J Dilla/Jay Dee
February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006
There are way to many reasons why he is my favorite producer and that’s saying a lot cus I have a mean line up of producers that have changed my life, but if you know me well, you’ll know that J Dilla taught me about myself through his music. I still zone out to his tracks and let my thoughts wonder about and great idea after great idea flows until I’m done and then when I need to brainstorm again, he’s only a play button away. Not a lot of people are up on all his contributions to the hip-hop landscape. I conducted an interview with him in early 2001, it’s one of my treasures. Check it out as part of the much missed Scratch Magazine’s dope tribute here.
As for the music, there is too much to list, but I would say start with these 20 dope tracks in this user’s Youtube playlist.
After that, click around and enjoy the other posts that Dilla lovers have uploaded. Learning from die-hard fans is a sure fire way to get the goods of his A-plus work.
There is one beat in particular that got me through some tough times a few years ago, the title is more fitting than anything…
Happy Birthday Brother, wish you were here to enjoy it with your friends and family.
Datwon Thomas (@Daydog on Twitter)
