For those of you who don’t know, James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla aka Jay Dee was a legendary hip-hop music producer who mastered the art of sampling and helped influence a generation of music lovers and many musicians to come. Artists like Kanye West, Questlove, Pharrell Williams and Madlib wouldn’t be the artists we know them as today if it wasn’t for J Dilla. He is a producer’s producer and has made underground hits for artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, Common, The Roots, De La Soul, D’Angelo, Tha Pharcyde and many more.
Eight years ago in February 2006, he passed away due to complications of lupus and a rare blood disease that he had been struggling with his entire life. Before his passing he left the world with countless volumes of work, many of us already familiar with and others that have recently been discovered and waiting for future release.
I’ve been a fan of J Dilla since the early days of 1996 when I first heard De La Soul’s “Stakes Is High.” There was an energy and vibe behind the music that I couldn’t put my finger on. It was full of life and excitement and it motivated me to find more music from this musical genius. What started as a liking became an obsession. I made it my goal to find any and all things Dilla and have helped carry the torch to keep his legacy alive by telling everyone about him and sharing his music.
February is best known as Black History Month, but in the hip-hop community since his passing, this month has also become known as Dilla Month. To help celebrate this man’s legacy, I’ve put together a mix of some of my favorite Dilla beats from my personal collection. Good music. Strictly vinyl. Turn it up ! Enjoy below…