RJD2

How do you follow up a debut credited by underground heads as saving hip-hop? If you’re RJD2, you ignore the hype and do what you do best: make world-weary beats laced with lush samples and plenty of soul. Whereas Deadringer fluctuated from its haunting sci-fi opener to the acerbic diatribe of "F.H.H.,” Since We Last Spoke zeroes in on a vibe closer to the velvet-smooth "Smoke & Mirrors.” Before, the sparse yet brilliant use of guest rappers provided a nice counterpoint to the instrumental madness. Here, their absence is a pitfall that could have been easily avoided. Of course, it’s nearly impossible to top such an amazing debut, but at least no one can blame RJ for lack of effort.