“The album shuffles between moody, soulful beats and triumphant, horn-anchored tracks” – Rolling Stone
“RJ’s well able to inject spirit and spontaneity into tunes new and old in the live setting, certainly better than most beatmakers and producers out there” – Philadelphia Weekly
“[STS is] unique in style, creative in approach” – Red Bull Sound Select
“STS has the best of both worlds as far as what he offers as an MC: consistent bars, dazzling wordplay, and a Southern bravado” – HipHopWired
Philadelphia-based producer/rapper duo RJD2 and STS deliver the visuals to “Trunk of My Computer,” a feel good track about STS’ journey from early demo tapes and selling albums out the trunk of his car to where he is today. The Pop Matters-premiered video follows the Atlanta native as he drops off CDs at record stores, exhibiting the hustle that many rappers undertook before the internet. “I literally wrote my first rap song in a mixtape store in Philly,” STS told Pop Matters. “I worked there for years so I saw firsthand the whole records out the trunk independent grind.” Spliced with scenes of the rapper performing out the back of his car, the video brings back memories of the rapper’s early career, which now spans over the course of several years. “The game is so independent but more so on the internet rather than out the trunk, which is how it use to be,” STS explains. “What we have done with STSxRJD2 is ‘Trunk of My Computer’ at its finest, all independent down to the making of the video. We did everything from the muscle.”
The “Trunk of My Computer” video is from the duo’s collaborative album, STS x RJD2, which was released via RJ’s record label, RJ’s Electrical Connections. “Simultaneously raucous and melodic, the record takes rap and tips it on its head a bit, blending everything from Ludacris to The Impressions,” The A.V. Club raved in their premiere post of the project. The album features diverse subject matter, from tracks like “Tennessee (Whiskey Revival),” which is inspired by STS’ drink of choice as well as his birthplace, and “All I Wanted Was a Caddy,” which notes how STS’ family had Cadillacs back in the day. On the flip side, STS values East Coast hip-hop, resulting in lyrically introspective songs like “Monsters Under My Bed,” where he deals with regret over some incidents in his past. “You don’t get a name like ‘Sugar Tongue Slim’ unless you’ve been in the streets,” says STS. “But I’m conscious, too, because I’m conscious of what I’m saying.” STS x RJD2 finds the artists at their most versatile, with RJ’s genre-defying production and STS’ prolific rhymes, making the project a soulful, timeless project unlike anything else in rap today.
Watch “Trunk of My Computer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VasmrlEDiQ
Check out the Pop Matters premiere: http://www.popmatters.com/post/196179-sts-x-rjd2-trunk-of-my-computer-video-premiere/
Buy STS x RJD2 on iTunes: http://radi.al/STSRJD2
Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with RJD2 and STS.
RJD2 Background:
RJD2, a transplant via Ohio, has a history spanning back to the late 90’s indie hip-hop scene. After notable stops on both the Definitive Jux and XL labels, he ventured forth with his own label in 2009 (RJ’s Electrical Connections, which brings you this fine piece of work today). With a catalog of albums running back to 2002, he likely qualifies as an underground vet at this stage of his career. With the tunes“Ghostwriter” and the “A Beautiful Mine,” aka the Mad Men theme making their rounds on TV, his reach has continually spread beyond the sold out club dates and festival appearances of the last decade+.
STS Background:
STS, aka Sugar Tongue Slim, is an Atlanta transplant who found himself amidst the orbit of Dre andVidal, Jazzy Jeff, Jill Scott, and the cast of players that were in and out of Larry Gold’s “The Studio.”This led to being a writer on Ciara’s “Oh,” working intimately with Def Jam. He was first introduced to the public on The Roots‘ Grammy-Nominated release, How I Got Over, where he was featured on the cuts, “Right On” and “Hustla.” Later that month he released Demand More II featuring the underground hits, “The People” and “In For The Kill.” He soon brought his G.O.L.D act to stage, setting off sold out shows for acts such as Travis Barker, 50 Cent, J-Cole, Big Sean, B.O.B and The Roots among others. That buzz resulted in a spotlight on MTV2’s Sucker Free Sunday as the featured act for XXL’s Show & Prove segment.
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“Trunk of My Computer”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VasmrlEDiQ
“High Life”: https://soundcloud.com/officialrjd2/high-life/
“Good Guys Anthem”: https://soundcloud.com/officialrjd2/sts-x-rjd2-good-guys-anthem
STS x RJD2: https://soundcloud.com/officialrjd2/sets/sts-x-rjd2
“Hold On, Here It Go”: https://soundcloud.com/officialrjd2/hold-on-here-it-go // https://youtu.be/1V7NVtHwRYI