RJD2 And Blueprint Collab. Again

This Time As Soul Position

A Q & A With Blueprint

By Will Jordan

Soul Position, the duo comprised of RJD2 and Blueprint, is back after two and a half years with their second studio album, Things Go Better With RJ and Al.
The new release follows RJD2’s critically acclaimed Dead Ringer and Blueprint’s 8,000,000 Stories.
Ever since coming together as Soul Position in 2001, Columbus, OH natives Blueprint and RJD2 have had their hands full with more solo work and side projects than most MCs or producers could fathom. The first glimpse of the duo's combined talents happened when the upcoming Ohio emcee, Blueprint, appeared on the track titled “Final Frontier,” from Dead Ringer.
After getting each other’s backs on each of their solo albums, the pair are joining forces like the Wonder Twins “delivering forward thinking hip-hop tracks with a nod to classic rhyming and delivery; a synergy that's nearly impossible to find in hip-hop today.”

Rib: What’cha up to man?
Blueprint: Just kickin’ it watching Judge Mathis. You know, the usual routine (laughs).

Rib: Are you happy with the new release?
Blueprint: I’m happy with it, but a little nervous. I don’t know what people’s response is going to be like, but I feel good about it. I didn’t think it was going to make the release date, but now that it’s out I’ve sat back and listened to it and feel good about it.

Rib: Do you think fans of Dead Ringer and 8,000,000 Stories will also like Things Go Better With RJ and Al?
Blueprint: I think so, but then again, some people who are into instrumental, don’t like rap and visa versa. I do think if they actually give it a chance they will though.

Rib: Looks like y’all are about to embark on some heavy dates. Lookin forward to it?
Blueprint: We have a 33-city tour between April and May. We’re going everywhere. I’m a little nervous because we haven’t toured together in almost three years, bug 33 dates is not that much. The first tour was in 2002 and that was 63 shows in 71 days.

Rib: What’s life like for you guys on this tour?
Blueprint: We’ve got all kinds of onstage shit—the hottest dancers—the Soul Position Dance Club, stand-up comedy bits…all kinds of stuff.
When you haven’t been out there, you know what to expect, but this is a big record for us in terms of expectations. We’ve got to turn things up a notch, but we’ve also got a lot to learn on this tour.

Soul Position Tour Dates:
Wed-May 3, 06 Seattle WA Chop Suey
Thu-May 4, 06 Portland OR Berbatis Pan
Fri-May 5, 06 Eugene OR WOW Hall
Sat-May 6, 06 San Francisco CA The Independent
Mon-May 8, 06 Los Angeles CA Echo
Tue-May 9, 06 San Diego CA Casbah
Wed-May 10, 06 Tempe AZ The Clubhouse
Fri-May 12, 06 Denton TX Haileys
Sat-May 13, 06 Austin TX Emos Jr.
Sun-May 14, 06 Houston TX Walters on Washington
Mon-May 15, 06 Baton Rouge LA Spanish Moon
Wed-May 24, 06 Northampton MA Pearl Street Nightclub
Thu-May 25, 06 Cambridge MA Middle East
Fri-May 26, 06 New York NY Bowery Ballroom
Sat-May 27, 06 Brooklyn NY South Paw
Sun-May 28, 06 Philadelphia PA First Unitarian Church
Mon-May 29, 06 Charlotteville VA Satellite Ballroom
Tue-May 30, 06 Asheville NC Orange Peel
Wed-May 31, 06 Atlanta GA Drunken Unicorn
Fri-Jun 2, 06 Chapel Hill NC Local 506
Sat-Jun 3, 06 Baltimore MD Sonar

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