While everyone on the Internet continues to mythologize Dilla on his born day (and I can’t knock the impulse), it’s important to remember that he was a real human being — not some Yoda-like alien chopping up records through the force. This an extensive and pretty essential long interview with Dilla from 2003, conducted in […]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMAqry9TfLs This was Alex Koenig’s rough draft. “Jay-Dee’s Revenge” is the first track to surface from Rebirth of Detroit, an upcoming album that features Detroit artists rapping over unreleased J Dilla beats. But “Revenge” isn’t one of the late producer’s sweeter donuts—the song’s harsh, deep bass line and oscillating synthesizer pattern signify menace. Danny Brown […]

Admittedly, the world doesn’t need any more Dilla hagiography, but credit owed to Benji B and the BBC for doing due diligence in wrangling interviews with Dilla’s family, Slum V, Mos, Busta, Common, Badu and basically everyone who has ever appeared on Okayplayer. It runs an hour and anyone with a passing or cultish interest […]

If it was left up to Evan Nabavian, he would be living proof. Proof and Dilla. It’s no secret that hip-hop reveres its fallen. Artists and fans created dozens of NateDogg tributes before the man was even buried. “Rest in peace” is probably a more common refrain at rap shows than “Make some noise.” So […]

“J.Dilla: Still Shining” from B.Kyle on Vimeo. Every day is Dilla day on the rap Internet, but in the interest of commemorating the born day of one of the G.O.A.T.’s, Brian “B. Kyle” Atkins unleashes this must-see doc on the life of James Yancey– complete with cameos from Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Badu, Common (complete with […]

Aesthetic by-laws require this song seeing the light of day (or its low-budget blog equivalent). The reasons are obvious. A superior flip of The Meters “Handclapping Song” (take that will.i.am.), shouts courtesy of M.O.P., and long-buried audio footage of Dilla and Madlib talking shit for three minutes. The track comes from the sessions from their […]

For all the derision that Pitchfork’s hip hop coverage inspires, Nate Patrin’s treatise on the ongoing influence of Dilla reads among the most compelling and comprehensive that I’ve read anywhere. It’s easy to play the connect the dots game with Dilla, but much harder to assess the specifics of his subtly shifting sound and analyze […]

Clearly, Men Without Hats had the blueprint for Goodie Mobb’s “People Don’t Dance No Mo.” Granted, Cee-Lo has been known to sport a witch’s hat like he attended Necromancy school, but observe the clown/jesters, the big hair, the makeup. A coincidence? I think not. Pity the hat-less males — a one-hit wonder nonpareil, destined to be […]

Stussy – J Dilla Documentary Prt3 (of 3) from Stussy on Vimeo. The final part of Stussy’s three-part series on the life of J Dilla might be the best yet, providing a generous glimpse into Dilla’s recording habits, the genesis of Donuts, and his posthumous legacy. If you missed parts 1 and 2, they’re still […]

More posts coming shortly, but in the interim, Stussy continues to validate the massive contributions I made to its bottom line in the early 90s. Part two breaks down Dilla’s move to Cali, his creative symbiosis with Madlib, and whether he preferred Frank to Dank. Download: MP3: J Dilla ft. Frank-N-Dank-“Pause”