It’s always surprising to see how far this phenomenon called Hip-Hop has reached into American culture. When you see kids making beats, DJing, and rhyming in some of the furthest reaches of the U.S. countryside, it really gives you an idea of the power of the music. And having solid contributors to the art form who hail from outside the normal Rap breeding grounds is a positive thing. Over the past few years, we've seen that diversity is the number one thing lacking in the current Rap landscape, and what image is more diverse then a farm boy with a turntable? Or an Amish kid with a microphone? When Idaho and Iowa started rhyming, that’s when we knew the movement became large. That’s when it was officially hot.

If you’re a rapper who isn't from New York, L.A., or The South, there is no better time than now to make your mark. New York has seemingly lost its identity, L.A. has seemingly lost all its talent, and the South, it’s safe to say, has lost its soul. When you think about it, all the newest rappers who have any sort of buzz come from locales far from those aforementioned hallowed grounds. Drake reps Toronto, Wale claims Washington, D.C., and Kid Cudi hails from the heart of it all, Ohio. Hip-Hop is growing, and the landscape is showing it.

Ohio—Columbus, to be exact—is home not only to Cudi, but to another, slightly more seasoned, slightly less known Renaissance man of underground Hip-Hop. His name is Ramble John Krohn, better known to the backpackers as RJD2. RJD2 is one of the rare Hip-Hoppers who delves into almost every area of the culture. He began his career as a DJ, spinning for the Columbus-based Hip-Hop group MHz. His first release as a DJ was the experimental effort Your Face or Your Kneecaps, which was a gargantuan 39-track amalgamation of '70s and '80s Funk with Hip-Hop a cappella vocals layered on top. The effort was well-received and led to him signing a deal with Indie Rap label Definitive Jux, home to giants like Del the Funky Homosapien and Aesop Rock.

After landing on Definitive Jux, RJD2 released his solo album Deadringer in 2002. The album was acclaimed for the variety of styles it featured and the surprising subtlety in the rhythms. After establishing himself with his debut, RJD2 saw his next album accomplish a feat that many Indie artists could only dream of. This effort, Since We Last Spoke, actually charted in the Billboard Top 200, eventually peaking at #128. During the same time he was establishing a name for himself releasing records, RJD2 was also continuing to be one of the go-to producers in the Indie world, laying down tracks for guys like MF Doom, Diverse, and former Eminem adversary Cage. He’s also had some other mainstream successes, including having his work featured in a popular Wells Fargo commercial series, as well as in the movies Prime, Wimbledon, and The Nightmare Before Christmas Revisited.

Now, RJD2 is prepping for the release of a brand new album, entitled The Colossus. The collection is to be released on RJD2’s own label, RJ’s Electrical Connections. It’s a return to the Hip-Hop format after his previous work, The Third Hand, saw him playing live instruments and singing throughout the ambitious project. The Colossus brings him back to beats and rhymes by featuring Phonte of Little Brother and Indie spitters like Illogic. Despite this return to the lyrics, the album still features the eclectic Electronica and Rock sound that RJD2 has been tinkering with in the last couple years. One thing is for sure: this Eugene, Oregon-born, Ohio-raised Rap, Rock, and beat-making wizard has a lot of flavor left to add to the game.

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