Comments on: The Beat Generation: The J Dilla Effect

By: Vincent

Vincent — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:34:11 +0000

Common definitely needed Dilla in 2000 and he made LWFC a much better album. But that “Welcome to Detroit” CD is still in my large box of sh*tty CD’s I will never listen to again. I was SEVERELY disappointed with that one.

By: Zilla Rocca

Zilla Rocca — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:41:18 +0000

Haha

Thanks Deen. However my next Beat Generation will be about how Jay-Z is STILL the best player in the NBA, eeking past Kobe and LeBron just on the strength of “American Gangster” soundtrack and his devastating “Marcy Project 2-step” crossover.

By: Deen

Deen — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:45:06 +0000

You’re no longer on my shit list. Great piece.

By: doctashock

doctashock — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:29 +0000

You’ve just put into words what I’ve had trouble figuring out how to express for a while. Especially with LWFC, which I considered to be somewhat of Common’s swan song and a turning point for Dilla.

I remember the first time I heard “Runnin” and immediately checkin for who the producer was. Around the same time Vibe an an article on the newly formed “Ummah” and living in the Detroit area at the time I was immediately captivated and followed Jay Dee like the new Primo up from then on (meaning I’d buy pretty much any project with his name attached to at least one track). As of right now Black Milk is definitely looking to gain that status next.

By: AaronM

AaronM — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:10:12 +0000

Great piece, Zilla. Damn, you hit the nail on the head with this:
“Dilla beats require rappers like Frank-N-Dank, T3 and Baatin of Slum Village, Madlib, and Guilty Simpson because…they ain’t really saying nuffin’.”
I previewed a few songs off the Guilty Simpson album and he’s really only listenable over Dilla productions. Or to a lesser extent, Dilla proteges like Waajeed and Black Milk, who seem to have inherited Jay’s gift from making clumsy rappers listenable.
“closed-jawed sing-song hooks”? Who could you possibly be referring to?
I should add that Jay raps like most of the Detroit locals he produces. And he’s effective as a rapper in the same way that you described them as being.
closed-jawed sing-song hooks

By: padraig

padraig — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:17:13 +0000

I don’t know, I have a hell of a lot of fun listening to “Soul On Ice” (Canibus, not so much). not that you’re wrong about any of the other stuff - like everyone else said, fine work. this is the first piece in a long time that made me focus on Dilla’s work from a different angle.

By: Zilla Rocca

Zilla Rocca — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:42:14 +0000

Thanks for the looks as usual, folks. I caught hell here in Philly for saying that *gasp!* Dilla is an outstanding producer.

By: Dart_Adams

Dart_Adams — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:15:37 +0000

Dilla’s beats made me spend an entire 3 minutes listening to Beej N’ Dem, Frank N’ Dank, Que D and a bunch of other cats you couldn’t make a captive audience of even if I was tied to a chair with a gun to my head.

Slum Villa didn’t even half spit over the beats half the time, they just let go and went along with the music..it’s a beautiful thing. I still listen to “Fantastic”, “Fantastic Vol. II”, Que D’s “Limited Edition”, 5 Ela (5 Elements) “The Album That Time Forgot”, assorted Frank N’ Dank songs and Dilla’s beat CD’s whenever things seem “bleak” for me.

I thought “Thelonious” was a Slum Village track that Dilla got placed on Common’s album as a promo for Slum Village (Vol .II was forthcoming)…Common ain’t on the track.

One.

By: floodwatch

floodwatch — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:42:05 +0000

“burger-flippers like Group Home” Shit… I just spat coffee all over my keyboard.

I’m the same way - I tend to zone out a little when dudes attempt to wax eloquent about Dilla, but this was outstanding. Fine work, as usual, Zilla.

By: Ass Hat

Ass Hat — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:00:43 +0000

excellent piece. i usually switch off when people start writing about dilla, but this opened my eyes. and, um, ears.