Forgive the saccharine sentimentality and the trite notion that a concert can have capital “M” meaning. But if it couldn’t, these words would be even cheaper. Dilla died three years ago Tuesday and his music meant myriad things to a million people. Brandon’s Dilla/Donuts extravaganza, best explicates what separated James Yancey from your run-of-the-mill crate carrion. If you’re curious to the cult of the cream of Conant, Donuts month comes highly recommended.
This Wednesday, I saw his younger brother, Illa J(ohn) perform at Amoeba Records. The show was fun, but it’s gravity sprang from extracurricular circumstance. LA was/is the Yancey’s adopted hometown, and while this city’s focus is typically more James Franco than James Yancey, it did Jay Dee right. 200 people, Dilla chants, Donuts on the sound system before and after, no hipster archness, just a bunch of people who really loved music and wanted to pay their respects. The write-up and interview with Illa J is at the Weekly. Interview B-sides below the jump. Like Ralph Wiggum , you know the score.
LA Weekly:Live @ Amoeba Records–Illa J and the Timelessness of J Dilla
Download:
MP3: Slum Village, Frank Nitty & Illa J-“Homage”
MP3: Illa J-“Timeless”
What are your thoughts on your brother’s legacy in the wake of his passing and the way his popularity seems to have skyrocketed posthumously?
It shows that if you do something real, it’s going to get recognized, even if it might not be in your lifetime. Sometimes people, will be like, ‘ah, I hate that it took him to pass to become big,” but at the same time you have to look at the positive side. His legacy is still growing, sometimes it takes a lot of b.s to appreciate the good stuff. The main thing about his legacy is that it’s continuing. We’re gonna take it to the next level, taking it step by step. It’s about making progress.
I really liked the “Homage to Dilla,” you, S.V. and Frank Nitti released this week. How did that come together?
Well, when I work with Focus, whenever he sends me something, I come right back with it, it’s like bam bam bam. It’s just of those relationships where you know the work gets down fast.
Who else have you been working with?
Right now, I’m just working on production for my next album. Outside of the beats I’m making for myself, I’m definitely going to work with Focus, R.J. Madlib definitely. I’m actually working with Slum right now on their new project.
Have you been playing a lot of shows lately?
I did San Francisco, that was really live. I did a show back home in Detroit, which was dope, because in Detroit, they’re really hard on you. So it was nice to see people at home showing love.
How’s progress coming on your next album?
Whenever, I get an ah…that’s it feeling, I’ll put a song to the side. I’m 20 joints in on it, but I’m just going to keep working until it’s right.
Are you going to rhyme over any of your brother’s beats?
It has to be the right one, it has to have the right feel.
What you using to make beats?
I’m using Boss Dr-3 for my drums and I’m play everything else.
No samples?
Nope. I grew up on natural instrumentation, so it’s more natural for me to just play the Moog and my Spector Bass.
There’s a lot of singing on your album, which is a contrast from your brother who pretty much just rhymed and made beats? Do you see yourself as more a rapper or singer?
I try to do a mixture of vocals. I consider myself a singer songwriter first I’ve been writing since I was 8. I didn’t necessarily know whether it was poetry or songwriting and the more I wrote, the more I realized that these were songs.
Who are your favorite songwriters?
Paul McCartney, Hall & Oates, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Motown, Holland-Dozier, Leon Huff. I’ve actually gotten a lot of inspiration from my sister. She writes poetry and helped me take my writing to the next level.
How old’s your sister?
She’s 31, turning 32 this year, she’s the next youngest to me. I’m the youngest one. People have always told me that I have an older soul because I’ve been hanging around my sister’s friends my entire life, so hanging out with older people is really natural.
What are your plans for the next few months?
Definitely trying to do some touring. We’re trying to put things together now. I can’t wait to be on stage, it’s like a basketball player, sitting on the bench, looking at the lock, I want to get in the game.
