RJD2 is Ramble Jon Krohn, born in Eugene, Oregon and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He builds cinematic instrumental hip-hop out of crate-dug samples and live playing. 'Smoke & Mirrors' is track 3 on his 2002 debut Deadringer, on El-P's Definitive Jux label. Deadringer made Spin's 2002 year-end list at No. 31, and Fact later ranked it No. 28 among the 100 best indie hip-hop records of all time. Since 2010 he's put records out on his own RJ's Electrical Connections label, including 'According To...' with rapper Supastition in February 2026.
From the notes for Episode 12 · fact-checked Oct 4, 2026.
