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J Dilla
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hip-hop, underground hip-hop, hip hop, instrumental hip-hop, stones throw… see all
James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974–February 10, 2006), better known as J Dilla or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and emcee, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. He began his career as “Jay Dee” but used the name “J Dilla” from 2001 on. Many critics believe J Dilla’s work to have had a major influence on his peers, and he perhaps embodied the neo soul sound, playing a defining yet understated role during the sub-genre’s rise (roughly from the mid-90s to the early 2000s).
J Dilla was known as a “producer’s producer”, and was highly regarded by better known producers such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pharrell Williams (who named him as his favourite producer). Many considered him as a musical genius. A large catalogue of his work, mostly unused beats, remains unreleased, and in some cases have been freely passed around through the internet, impressing enthusiasts and adding to his cult-status.
Gaining inspiration from listening to Whodini’s “Big Mouth” back in the day, Jay began to try his hand at making beats by using the “pause” and record buttons on his tape deck. After learning to work an MPC-60 back in 92’ from Amp Fiddler, Jay Dilla was on his way to becoming one of hip-hop’s illest beat makers.
After hooking up with two high school friends, T3 and Baatin, they formed the crew called, Slum Village (circa 1988), and Jay started to polish his rhyming skills to match his dope production. As Slum Village began to show themselves in Detroit and around the east coast Jay was also busy getting his production noticed by other artists in the music industry.
J Dilla was known as a “producer’s producer”, and was highly regarded by better known producers such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Pharrell Williams (who named him as his favourite producer). Many considered him as a musical genius. A large catalogue of his work, mostly unused beats, remains unreleased, and in some cases have been freely passed around through the internet, impressing enthusiasts and adding to his cult-status.
Gaining inspiration from listening to Whodini’s “Big Mouth” back in the day, Jay began to try his hand at making beats by using the “pause” and record buttons on his tape deck. After learning to work an MPC-60 back in 92’ from Amp Fiddler, Jay Dilla was on his way to becoming one of hip-hop’s illest beat makers.
After hooking up with two high school friends, T3 and Baatin, they formed the crew called, Slum Village (circa 1988), and Jay started to polish his rhyming skills to match his dope production. As Slum Village began to show themselves in Detroit and around the east coast Jay was also busy getting his production noticed by other artists in the music industry.
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Madlib, Jaylib, Slum Village, J-Rocc, Jay Dee, Oh No, Flying Lotus… see all
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Shoutbox
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S_Dot wrote:
Check for the love Jones extended version, its longer than the one off the shining, dude's was a genius, RIP
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JNellz wrote:
I bet "It's so cold in the D" without him. >.<
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AshleyAirplane wrote:
legendary. love welcome 2 detroit
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optimistic_tour wrote:
hahaha quotations
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JJ_WELLCOOL wrote:
The greatest.
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JJ_WELLCOOL wrote:
"something just makes me want to cry about him. He just looks like a fragile guy and music was in his soul. We love you Jay Dee "
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djbricksta wrote:
something just makes me want to cry about him. He just looks like a fragile guy and music was in his soul. We love you Jay Dee
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optimistic_tour wrote:
whoa finally Donuts artwork... nice to see. I've been groovin on the Ruff Draft instrumentals lately though, so so good.
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CANT-U-SEE10 wrote:
New Artist: Bm the Butcher http://www.last.fm/music/Bm+The+Butcher Bm the Butcher is a talented and humble artist who finds no greater pleasure than speaking his mind. With early signs of multiple personality disorder he finds himself without a place for his music.Labeled a Hip-Hop artist he started out making beats for local MCs in his home town. Through the first 7 years of his musical career he found himself infatuated with the sound; Digging in the crates day in and day out; trying to find a style all his own but still true to his Hip-Hop roots. He is passionate about his art. Self proclaimed poet MC,story teller/producer. Everything is his own; MUSIC with a MESSAGE. He is truly one of a kind. http://www.last.fm/music/Bm+The+Butcher
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wghhradio wrote:
hear j dillas at the home of progressive hip hop, http://www.wghhradio.com
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Ultimos wrote:
r.i.p. kurt cobain
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JNellz wrote:
DILLA with the gangsta shit...
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AnaYorke wrote:
TWO CAN WIN!
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m4teusz wrote:
as far as i know the next one will be Dilla's beats with Illa J on mic. Dilla lives forever.
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doomaddikts wrote:
@dawgy90 - yeah, there won't be any more new stuff from him, but from what his mother says, we're to get a whooole bunch of unreleased dilla in the coming years...I'd look for the article, but i'm lazy.
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dawgy90 wrote:
@moneyisflesh j dilla died in 2006 the shining was his last album
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MaRmEtPL wrote:
How someone who is dead can drop a new album? Only 2Pac can handle that... :D
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S_Dot wrote:
anyone have Love jones extended mp3?
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IIImatic wrote:
Finally fixed the damn Donuts artwork I see
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SeanMcMeekin wrote:
Donuts <3
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- swinge1, kidkoolaid and mlsmolka added J Dilla to their libraries. 41 minutes ago
- kacperk33 tagged J Dilla with ‘stones throw’ and ‘instrumental hip-hop’. 7 hours ago
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- plagueround tagged J Dilla with ‘instrumental’. Sunday morning
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- zjemily tagged J Dilla with ‘underground hip-hop’ and ‘neo-soul’. Saturday evening
- Snobum13, ghost905, BushidoSheed and 2 other people added J Dilla to their libraries. Saturday evening
- StreetDream uploaded 5997 to J Dilla’s images. Saturday afternoon
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- varun91 connected J Dilla to the group Hip-Hop & R'n'B. Friday evening
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