Dig, Sample, Chop, Sequence

Dig, Sample, Chop, Sequence finds J Rawls returning to the foundations of his sound: Hip Hop built from instinct, feel, and craft. Fresh from recent Javotti releases including The Confidence of Knowing with Talib Kweli, Midnight Angel with Solene Velvet, and The Optimist’s Son with Niko IS, he keeps it focused and deep here.

Often mentioned alongside Fat Jon, Nujabes, and other early 2000s underground innovators, Rawls is also widely seen as a forefather of LoFi Hip Hop. He puts it more plainly: “We just call it Hip Hop.” That spirit runs through every sample, chop, and sequence.

Framed by the final recorded interview with his lifelong friend DJ Buka, who recently passed away, the album carries real heart. Through those interludes, Buka’s story and love of Hip Hop echo Rawls’ own journey, from childhood discovery to a shared lifelong devotion.