Exclusive: Slum Village On J-Dilla’s Secret Beat-Making Formula
July 27, 2010
Slum Village’s “Villa Manifesto” is in stores today so I caught up with T-3 and Young RJ to ask them about some of those beats from the webisodes that didn’t make the album, the future of BR Gunna and to shed light on that secret J-Dilla beat-making formula that Ma Dukes told me about years ago.
You can see more of this interview at the day job.
DOWNLOAD: A.G. x Dilla “Dunkin Donuts” Mixtape
July 20, 2010
A.G. of D.I.T.C. fame recently released this J-Dilla tribute tape. Apparently he commandeered
some instro’s of the late/great Dilla and put together this tape for everyone to enjoy.
Long live Dilla, rest in peace.
Download here:
http://www.zshare.net/download/78257415c4d54515/
VIDEO: Charles Hamilton Speaks On J-Dilla/Black Spade Controversies
June 20, 2010
When I interviewed Charles Hamilton for the day job I had to ask him to reflect on the J-Dilla and Black Spade controversies from last year. I can’t honestly say I have a whole lot more clarity after hearing his side, but you can watch for yourself.
“I have a very big mouth and it will continue to get me into trouble until I meet that solid middle ground of sanity…” – Charles Hamilton
Skillz Confesses To Passing On Three Classic J-Dilla Beats
June 15, 2010
In episode 6 of Hip-Hop Confessions Skillz sat down with Stonesthrow Records founder/DJ/Producer Peanut Butter Wolf and The Abstract Poetic, Q-Tip.
Among other Dilla memories Skillz (re) tells the story of passing on three classic J-Dilla beats.
“I’m still kicking myself over that,”- Skillz
Skillz presents: Hip-Hop Confessions ep. 6 from Visually Inklined on Vimeo.
Cedar Falls, Iowa Pays Homage To The Late, Great J. Dilla
May 21, 2010
FULL SCREEN
The Sounds of VTech / Suite for Ma Dukes in Cedar Falls 
I spotted this over on 2DopeBoyz and even though it’s older footage I felt it would be a huge injustice if I didn’t share it with you all immediately.
A year ago, conductor Jason Weinberger heard Suite for Ma Dukes for the first time. A long time fan of J. Dilla, Weinberger’s first thought when he heard the music was that he needed to find a way to perform Miguel Atwood-Ferugon’s “stunning reinventions of Dilla’s music.” “I’m always looking for ways to open up the traditional orchestra experience to new things anyway, so this seemed very natural.”
After a quick Google search, Jason found Miguel and sent him a message to see if there was anyway to get the Dilla pieces in front of one of the orchestras he worked with. A few months later they met in LA and connected over Dilla, Flying Lotus, and Lutoslawski, and the rest is history.
Earlier this year, Miguel Atwood-Ferugon and the Mochilla Team flew out to Cedar Falls, Iowa to witness J. Dilla’s music being performed as part of the WCFSO’s (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra) tribute to Great American Composers. The evening had Dilla’s music performed alongside legends Duke Ellington and William Grant Still.
“As the person responsible for programming the concert, I probably don’t have to explain how exciting it was for me to find myself performing Dilla’s music with the WCFSO. Even more gratifying, though, were other aspects of the evening – feeling the connections emerge between Dilla and his predecessors William Grant Still and Duke Ellington, taking the orchestra outside of its comfort level and in process to a whole other level of music making, and especially offering our audience the opportunity to abandon preconceptions and discover something special. In the words of one listener in attendance that night, ‘the music was beyond interesting, especially the movements from Suite for Ma Dukes by J. Dilla…’ we were swept along enjoying sound adventures we never could have imagined that we would enjoy.” – Jason Weinberger
Watch as this video takes you on a sound adventure and witness the magic of Dilla’s music performed on what would have been the eve of his 36th birthday to a sold out audience. The standing ovation Miguel received was testament not only to the beauty of his work on Dilla’s music, but the power of music. Sounds ability to open ears, minds, and hearts.
“I think Dilla would have been proud of that.” – Jason Weinberger
VIDEO: Evidence Talks Rhyming On His Own Beats
April 22, 2010
Evidence of Dilated Peoples talks about rapping on your own beats, as well as how J Dilla may have constructed beats around MCs’ vocal takes.
Taken from the interviews for the book “How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC”.
Erykah Badu On VIBE’s Producer Tournament: “Y’all Better Put J Dilla At #1!”
April 15, 2010
From Vibe.com
When it comes to VIBE’s hotly contested Greatest Hip Hop Producer Of All Time Tournament, Erykah Badu has one clear-cut favorite.
“His name is James Yancey and they call him J Dilla,” says the singer, who is enjoying the success of her critically acclaimed album, New Amerykah, Part Two: Return of the Ankh. ”What number do you have him ranked?”
When told that the late legendary Detroit producer was seeded at a top tier no. 6 in our Soul Sample bracket, Badu mused, “Boy, y’all crazy! Y’all better put J Dilla at number one. Everybody out now is influenced by him. I don’t give a damn what people or critics say. They might not want to say it… producers and artists will take certain things from Dilla, but they wont admit it because of ego. You go to Japan and ask them who J Dilla is. Go to Europe, go to Mexico. They will all tell you we know J Dilla.”
Dilla’s patchwork production style can be heard on Return of the Ankh. But Badu’s relationship with the groundbreaking beatsmith goes back. “I have one of his tracks on the new album called ‘Love.’ But he also did ‘Didn’t You Know?’ and ‘Kiss Me On My Neck’ on Mama’s Gun. I did those songs with him in his basement in his mama’s house. This man is incredible. This man is a scientist. This man takes a sample and makes them into voices and other instruments. Dilla is what’s up.”
She continues: “People like Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, and Organized Noize are impeccable. But if we are talking about producing and the skill of it, it’s J Dilla for me. He played the drums live. He didn’t hire an intern to do the beat [laughs]. I vote for J Dilla all day.”
The Roots – Dilla Joints (Mixtape)
April 5, 2010
?uestlove debuted these remixes/replays at the last Donuts Are Forever in BK. I’m glad he decided to share with the world. (props to Hypebeast)
The Roots- Dilla Joints Mixtape
April 2, 2010
Saw this and I had to post right away.Its exactly what you would expect from The Roots x J Dilla.
RIP Dilla
Tracklisting
01. Donuts Outro
02. Hot Shit (I’m Back!)
03. World Full Of Sadness
04. Upper Egypt
05. Stereolab
06. The Stars
07. Antiquity (feat. The Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Dillchestra)
08. She Said
09. Hall & Oates
10. Eve
11. Look Into Her Eyes
12. Make Em NV
13. Oh! O!
14. Wicked Ways
Stonesthrow Releasing J-Dilla Serato
March 15, 2010
Spotted @ PotholesinMyBlog
Serato and Stones Throw have teamed with the J Dilla Estate for the official J Dilla Serato release, Donut Shop. This is 2 discs with six J Dilla tracks, 2 sides with Serato Control Tone (for use with Serato Scratch Live DJ software), and 2 donut slipmats in a package designed by Studio No.1. This will be released May 10th (the day after Mother’s day–what’s up Ma Dukes?). Pre-order is available now. The J Dilla tracks consist of three previously unreleased instrumentals selected by J.Rocc from the Dilla archives – “Safety Dance”, “Sycamore”, “Bars & Twists” – and three unreleased instrumental versions of Dilla’s production for Mos Def, Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes, each remastered by Elysian Masters who mixed and mastered J Dilla’s Donuts, The Shining and Ruff Draft albums. Thanks to Stones Throw
Download: J Dilla – “Safety Dance”
