OT: Dilla Day

Submitted by Jehu the Damaja on
8 years ago today, James "J Dilla" Yancey, one of the most influential hip hop producers of all time, lost his battle to lupus. He has produced songs for some big time names such as A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Common, Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson and many many more. Detroit is having it's third annual "Dilla Day" with appearances from the legend himself DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Phife from ATCQ, Slum Village and others. If you are in the area I would suggest you all go check it out!

And since it is Dilla Day, all you Dilla Heads post your favorite songs/instrumentals. I'm on the app so I can't embed but Common's "Love Is..." Is one my favorite Dilla beats. RIP

Link for info about the event tonight
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140206/ENT04/302060012

hopkinsdrums

February 7th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^

The entire donuts album. As a modern drummer, I am heavily influenced by Dilla. The way that he changed the groove of hip-hop music is incredible. I believe his music can be easily approached by those don't even like hip-hop. Thanks, OP, for making a post about this!

Joined: 08/21/2012

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Jehu the Damaja

February 7th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^

I was thinking the same thing, since almost all of his beats include samples from music I know the older crowd would be familiar with. And if they can't stand someone rapping, he has so many instrumentals that anyone would be able to enjoy.

Joined: 02/03/2010

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The Geek

February 7th, 2014 at 10:15 AM ^

Far too many tragedies with Detroit rap artists. I was introduced to his work with Slum Village... Didn't know he produced tracks for A Tribe Called Quest until after his untimely death.

J Dilla RIP.

Joined: 09/08/2009

MGoPoints: 24837

LSA Aught One

February 7th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^

If you missed out on the documentary, Beats, Rhymes and Life, you missed out.  It appears that tip and Phife have both grown up and are trying to be cool with each other.  On that note, I will go back to my headphones.  Also, tip is seriously short.  I met him in Brooklyn and he's barely 5'7" even though Google gives him credit for 6"0.

Joined: 08/24/2011

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Louie C

February 7th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^

I like the original track that appeared on Donuts better. I like the rugged, half finished feel of it which was present throughout the album. I liked how Dilla played with the tempo. He slowed it down for a few beats, then immediately sped it back up. That version also had random chopped up samples of Ronald Isley's voice that lend a haunted soulful essence to that track.

Joined: 11/16/2009

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Qmatic

February 7th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^

Dilla is the greatest hip hop producer of all time. To think he created 'Donuts' when he was literally on his death bed is incredible. I went to Dilla Day 2012, the main reason was one of my favorite emcee's Jay Electronica was set to headline, but he didn't make it. Still was a great show, Danny Brown brought the house down that night.

Joined: 01/09/2013

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gmoney41

February 7th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^

Backspin is pretty good. I wish they would play more 90's and less 80's hip hop, but still, I can't hate on some Roxanne Shante and Utfo.  Dilla was a great producer, loved a lot of his work.  He personally made Slum Village dope, becuse the mc's in slum village kind of put me to sleep.  I would put Dilla just below Dj Premier, Rza in his prime, Pete Rock in the 90's.

Joined: 07/13/2009

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Louie C

February 7th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

What's crazy is that he was absolutely on fire during the mid 90's to early 2000's, producing for R&B and Hip Hop artists left and right, yet went largely unnoticed. He was even responsible for the Janet Jackson smash "Got til it's Gone", but Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis stole the production credit. That was just an anomaly though; Production credit jacking isn't prevalent in the industry, right Dr. Dre?

Joined: 11/16/2009

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Bergs

February 7th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^

Secrets of the Sand Remix and the Look of Love Remix (I'm a sucker for anyone who uses that Minnie Riperton sample). Honestly though, you can't go wrong with Dilla. 

Joined: 09/09/2011

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Bergs

February 7th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

Glad someone recognized it. I just found out about Shigeto last summer and haven't been able to stop listening since. I'm all for it. I haven't found a trustworthy music blog in quite some time.

Joined: 09/09/2011

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medals

February 7th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^

There's a Dilla event out here in NYC (Brooklyn), too.  I'm glad that the Dilla Day thing is gaining some traction.  He was a musical genius.

RIP

Favorite tracks/beats:  Players [do yourself a favor and google/youtube how he changed "Calire" into "Players"]; Nothing Like This; F__ the Police; Let's Take It Back ; Da Rawkus (Sir Bang Version); Fantastic; The Look of Love; Climax; Fall In Love     

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Louie C

February 7th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^

I remember seeing that YT video about a year ago, and was blown away. That demonstrated his genius. "Players" and "What It's All About" are my favorites off of The Fantastic Vol. 2. The latter also contains a sample (Alicia Meyers' "Don't Stop What You're Doing") that he absolutely killed it on.

Joined: 11/16/2009

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TimStraus

February 7th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^

I was never a huge hip hop guy, but something about his stuff just drew me in. My favorite being "Workinonit". It's absolutely amazing he wrote Donuts while being so sick. RIP J Dilla.

Joined: 01/13/2011

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