J Dilla
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| J Dilla | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Dewitt Yancey |
| Also known as | Jay Dee |
| Born | February 7, 1974 |
| Died | February 10, 2006 (aged 32) |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop, neo soul, abstract hip hop, alternative hip hop, |
| Occupation(s) | Producer, rapper |
| Instrument(s) | Turntables, sampler, drum machine,piano, bass Guitar, drums, guitar, flute |
| Years active | 1993–2006 |
| Label(s) | Delicious Vinyl, BBE, MCA, Stones Throw |
| Associated acts | Phat Kat, The Ummah, Slum Village, Guilty Simpson, A Tribe Called Quest, Soulquarians, Frank-n-Dank, The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Madlib |
| Website | www.stonesthrow.com/jdilla |
James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), better known by his stage name J Dilla or Jay Dee, was an acclaimed hip-hop producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. He began his career as a member of the group Slum Village, and was also a driving force in the production trio The Ummah. Yancey started his career under the name Jay Dee (based on his initials) but used the name J Dilla from 2001 onward. Many critics believe J Dilla's work to have had a major influence on his peers[1] and that he 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 often dubbed "your favorite producer's favorite producer," and was highly regarded by hip hop artists and producers such as Royce Da 5'9", Common, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, Just Blaze, Busta Rhymes, Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell Williams, Madlib, The Pharcyde, Slum Village, and ?uestlove.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
James Yancey was the second oldest of four children including an older brother (Earl), a younger sister and a younger brother, Johnny, also a rapper/producer known as Illa J. The family lived in a house situated near McDougall and East Nevada, off E. 7 Mile in Detroit.[3] He developed a vast musical knowledge from his parents (his mother, Maureen, is a former opera singer, his father was a jazz bassist). At a young age, he began acquiring a large collection of records which inspired him to learn multiple instruments. He had developed a passion for emceeing, and formed a rap group called Slum Village with schoolmates T3 (R.L. Altman), and Baatin (Titus Glover) at Pershing High School. He had also taken up beatmaking, using a simple tapedeck as the center of his studio. [4]Dilla would soon perfect this rugged, unmastered sound and earn a loyal following with Hip-Hop connoisseurs.
[edit] Early career
In 1992, he met experienced Detroit musician Amp Fiddler, who was impressed by what Jay Dee was able to accomplish with such limited tools. Amp Fiddler let Jay Dee use his MPC, which he learned quite quickly. In 1995, Jay Dee and MC Phat Kat formed 1st Down, and would be the first Detroit hip hop group to sign with a major label (Payday Records) - a deal that was ended after one single when the label folded. That same year he recorded The Album That Time Forgot with 5 Elementz (a group consisting of the late Proof, Thyme and Mudd).
By the mid 1990s Jay Dee was known as a major hip-hop prospect, with a string of singles and remix projects, for Janet Jackson, Pharcyde, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip's solo album and others. The majority of these productions were released without his name recognition, being credited to The Ummah, a production collective composed of Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, and later Raphael Saadiq of Tony! Toni! Toné!. Under this umbrella, Jay did some of his most big name R&B & Hip Hop work, churning out original songs and remixes for Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Brand New Heavies, Something For the People, trip-hop artists Crustation and many others. This all came off the heels of Jay handling the majority of production on The Pharcyde's album Labcabincalifornia, released in the holiday season of 1995. Jay Dee's largest-scale feat came in 1997 when he contributed production work on Janet Jackson's hit single "Got Til It's Gone" from The Velvet Rope album. However any buzz that could have been built for Jay Dee and/or further buzz for The Ummah collective was deadened when the song was mysteriously credited to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in the liner notes for the album.
[edit] Performing career
2000 marked the major label debut of Slum Village with Fantastic, Vol. 2, creating a new following for Jay Dee as a producer and an emcee. He was also a founding member of the production collective known as The Soulquarians (along with Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, D'Angelo and James Poyser amongst others) which earned him more recognition and buzz. He subsequently worked with Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, and Common - contributing heavily to the latter's critically acclaimed breakthrough album, Like Water for Chocolate.
His debut as a solo artist came in 2001 with the single "Fuck the Police", followed by the album Welcome 2 Detroit, which kicked off U.K. Independent record label BBE's "Beat Generation" series. In 2001, Jay Dee, began using the name "J Dilla" (an attempt to differentiate himself from Jermaine Dupri who also goes by "J.D."), and left Slum Village to pursue a major label solo career with MCA Records.
2002 saw Dilla producing the entirety of Frank-N-Dank's 48 Hours, as well as a solo album, but neither record was ever released, although the former did eventually surface through bootlegging.[5] When Dilla finished working with Frank-N-Dank on the 48 Hours album, MCA Records requested a record with a larger commercial appeal, and the artists re-recorded the majority of the tracks, this time using little to no samples. Despite this, neither versions of the album saw the light of day, and Dilla expressed he was disappointed that the music never got out to the fans.
Dilla was signed to a solo deal with MCA Records in 2002 and completed an album in 2003.[5][6] Although Dilla was known as a producer rather than an MC, he chose to rap on the album and have the music produced by some of his favorite producers[7] such as Madlib, Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, Supa Dave West, Kanye West, Nottz, Waajeed and others. The album was shelved due to internal changes at the label and MCA folding into Geffen Records.[8] In a 2007 video interview, Dilla's friend DJ House Shoes alluded to the possibility of the MCA album finally seeing an official release through Stones Throw Records in the future. In April 2008, the album, called Pay Jay, began circulating. BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Benji B played songs from it on his April 18 show, saying that the album is coming out,[9] and people on the internet privately shared and discussed the album.[10]
While the record with MCA stalled, Dilla recorded the uncompromising Ruff Draft, released exclusively to vinyl by German label Groove Attack.[11] Although the album was little known, it signaled a change in sound and attitude, and his work from this point on was increasingly released through independent record labels. In a 2003 interview with Groove Attack, Dilla talked about this change of direction:
| “ | You know, if I had a choice, skip the major labels and just put it out yourself man... Trust me. I tell everybody it's better to do it yourself and let the Indies come after you instead of going in their [direction] and getting a deal and you have to wait, it ain't fun, take it from me. Right now, I'm on MCA but it feels like I'm an unsigned artist still. It's cool, it's a blessing, but damn I'm like, 'When's my shit gonna come out? I'm ready now, what's up?' | ” |
[edit] Later years
LA-based Producer and MC, Madlib, began collaborating with J Dilla, and the pair formed the group Jaylib in 2002, releasing an album called Champion Sound in 2003. J Dilla relocated from Detroit to LA in 2004 and appeared on tour with Jaylib in Spring 2004.
J Dilla's illness and medication caused dramatic weight loss in 2003 onwards, forcing him to publicly confirm speculation about his health in 2004. Despite a slower output of major releases and production credits in 2004 and 2005, his cult status remained strong within his core audience, as evident by unauthorized circulation of his underground "beat tapes" (instrumental, and raw working materials), mostly through internet file sharing. Articles in publications URB (March 2004) and XXL (June 2005) confirmed rumors of ill health and hospitalization during this period, but these were downplayed by Jay himself. The seriousness of his condition became public in November 2005 when J Dilla toured Europe performing from a wheelchair. It was later revealed that he suffered from TTP, a rare blood disease, and possibly Lupus.[12]
J Dilla died on February 10, 2006, three days after his 32nd birthday at his home in Los Angeles, California. According to his mother, Maureen Yancey, the cause was cardiac arrest.[13] His last album, Donuts was released 3 days earlier, on February 7, 2006.
[edit] Posthumous music
Upon his death, Dilla had several projects planned for future completion and release.
The Shining, "75% completed when Dilla died,"[14] was completed posthumously by Karriem Riggins and released on August 8, 2006 on BBE Records.
Ruff Draft was reissued as a double CD/LP set in March 2007 and is sometimes considered his third solo album. The reissue contains previously unreleased material from the Ruff Draft sessions and instrumentals. Most notably, it was also released in a cassette tape format, paying homage to Dilla's dirty, grimy sound (he was known for recording over two-tracked instrumentals).
Jay Love Japan was announced in 2005 as his debut release on the Operation Unknown label. Previously released only in Japan, it was given various planned release dates in 2006, 2007, and 2008, with a track list containing two songs with vocals added after his death.[citation needed] The official release remains shrouded in mystery, despite the fact that you can buy this mini-album online and in some stores.
Champion Sound, J Dilla's and Madlib's collaborative album, was reissued in June 2007 by Stones Throw Records as a 2CD Deluxe Edition with instrumentals and b-sides.
He also produced three tracks on the 2007 Stones Throw Records 2K Sports NBA 2K8 Soundtrack, B-Ball Zombie War.
Dillagence, a mixtape of previously unreleased tracks featuring Busta Rhymes over Dilla's production, was released in November 2007. Busta was one of Dilla's most passionate supporters; on the mixtape, Busta says that, although Dilla's name is not listed in every Busta album, he did in fact contribute to every solo Busta album. The compilation was made free for download from MickBoogie.com.
"Modern Day Gangstaz" (also known as "The Ugliest" and "Dangerous MCs"), a song produced by Dilla featuring vocals from The Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, and Labba, which originally appeared in its original form on a mixtape in the late '90s, eventually surfaced in full-length form in 2007.[15] This version, however, is a cut-and-paste job using verses recorded for Biggie's posthumous Born Again album, for which a new beat was used from Nottz.
Pay Jay, the unreleased album that Dilla recorded for MCA Records, surfaced in bootleg form in 2008. Originally conceived as the album showcasing Dilla's skills on the microphone, the bootleg version contained production by Dilla as well as Kanye West, Waajeed, Bink!, Supa Dave West, Nottz, ?uestlove, Karriem Riggins, and Pete Rock.
[edit] Legacy
In May 2006, J Dilla's mother announced the creation of The J Dilla Foundation.
In February 2007, a year after his death, J Dilla posthumously received the Plug Award's Artist of the Year as well as the award for Record Producer of the Year.[16]
Like many artists who die young, Dilla's greatest public exposure came because of his death. His untimely death has had a significant impact on the hip-hop community.[citation needed] Besides countless tribute tracks and concerts, Dilla's death created a wealth of interest in his remaining catalog, and, consequently, Dilla's influence on hip-hop production became more apparent.
On the newest album by Erykah Badu, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War), she cowrote a song with ?uestlove as a tribute to Dilla titled "Telephone." It is based on a story Dilla's mother told to Badu about Dilla's visions before his passing. [17]
The title track from the last album by Common, Finding Forever, is a tribute to J Dilla.
The song "Can't Stop This" from the The Roots' album Game Theory is also a tribute to J Dilla.
[edit] Discography
- 1997 Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) (Donut Boy Recordings) (2006 re-release: Counterflow)
- 2000 Slum Village - Fantastic, Vol. 2 (Goodvibe)
- 2000 Slum Village (as J-88) - Best Kept Secret EP (Groove Attack)
- 2001 Jay Dee - Pay Jay (MCA, shelved)
- 2001 Jay Dee - Welcome 2 Detroit (Barely Breaking Even)
- 2003 J Dilla - Ruff Draft EP (Mummy/Groove Attack) (2007 2CD/2LP - Stones Throw)
- 2003 Jaylib - Champion Sound (Stones Throw)
- 2006 J Dilla - Donuts (Stones Throw)
- 2006 J Dilla - The Shining (Barely Breaking Even)
- 2007 Jay Dee - Jay Deelicious: The Delicious Vinyl Years (Delicious Vinyl Records)
- 2007 J Dilla, Busta Rhymes, and Mick Boogie - Dillagence
- 2008 J Dilla - Jay Love Japan (Operation Unknown, official release uncertain)
[edit] References
- ^ NPR: Hip-Hop Producer, Rapper Jay Dee AKA J Dilla
- ^ allmusic ((( Jay Dee > Biography )))
- ^ Let it roll (Metro Times Detroit)
- ^ allmusic ((( Jay Dee > Biography )))
- ^ a b Haleem, Aadel. Jay Dee Interview. GrooveAttack.de. Accessed April 8, 2008.
- ^ Liner notes by Ronnie Reese, Ruff Draft (2007)
- ^ J Dilla, Ruff Draft (2007), liner notes
- ^ Liner notes by Ronnie Reese, Ruff Draft (2007)
- ^ BBC 1Xtra Benji B Deviation 4/18/08 show
- ^ Fans discuss MCA album, Pay Jay
- ^ Liner notes by Ronnie Reese, Ruff Draft (2007)
- ^ Detroit Free Press, February 23, 2006
- ^ James Yancey, Producer Known for Soulful Hip-Hop, Dies at 32 - New York Times
- ^ Detroit Free Press, June 29, 2006
- ^ ICEDOTCOM: Search results for dilla
- ^ Band Of Horses, J Dilla Reap PLUG Awards
- ^ Alternatives Reviews : Erykah Badu: New AmErykah Part One (4th World War)
[edit] External links
Official sites
- J Dilla's MySpace Profile
- J Dilla at Stones Throw Records
- Jay Dee/J Dilla at BBE Music
- J Dilla at Worlds Fair
Articles
- "Jay Dee's last days" — Detroit Free Press, 23 February 2006
- Real Detroit Weekly Feature on Jay Dee
- Jay Dee Feature on TheRootsLive.com
- Friends and peers remember J Dilla
Interviews
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
