Ramble John “R.J.” Krohn told The Lantern in a raspy whisper over the phone that he had lost his voice earlier in the week. It seemed oddly appropriate considering Krohn’s career as a musician and producer under the alias RJD2.

Krohn has found success in the world of independent hip-hop thanks to his skills as a disc jockey, and rarely has he needed his voice to stand out. He has produced beats for underground favorites MF DOOM and Aceyalone and created four solo albums of his own work. His songs have crept into popular media as well. His track “A Beautiful Mine” is the theme to the AMC television series “Mad Men,” and the song “Ghostwriter” is the theme for TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”

It’s not that Krohn is against lending his vocals to a song. He just rarely does. Critics widely agree with his decision. His heavily-instrumental 2009 album “The Colossus” has received praise while his 2007 album “The Third Hand” received less than stellar reviews as a result of his more frequent vocal activity.

Krohn outsourced most of the vocals in “The Colossus” and focused on what he’s renowned for: producing samples of various musical styles electronically and combining those with his own instrument playing to form diverse and catchy beats. The album opener “Let There Be Horns” uses brass and percussion to create a jazzy atmosphere, while songs like “Giant Squid” revolve around strings and electronics.

Krohn’s blending of styles causes disagreement over his genre. Often he is lumped with hip-hop due to his involvement as a producer, while others see him as rock, pop or electronica. Krohn said he would rather not choose a side.

“Genre is not a completely accurate way to describe a record in my opinion,” he said. “If you want to call it hip-hop, call it hip-hop. If you don’t want to, that’s fine too. Call it whatever you want.”

Krohn will bring his mash-up of styles to Skully’s on High Street this Friday for the first show of his 2010 tour. It will be a homecoming of sorts.

Krohn was raised in Columbus, where he attended the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. He was involved in the band program but quit after buying his first turntable from a friend. Krohn said that he never envisioned himself as a DJ playing at dance clubs but instead aspired to develop the skill of scratching, or dragging an LP back and forth to create interesting aural effects, and to work making beats for musicians.

Krohn’s first role in the music industry was as the DJ for Columbus rap group MHz. He released a mix tape of his work titled “Your Face Or Your Kneecaps” and was signed to New York independent hip-hop label Definitive Jux a year later. Krohn said that the need to travel frequently to New York motivated him to relocate from Columbus to Philadelphia, where he currently resides.

Krohn eventually left Definitive Jux before he released “The Third Hand.” Krohn said that before beginning work on “The Colossus,” he decided to form his own record label so that he could handle his own master tracks — the original recordings of his work.

“First and foremost, it’s a vessel for myself,” Krohn said about his fledgling label. “I would jump on the opportunity to work with other artists. But it was made to help me. I had a good idea of what it took to release an album. It wasn’t rocket science.”

Krohn says that he considers the production side of making music more rewarding than playing the role of musician, but that he wouldn’t give up either side of the process.

“I don’t ever use one without the other,” he said.

Krohn said that those curious about his music should check out his show at Skully’s rather than wait for a later date. He said he may go on a long hiatus after the tour and that his current plans are unlike anything he’s done before.

“It’s really a one-of-a-kind thing. A lot of preparation went into this particular show,” he said. “This show is not the kind that I’ll probably ever do again.”

Krohn will probably have reacquired his voice by the show on Friday at 8 p.m. But if not, Krohn can use his skills at the turntables to do the talking for him.