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Last Updated:
Mar 19th, 2008 - 07:43:02 |
Spiritualized
JAY DEE
Tuesday night at Northern Lights Lounge in Detroit was Shoes’ House —
and the room was stacked. This Tuesday (Feb. 7), in particular, was
something special. The Super Bowl weekend had just ended and regulars
at the Lights who made it out on this frigid night were there to
celebrate the release of renowned Detroit hip-hop producer James “Jay
Dee” Yancey’s instrumental album Donuts. Listening parties like this
were thrown across the globe — from the Big Apple to Australia, the
music of Jay Dee was being celebrated.
Just three days after Jay Dee’s
32nd birthday — and the Donuts’ record release — the fun transformed to
tears. On Friday, Feb. 10 in Los Angeles,
Jay Dee passed away due to complications from a long battle with lupus.
Yancey aka Jay Dee aka J Dilla was one of the most influential
producers of modern hip-hop and soul music. It’s possible that his
low-key attitude and devotion to craftsmanship, rather than desire for
stardom, kept the unassuming artist below the mainstream’s radar. But
musicians and purists to the game will tell you he was the producer’s
producer — as talented as a Pharrell Williams or a Kanye West. “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,” The Roots’ ?uestlove told MTV last week. “I am
fortunate to have known this man. He inspires me to perfect my craft in
every way. Dilla was and will always be my hero.”
Before becoming one of hip-hop’s greatest musical inspirations, Dilla
came up through the ranks of the Detroit music scene. Detroit
singer/musician Amp Fiddler first taught Dilla how to work the MPC (a
sampling/beat-making machine). “The first beat he played for me he
looped the whole track from cassette player to cassette player,” Amp
Fiddler said. “There were a few drops — but for the most part it was
pretty damn precise. So I told him he needs to go home and separate all
the samples to load into the MPC, and he came back with all the samples
separated and mapped out exactly how he wanted it. As time went on, he
got better and better. He used to come by the crib to get on the MPC
and (he’d) work on it for three or four hours at a time. He used to
have a big smile on his face — because he was so excited —
after finishing a beat.”
Finishing a beat was one thing, but it was the popular underground
hip-hop sounds of pioneers Pete Rock, Diamond D and DJ Premier that led
Jay Dee on the path to becoming a legendary technician. From the very
beginning of his career Jay Dee was known to be a studio rat, always
working and always improving on his sound. “What separates Dilla from
every other producer in hip-hop is that he became superior to all his
influences,” said DJ House Shoes, a Detroit hip-hop DJ/producer. “He
was a natural and made me want to be better than I was.”
Frank, of the rap duo Frank-n-Dank, remembered that it was Jay Dee’s
Detroit upbringing that would motivate the desire to explore all facets
of hip-hop music and culture: “Me and Jay Dee used to DJ around 10th,
11th grade. We would cut class and DJ at middle schools. He introduced
me to DJing by teaching me how to transform.”
As Jay Dee’s high school years went on at Detroit Pershing, his love of
rhyming and beat-making continued to get stronger. Jay Dee kept making
beats and performing with his group — he was the MC, Copez the DJ and
Frank-n-Dank the dancers. But soon he would link up with T3, Baatin and
Waajeed — at the time known as the crew H20. Slum Village would soon
form and become the main focus of Jay Dee’s musical existence. As Frank
revealed of those early days: “Of everyone that Dilla worked with in
the neighborhood, Slum Village was the front runner. That was Dilla’s
priority.” Frank continued, “When we were all in the studio, it was
like a boot camp. We only had one DAT machine … so there was no room
for mistakes. There were no retakes, you needed to get your beats and
rhymes together beforehand. We would have five-minute beat-battles
where we would take a record and have to finish that beat in five
minutes. It was all a serious learning experience.”
Jay Dee would craft future classics for Slum Village at home, in “the
basement.” Along with another MC he came up with, Phat Kat, they would
eventually start the Gang Starr-structured duo 1st Down, where Jay Dee
was the producer and Phat Kat the MC. After knocking out a bunch of
demo recordings, 1st Down got a break by landing a singles deal with
the then-prestigious Pay Day Records label, home of the likes of O.C.
and Jeru The Damaja. Only one 12” single would be released (“A Day Wit
The Homiez” b/w “Front Street”) and Jay Dee would turn his focus back
to his signature sound and SV.
With an unflinching fondness for studio wizardry and a love for finding
new sounds, Jay Dee began to change the way hip-hop was produced. Phat
Kat stated: “Dilla didn’t fuck around in the studio. Everybody else had
to adjust their style to keep up with Dilla or if they ever wanted the
chance to work with Dilla. You had to be able to knock out your verse
in one take.”
Phat Kat explained that creating music came easily for Jay Dee. “I’ve seen Dilla make beats in 10 minutes. We made that track
off of Welcome 2 Detroit in 10 minutes flat. We completed the whole
Dedication To The Suckers EP from scratch in less than one night. He
did the beats and I laid the verses. We started at 9 p.m. and finished by 12 midnight.”
Slum Village’s first demo, the Dilla-produced Fan-tas-tic, launched Jay
Dee on a long string of notable national production work for the likes
of A Tribe Called Quest, Tha Pharcyde, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Janet
Jackson and Common. As long-time friend and Detroit DJ/musician DJ Dez
expressed: “Dilla was able to cross genres in such a manner that he
made it all feel the same. He had people not making hip-hop seeking his
work. Like when we were in the studio with Erykah Badu making ‘Didn’t
Cha Know.’ I was playing percussion on there. It was some ol’ soul shit
and with Dilla it came out quick and easy. Afterwards, we’re in the car
with Erykah and she couldn’t help but rant and rave about how amazing
Dilla is.”
With musicians from all over the world eager to collaborate with him,
Jay Dee left Slum Village shortly after the release of the group’s
Fantastic Vol. 2 to explore his solo ventures and other production
work. In 2001, Jay Dee released the compilation-esque album Welcome 2
Detroit on BBE Records. “Jay was one of my favorite hip-hop producers
of all time,” Peter Adarkwah, founder of BBE Records, said in a
statement last week. “His passion for music was a rare thing amongst
people in the music industry. His music and presence will be sorely
missed.”
Following his time at BBE, Jay Dee landed an ill-fated album deal with
MCA Records. He bounced back with stellar solo releases such as the
“Fuck The Police” 12” single and the Ruff Draft EP, along with the
classic collaboration known as Jaylib with west coast MC/producer
Madlib. Besides the release of Donuts, Jay Dee was able to finish at
least two other projects before his death, an EP titled Jay Love Japan
and the full-length solo album The Shining — both originally slated for
release later this year. | RDW
Jay Dee’s Donuts is in stores now.
J. Dilla
aka Jay Dee
Donuts
Stones Throw
While listening to Donuts before his untimely death, we hear an album
of two-and-half-dozen beats from Dilla just chopping up crazy samples
and showing a lot of experimentation. The listener gets a big whiff of
Dilla’s beat-making genius, with a dash of influence from his recent
West Coast associations with Madlib and the Stones Throw crew.
Upon his death, Donuts took on a whole new meaning. While much of the
album was made during recent stays in the hospital, it was as if Dilla
knew his upcoming fate and was making his own farewell to the world
with Donuts. Many of the samples used and the songs’ titles do all the
talking. On “Don’t Cry,” sampled vocals singing the words “I can’t
stand to see you cry” repeat throughout. The heavenly sounds of “Waves”
or “One Eleven” are enough to make you want to shed a tear. Most
incredibly, is the way the album closes out with tracks named “U-Love,”
“Hi,” “Bye” and “Last Donut of the Night,” as if Dilla was saying
goodbye to everyone through his music. — KF
My Thoughts
by T3
[As young men at Detroit’s Pershing High School, T3 co-founded Slum
Village with Jay Dee and Baatin in the mid-‘90s. Real Detroit asked the
long-time friend of Jay Dee to share his thoughts regarding Dilla’s
passing. — Ed.]
Dilla dog was one of the most slept on MCs and producers that ever
lived … He was one of my closest friends, more like a brother …
The founder of the whole neo soul-sound, respected amongst “the who’s
who list” of people in the entertainment game. We — as Slum Village —
will make people aware of all the things J Dilla done for music. And
moving the needle for Detroit artists, he paved a way for all of us in
hip-hop — ask any well-known producer and they know who the fuck Dilla
was. In fact, he’s probably on their top 5 list. His sound will live on
through Slum Village forever. | RDW
Slum Village’s self-titled fifth album is in stores.
Top 5 Jay Dee Productions
by Kelly “K-Fresh” Frazier
Slum Village - Fan-tas-tic
The demo cassette tape that started it all. This 22-track underground
release would find its way to the hands of Q-Tip from A Tribe Called
Quest and Jay Dee would soon start producing for the group.
Common - “The Light”
The biggest chart hit in Jay Dee’s discography. The way in which Jay
Dee chopped up the Bobby Caldwell sample brought out the essence of the
song before Common even
laid his verses.
Slum Village - “Players”
A virtual Detroit anthem for almost a decade now. Jay Dee amazingly
chopped up vocals singing the word “Claire” by Singers Unlimited to
make it sound like “Players.”
Phat Kat - “Don’t Nobody Care About Us”
One of countless examples in Jay Dee’s body of work that displays his mastery of finding the perfect loop.
Jay Dee - “Fuck The Police”
Of all his solo songs, this is the joint that invokes the most energy
and crowd participation every time it is played. “On the count of three
say, ‘Fuck the police!’ / 1, 2, 3 / ‘Fuck the police!’” | RDW
Jay Dee Discography
Artist Titles (As Producer and/or MC):
1st Down — No Place To Go 12" single 1993
1st Down — A Day Wit The Homiez 12" Single 1995 (Pay Day Records)
Slum Village — Fan-Tas-Tic 12" single 1996
Slum Village — Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) CD/LP 1996 (Donut Boy Recordings)
Slum Village — We Be Down/Players 12" 1997 (Sudden Impact)
Jay Dee — Jay Dee Unreleased (Remixes) 12" EP 1997 (House Shoes Records)
Slum Village — Fantastic Vol. 2 CD/LP 2000 (Goodvibe) 2002 (Capitol)
J-88 — Look Of Love (Remix) 12" single 1999 (Groove Attack)
J-88 — Best Kept Secret 12" EP 2000 (Groove Attack)
Jay Dee — Fuck The Police/Move, feat. Frank N Dank 12" single 2001 (Up Above)
Jay Dee — Welcome 2 Detroit CD/LP 2001 (BBE)
1st Down — A Day Wit The Homiez CD 2002 (RonnieCash.com)
Jay Dee — The Official Instrumental Series: Vol 1 12" EP 2002 (Bling47.com)
Jay Dee feat. Frank N Dank — Take Dem Clothes Off/Off Ya Chest 12" single 2002 (ABB)
Jay Dee feat. Frank N Dank — Push 12" EP 2002 (Mummy / Groove Attack)
Jay Dee — Vintage 2003 CD/LP (Bling47.com)
Jay Dee — Ruff Draft 12" EP 2003 (Mummy/Groove Attack)
Jaylib — Champion Sound CD/LP 2003 (Stones Throw)
Jaylib — Blaze Up, Raw Shit (Remix), The Mission (Remix) from Stones Throw 101 12" EP 2004 (Stones Throw)
Jay Dee — Welcome 2 Detroit Instrumentals CD/LP 2005 (BBE)
Jay Dee — V.3 Instrumentals (Bling47.com)
Jay Dee — Donuts: The EP 12" 2005 (Stones Throw)
Jay Dee — Donuts CD/LP 2006 (Stones Throw)
MC only:
Tami Hert — If You Were Mine (Detroit Demolition Mix) from "If You Were Mine" 12" single 1997 (550 Music)
v/a — Fight Club, feat. Dilla, Nottz & Boogie from "Best Kept Secret Mix" CD 2003 (Bling47.com)
Dabrye — Game Over 12" single 2004 (Ghostly International)
Wale Oyejide — There's A War Going On 12" single 2004 (Shaman Work)
Wale Oyejide — There's A War Going On from "One Day, Everything Changed" CD/LP 2004 (Shaman Work)
Slum Village — Reunion from "Detroit Deli" CD/LP 2004 (Barak/Capitol)
Pete Rock — Niggaz Know from "Soul Survivor II" CD/LP 2004 (Rapster /BBE)
v/a — Do Your Thang, Stupid from "BR Gunna Presents Dirty District Vol. 2" CD 2004 (Barak)
Phat Kat — Door from "The Undeniable LP" (New Version) CD/LP 2004 (Barak)
Sa-Ra Creative Partners — Thrilla from "The Second Time Around" EP 2005 (Sound In Color)
Lawless Element — Love (feat. Jay Dilla) from "Soundvision: InStereo" 2005 Babygrande
Platinum Pied Pipers — Shotgun, Act Like You Know from "Triple P" CD/LP 2005 (Ubiquity)
Diamond — We Gangstas from "Diamond Mine" CD 2005
Platinum Pied Pipers — Shotgun (Remix) from 12" single 2005 (Ubiquity)
Production Credits (by year):
1994-1995
Da Enna C — NOW from "Throw Ya Hands In Da Air" 12" single 1994 (Up Top)
Little Indian — One Little Indian 12" single 1995 (Premeditated)
Poe — Fingertips from "Hello" CD/LP 1995 (WEA / Atlantic)
1996
5-Elementz — Whutchawant, Feed Back, Rockshows, Party Groove, Janet
Jacme, E.G.O., Don't Stop, Searchin from "The Album Time Forgot"
cassette 1996 (That Was Entertainment)
A Tribe Called Quest — 1nce Again, Get A Hold, Keeping It Moving,
Stressed Out, Word Play from "Beat, Rhymes, & Life" CD/LP 1996
(Jive Records)
Busta Rhymes — Keep It Movin', Still Shinin' from "The Coming" CD/LP 1996 (Elektra)
Busta Rhymes — Woo-Hah!! (Jay-Dee Bounce Remix), Woo-Hah!! (Jay-Dee Other Shit Remix) 12" single 1996 (Elektra)
Busta Rhymes — It's a Party (Ummah Remix), Ill Vibe (Ummah Remix) 12" single 1996 (Elektra)
De La Soul — Stakes Is High from "Stakes Is High" CD/LP 1996 (Tommy Boy)
De La Soul — Stakes Is High (Remix) from Itzsoweezee 12" single 1996 (Tommy Boy)
Mad Skillz — It's Going Down, The Jam from "From Where???" 1996 (Big Beat)
Keith Murray — The Rhyme (Remix), Dangerous Ground from "Enigma" 1996 (Jive)
Natives Of Da Underground — Pack Da Hous/Brotha's Juss Don't Know/Whatcha Gonna Do? 12" single 1996 (ALR)
The Notorious B.I.G. — The Ugliest from DJ Head "W.E.G.O." mixtape
Phife Dawg — Game Day from "NFL Jams" 1996 (Castle)
Proof — Da Science from "Detroit Hip Hop Volume 1" 1996 Modern Tribe
Proof — Vibe Session from "Anywhere" 12" single 1996 (Hip Hop Shop)
Tha Pharcyde — Runnin', Bullshit, Splatittorium, Somethin' That Means
Somethin', Drop, Y? from "Labcabincalifornia" CD/LP 1996 (Delicious
Vinyl)
1997
5-Elementz — Sun Flower from "Yester Years" 12" EP 1997 (That Was Entertainment)
A Tribe Called Quest — Get A Hold, Mardi Gras At Midnight from "Jam" EP 1997 (Jive Records)
Brand New Heavies — Sometimes (Ummah Remix) from "Sometimes" 12" single 1997 (Delicious Vinyl)
Busta Rhymes — So Hardcore from "When Disaster Strikes" CD/LP 1997 (Elektra)
Crustation — Purple (ATCQ Edit) 12" single 1997 (Zomba)
Janet Jackson — Got Til It's Gone (Ummah Jay Dee Revenge Mix) 12" single 1997 (Virgin)
Somethin' For The People — All I Do (Remix) from "All I Do" 12" single 1997 (WB)
T Da Pimp — Why You Lookin Hard?/We Knowwe Rockit 12" single 1997 (Penmp)
Tha Pharcyde — She Said (Remix) 12" single 1997 (Delicious Vinyl)
Tha Pharcyde — Runnin (Remix), Y? (Remix) from "Drop" 12" single 1997 (Delicious Vinyl)
Truz — True Dawgs/Routes To Hell 12" single 1997 (Ad Fam)
1998
A Tribe Called Quest — 4 Moms, Against The World, Busta's Lament, Da
Booty, Find A Way, His Name Is Mutty Ranks, Start It Up, Steppin' It Up
from "The Love Movement" CD/LP 1998 (Jive Records)
A Tribe Called Quest — That Shit from "Funkmaster Flex Vol. 3" 1998 (Loud Records)
Bizarre — Butterfly from Attack of the Wierdos 12" EP 1998 (Federation)
Mood — Secrets Of The Sand (Remix) from "Snake Backs" 12" single 1998 (Blunt)
N'Dea Davenport — Bullshittin (Remix) from "N'Dea Davenport" CD/LP 1998 (V2) (mixed by Jay Dee)
1999
5 Ela — You Ain't Fresh, Ain't No Love from 5-E Pt. 3 1999 (That Was Entertainment)
Brand New Heavies — Saturday Night (Jay Dee Remix) from "Saturday Night" 12" single 1999 (Delicious Vinyl)
Heavy D — Listen from "Heavy" CD/LP 1999 (Universal)
Macy Gray — I Try (Remix) 12" single 1999 (Epic)
Nine Yards — Always Find A Way (Remix) 12" single 1999 (Virgin)
Phat Kat — Dedication To The Suckers 12" single 1999 (House Shoes Recordings)
Phife Dawg — Bend Ova/Thought U Wuz Nic 12" single 1999 (Groove Attack)
Que D — Underestimated, Supa Shit, Kilo, Cash Flow, Michelle, Rock Box,
Don't Stop from "Quite Delicious" cassette 1999 and "Que D Limited
Edition" CD 2003 (Royal Flyness)
Q-Tip — 11 tracks from "Amplified" CD/LP 1999 (Arista)
The Roots — Dynamite from Things Fall Apart CD/LP 1999 (MCA)
The Roots — New Year's @ Jay Dee's from "You Got Me" CD single 1999 (MCA)
Zooco — Butterfly from "Glow-Mellow-Flow" CD/LP 1999? (Columbia Japan)
2000
Black Star — Little Brother from "The Hurricane (Soundtrack)" CD/LP 2000 (MCA)
Brand New Heavies — Sometimes (Remix), Saturday Night (Remix) from "Trunk Funk Classics" CD/LP 2000 (Delicious Vinyl)
Busta Rhymes — Enjoy Da Ride, Live It Up, Show Me What You Got from "Anarchy" CD/LP 2000 (Elektra)
Common — 10 tracks from "Like Water For Chocolate" CD/LP 2000 (MCA)
Common — The Light (Remix) from "Bamboozled (Soundtrack)" 2000 (Motown)
De La Soul — Thru Ya City from "Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump" CD/LP 2000 (Tommy Boy)
Erykah Badu — Cleva, My Life, Didn't Cha Know, Kiss Me On My Neck from "Mama's Gun CD/LP 2000 (Motown)
Frank N Dank — Me & My Man/Love (A Thing Of The Past) 12" single 2000 (McNasty)
Frank N Dank — Everybody Get Up/Give It Up Pt. 2 12" single 2000 (McNasty)
Guru feat. Bilal — Certified from "Guru's Jazzmatazz Street Soul" CD/LP 2000 (Virgin)
Innerzone Orchestra — People Make The World Go Round (J-88 Mix) — 12" single 2000 (Planet E)
Phife Dawg — Bend Ova, 4 Horseman from "Ventilation: Da LP" CD/LP 2000 (Groove Attack)
Phife Dawg — Ya Heard Me from "Definition of Ill Compilation" 2000 bootleg
Royce Da 5'9" — Let's Grow from "Lyricist Lounge Volume 2" CD/LP 2000 (Rawkus)
Spacek — Eve (Remix) 12" single 2000 (Blue)
2001
Bahamadia- One-4-Teen (Remix) from "Summer Sampler" CD 2001 (Goodvibe)
Bilal — Reminisce from "1st Born Second LP" CD/LP 2001 (Interscope)
Busta Rhymes — Genesis, Make It Hurt from "Genesis" CD/LP 2001 (Elektra)
Chino XL — Don't Say A Word from "I Told You So" CD/LP 2001 (Metro Records)
De La Soul — Peer Pressure (Intro & Outro Monologues by Jay Dee) from AOI: Bionix CD/LP 2001 (Tommy Boy)
Lucy Pearl — Without You (Remix) 12" single 2001 (Pookie/Virgin)
Mos Def — Can U C The Pride In The Panther? (Remix) 12" Single 2001 (Interscope)
Que D — In Yo Face from "Still Bangin" 12" single 2001 (Up Above) and "Que D Limited Edition" CD 2003 (Royal Flyness)
Toshi Kubota — Nothin But Your Love (Remix) 12" single 2001 (Epic)
2002
Big Tone — Party Crasher (mixed by Jay Dee) from Party Crasher 12" Antidote 2002
Busta Rhymes — It Ain't Safe No More, What Up, Turn Me Up Some from "It Ain't Safe No More..." CD/LP 2002 (Elektra)
Common — various production & instrumental credits from "Electric Circus" CD/LP 2002 (MCA)
DJ Jazzy Jeff — Are You Ready (with Slum Village) from "The Magnificent" 12" EP 2002 (BBE)
Phat Kat — Dedication To The Suckers, Don't Nobody Care About Us,
Microphone Master, Big Booties, World Premier from "Dedication To The
Suckers" LP/CD 2002 (RonnieCash.com)
Slum Village — Hoes, Let's, One from "Trinity" CD/LP 2002 (Capitol)
Talib Kweli — Where Do We Go, Stand To The Side from "Quality" CD/LP 2002 (Rawkus)
2003
ASD (Afrob & Samy Deluxe) — Komm Schon from "Wer Hatte Das Gedacht?" CD/LP 2003 (Eimsbush)
ASD (Afrob & Samy Deluxe) — Wenn Ihr Fuhlt... from "Hey Du" 12" EP 2003 (Eimsbush)
Common — Come Close "Remix" (Closer) 12" single 2003 (MCA)
De La Soul — Much More/Shoomp 12" single 2003 (AOI)
Fourtet — As Serious As Your Life (Remix) 12" single 2003 Domino
Frank N Dank — 48 Hours CD 2003 (Bootleg)
Vivian Green — Fanatic (Remix) 12" Single 2003 (Sony)
Phat Kat — Dedication 2004, Destiny, Big Booties from "The Undeniable LP: Detroit Edition" CD/LP 2003 Barak Records
Que D — Supa Shit 12" single 2003 (Royal Flyness)
Royce Da 5'9" — Life Goes On from "Build & Destroy: Lost Sessions Part 1" 2003 (Trouble Records)
Subtitle — Mark Luv Mixtape Song from "Greatest Hi$$" CD 2003 (Marks03 Recordings)
T-Love — When You're Older, Who Smoked Sunshine, Chiquita, Long Way Back from "The Long Way Back" 2003 (Pickininny)
2004
5 Ela — Scenario 2004 from "The EP" 2004 (5 Elements)
Amp Fiddler — You Play Me, Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly from "Waltz Of A Ghetto Fly" CD/LP 2004 (Genuine/PIAS)
Amp Fiddler — I Believe In You (Jaylib Mix) CD/12" single 2004 (Genuine/PIAS)
Brother Jack McDuff — Oblighetto (J Dilla Remix) from "Blue Note Revisted" CD/LP 2004 (Blue Note)
DJ Cam — Love Junkee (Remix) 12" single 2003 (Inflamable) and "Liquid Hip Hop CD/LP 2004 (Inflamable)
Elzhi — Love It Here, Days & Nights, Concrete Eyes, Friends from
Libido Speedo Presents..."Elzhi: Witness My Growth The Mixtape '97-'04"
2CD (Libido Sounds)
Frank-N-Dank — Let's Go, Okay, MCA from "Xtended Play" CD/LP 2004 (Needillworks)
Jaylib — Popshit from "Stones Throw 100" 12" (Stones Throw)
Lawless Element — The Shining 12" single 2004 (RMR/Fat Beats)
Oh No — Move from "The Disrupt" CD/LP 2004 (Stones Throw)
Proof of D12 — Bring It 2 Me from "I Miss The Hip Hop Shop" CD/LP 2004 (Iron Fist)
Prozack — Leisure Rules from "Death, Taxes, and Prozack" CD 2004 (Outofwork Records)
Slum Village — Do You from "Detroit Deli" CD/LP 2004 (Barak/Capitol)
2005
Common — Love is..., It's Your World (Part 1 & 2) from "Be" CD/LP and "Be Instrumentals" LP 2005 (GOOD Music/Geffen)
Common — The Movement from "NBA 2K6 — The Tracks" CD/LP 2005 (Decon)
Dwele — Keep On from "Some Kinda" CD/LP 2005 (Virgin)
Dwight Trible & The Life Force Trio — Antiquity from "Love Is The Answer" CD/LP 2005 (Ninja Tune)
MED — Push, So Real from "Push Comes To Shove" CD/LP 2005 (Stones Throw)
Moka Only — One Time from "The Desired Effect" CD/LP 2005 (Nettwerk)
Oh No — Move Part 2 feat. J Dilla & Roc C 12" single 2005 (Stones Throw)
Slum Village — Who Are We from "Prequel To A Classic" CD 2005 (Barak Records)
Spacek — Dollar from "Space Shift" CD/LP 2005 (Sound in Color)
Donuts for Dilla
by Joe Walker
J Dilla’s music touched a lot of people — fans and producers alike. One
of those people is Georgia-based producer CJ. Heavily influnced by
Dilla, CJ’s dream was to one day meet his influential role model. J
Dilla’s unexpected passing laid to rest CJ’s dream.
Real Detroit: What was it about Dilla that you liked and respected so much?
CJ: Passion. Technique. Raw
talent and passion. Dilla's work is REAL music. Dilla's sound made me
wonder how he did what he did, so many of us (producers) studied,
deconstructed, replayed, resampled and pondered his music. The
generation before us often said that Hip Hop was not REAL music, I have
used Dilla's work to prove otherwise. Works every time!
RD: What about him influenced you?
CJ: Dilla was a musician as
well as a producer so, being a musician and producer myself I am able
to identify with making songs that have complex chord structures. I was
also influenced by different time signatures. He made songs that were
not just in 4/4 time. There are the subtle things that drove me to
study further, for instance, Janet Jackson's "Got 'Til It's Gone" Remix
went from a four bar loop to a five bar loop at the end. I mean ... who
does that other than Jazz musicians? Oh, let's not forget about the
drums ... I could go ON and ON and ON about them joints.
RD: Other than
respecting his work and being a producer, how were you and Dilla
connected? Who are some of the people you're connected through?
CJ: We really weren't connected through any people per se, but there is a
connection to the state of Michigan. Although I was born in Georgia, my
musical birth was in Michigan. We all know that New York, L.A. and the
South have there own "sounds"... we'll I say that Michigan (especially
Detroit) has it's own sound. I really don't think I would make music
the way I do if I had started making music in Georgia.
RD: How does it make you feel to know that you two will never meet?
CJ: Awful, just awful. I'll
never get to ask him questions or watch him make music or anything like
that. But to keep things in perspective, that's the least
important really. It is worse to know that he'll no longer be able to be a
friend, brother, son or father. Sometimes we forget that he, and other
people that we idolize, are regular people too. So I feel bad for his
friends and family more than I do for myself. | RDW
CJ has made a tribute "donut" for Dilla called "Daily Donut." It can be downloaded at cjplays.com.
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