I’m in a Dilla mood today. That’s right, the late J Dilla, a man who, when it comes to hip-hop, was a genius. No doubt about it. Largely under-appreciated, Jay Dee has been called ‘your producer’s favorite producer.’ He laid low during his lengthy (but, sadly, cut short) career, helping other artists achieve success with his creative vision as a producer. He has worked with the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, The Pharcyde, Slum Village, Frank N Dank, Common, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Talib Kweli & Madlib.
The hip hop world has so much respect for Dilla, and everything he touched. From his earlier production years to his incredible solo work up until his death, James Yancey found his gift in music, and never ceased to give it back to the people.
If you haven’t heard J Dilla’s work, you have probably heard something like it. Dilla inspired so many other producers to do what they do – Pharrell, Kanye, Just Blaze and Madlib, to name a few – that his vision for hip-hop will never die. He was an incredibly skilled beatmaker; his tracks consist mostly of a basic bass/drums combination, as well as samples from classical, soul, and R&B genres to compliment the rhythm. It sometimes sounds like a space odyssey, but, as always, fucking fantastic. While known best for his production, J Dilla also delivered solid lyrics on solo projects like Ruff Draft & Champion Sound. Dilla’s work is absolutely timeless, because he did it better and smarter than anyone else. Don’t ever forget.
