 via RJ’s Electrical Connections. Many listeners already know him for his Hip-Hop-like beats that often venture into the realms of groove, electronic and soul.More Is Than Isn’t is in fact all that and more, packed into 16 upbeat tracks.  On this album, RJD2 seems to have pulled together all of his eclectic styles from the past and brought them together into a single work that will take you across the spectrum of music; from Jazz, Funk, Soul, Disco, Rock and a touch of classical elements, obviously, all fused with Hip-Hop. So throw on those studio headphones or turn up those speakers because you won’t want to miss a single beat of this elaborately crafted listening experience. 
Most of the tracks are generally instrumental with a variety of instruments including pianos, violins and guitars. However, look out for some special vocal features from artists like P. Blackk, Phonte Coleman, STS, Khari Mateen, Aaron Livingston and Blueprint. The album is spaced out between three of the smoothest, almost jazz influenced tracks. “Suite 1”, “Suite 2” and “Suite 3” each respectively at the beginning, middle and end.  Sounds of chirping birds in the background in these tracks set the mood for the chillness about to enter your ears. 
The first time you hear the album, some songs may come off as a bit dull and bland, but after several repeats, the diversity of the album really shines. I’m generally biased towards tracks with vocals, so my favorite track of the album had to be “See You Leave,” featuring STS and Khari Mateen. This track seems to have the most character with some fresh rap flows and a soulful hook accompanied surprisingly by a synth organ.  This song is reminiscent of southern soul rap, similar to the group Outkast
Next on my favorites list is the track “Behold, Numbers!,” which in my opinion, is the most danceable song on the album. As an all instrumental track, this song’s clapping like beat set the rhythm while the synth chords take you away into a world of dance. This is one of the most characteristic RJD2 tracks and it really captures his love for fun music.  This song seems like the perfect song to crank up at a break-dancing battle.
Then comes the most hard-hitting song, “Bathwater,” featuring P. Blackk’s raw, gritty lyrics. This is another very Rap/Hip-hop style track with the deepest bass mixed with snare percussion. The lyrics shout out underground Hip-Hop with references to the MC life.  This is the type of jam to get you hyped up or just crank while you cruise with the bass tuned up.
These tracks were notable to me because of my love affair with Hip-Hop, but More Is Than Isn’t has a scope beyond that. With such a variety of influences, RJD2 can score an eclectic fan base. So press play, whether you’re looking for a chill vibe or a groovy beat, RJD2 has the magic for you. Overall, I give RJD2’s album, More Is Than Isn’t, a 6.5 rating because some of the tracks seemed outdated and lacked edge. However, this long-awaited album delivers on some solid music only characteristic of RJD2 . You can stream the album here.