Dilla Day Special: J Dilla Starter pack

Before you read this, make sure this is playing:

First, that video is still and will always be a master piece, then, I bet a few things:

1. That, that's one of your favourite songs ever.
2. That it's probably not your favourite song because of Janet's vocals (lovely as they are)
3. That you didn't know that the record was actually Ghost-produced by a man named James Yancey aka J Dilla...well...maybe you did. You are on this blog after all. You must know your musics :)

Haiya, now...
Dilla Day is upon us.


What is Dilla Day you ask? Well, every 7th of February we celebrate the life and work of arguably the best hip hop producer of all tahm.

He's the best in my book...

Also known as Jay Dee or John Doe or even MC Silk, Dilla continues to bless even 9 years after he was taken from us. The man's music simply transcends. Hata sijui niseme nini... The things he did with samples and an MPC are beyond what words can adequately describe.

This year, I'm going to put together a selection of Dilla's works for those of you who are still in the dark. You are welcome.

No. 1

Fantastic Volumes 1 & 2

Volume 1 

Volume 2: 

With rappers 3T and the late, great, Baatin, Jay Dee made up the critically acclaimed, Slum Village. Together, they pretty much created the quintessential Detroit, backpacker sound. When I was really getting into the man, these are two albums I started with. The sound is SUBLIME. Smooth samples, cocky, clever rhymes and just the deepest boom-bap bassline. I was a woman obsessed. Stank face and head nods all day. He has both MCing and production credits on this.

My favourites are Keep it on from Volume one and Players from Volume 2 (which happens to be my best Dilla beat of all time).

No. 2 

JAYLIB: Champion Sound

I mean....Come on..

A collaborative album by two of the best to ever do it: Madlib and JayDee. With mind blowing samples like in "The Official" (above) and hella fun tracks like "Raw Shit" featuring Talib Kweli (below)...this is a must have for any Dilla aficianado.

No. 3

Donuts

Made whilst he was in hospital, this is without a doubt Dilla's Magnum Opus. So BOLD and RAW and BEAUTIFUL and SICK is this album, that it sometimes brings me to tears. Truth. The excellence....the man...the GOD is palpable in Donuts. Talk about next-level-shit. Hata leo, I am yet to hear a hip hop production with this much artistic merit. The album was released 3 days before his death on February 7th 2006, which happens to be his birthday. He would have been 43 tomorrow.

My favourite track on this lightworks.


So there you have it, an introduction to Jay Dee.

This isn't even an iota of what the man did production-wise. Have a look at his full official discography (let's not even get into the Ghost-production he did).

And if you are in Miami this weekend (you lucky bastard), you can join the best MCs right now as they pay tribute to Dilla at the annual Dilla weekend.

Aki I'm going next year! Who's coming with me???? Tuendeni

We love and miss you Dilla. Your drums play on!

Rest in Beats,

N.