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J Dilla

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File:Jdilla2005.jpg
J Dilla

J Dilla, alias Jay Dee (born James Yancey February 7 1974–February 10 2006) was a hip-hop record producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s independent, underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan.

Biography

He began his career as Jay Dee, but since 2001 has used the name J Dilla.

Through his work on a string of singles and remix projects for artists De La Soul, Pharcyde, and Busta Rhymes, and quietly serving as a member of A Tribe Called Quest's production team, The Ummah, Jay Dee became known as a major hip-hop prospect by the late 1990s. The hip hop community took notice of his no-frills, breakbeat-laden classic hip-hop style after he helped craft albums for Common (Like Water for Chocolate), D'Angelo (Voodoo), Q-Tip (Amplified) and the debut for his own group Slum Village (Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol. 1).

By the time of his major label debut with Slum Village on Fantastic, Vol. 2 in 2000, Jay Dee was recognized as one of hip-hop's most admired and desired producers. His debut as a solo artist came in 2001 with the single "F**k the Police", followed by the album Welcome to Detroit, kicking off UK indie label BBE Music's "Beat Generation" series. With a growing reputation and impressive resume, he left Slum Village to pursue a major label solo debut on MCA. Work on this album was done in 2002 and 2003, but was never released. Jay Dee's major output of 2003 was production for Common's Electric Circus, which was ridiculed by critics and praised by fans alike for its experimental nature.

From that point, his work has increasingly been released through independent record labels.

Producer/MC Madlib began a collaboration with J Dilla to form the group Jaylib in 2002, releasing the album Champion Sound in 2003. J Dilla appeared on tour with Jaylib in 2004, having various production, MC, and remix credits during 2004-2005 (most notably two tracks on Common's Be), but his output slowed for the first time since his debut. Articles in publications Urb (March 2004) and XXL (June 2005) have confirmed rumors of ill health and hospitalization during this period.

Despite a slower output of major releases, his cult status has remained strong within his core audience, fueled in part by the unauthorized circulation of his underground "beat tapes" (instrumental, raw working material), mostly through internet file sharing. These beat tapes have chronicled a consistent quality of J Dilla's production style through raw break-beat sounds to more refined synth and sample-based cut-ups, while maintaining a natural-feeling soul and R&B influence.

Continuing his arc as an independent solo artist, two J Dilla solo albums, Donuts and The Shining have been announced as 2006 releases by independent labels Stones Throw Records and BBE, respectively.

Health concerns again reached a peak in November 2005 when J Dilla toured Europe performing from a wheelchair.

J Dilla passed away on February 10, 2006 at his home in Los Angeles, California. He had suffered from a blood disease and with lupus nephritis. The official cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Impact On Other Musicians

Dilla's biggest fans often refer to him as "an artist's artist" or "a producer's producer". This is because of frequent comments from other prominent artists who have gone on record citing Jay Dee as an influence and expressing admiration for his music. This is a part of his legacy.

  • "If you were to secretly ask the most praised hip-hop producers, if given a top three, who they fear the most, Dilla’s name would chart on everyone’s list, hands down." (?uestlove, drummer from The Roots)
  • "All the greats respected him the most. ... Common actually stayed with him in his last days -- they both stayed in L.A. together -- and we would go over there when we were working on the album. And I remember him giving me drums. It was such an honor for him to actually give me drums because I'd actually stolen so many drums off of his beat CDs. (laughs) ... Let's also talk about how many rappers bit his style. He even inspired a lot of rappers. The way he would space his words on the beat. The patterns he would get... All that. Whenever people do that, that's Jay Dee all day long." ~ Kanye West, Rapper and Producer, from an interview with Semtex on BBC Radio, February 18th, 2006
  • "I can't begin to explain the influence his mind and ear has had on my band, myself, and the careers of so many other artists. The most humble, modest, worthy and gifted beatmaker I've known...and definitely the best producer on a mic." ~ Black Thought, MC from The Roots

Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest has praised Jay Dee for his creativity with his lyrical rhythms. Pharrell Williams has also gone on record praising Dilla's production sound.

Discography

Selected artist releases: Jay Dee or J Dilla as producer and/or MC:

Selected production as Jay Dee or J Dilla:

Selected uncredited production:


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