Hip Hop: The Genius Of J Dilla
J Dilla aka Jay Dee has become one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop. Like many in hip hop today, his life was tragically cut short, dying at age 32, but in a stark contrast to the usual story of being violently gunned down in the streets, James D. Yancey suffered a rare and incurable blood disease known as TTP as well as Lupus. In what is becoming a familiar story – like many other artists, he was a relatively underground producer before his death, despite having worked with artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Busta Rhymes, Slum Village and even Janet Jackson. But since his death in 2006 his music has deservedly reached a much wider international audience.
Heavily influenced by his idol Pete Rock, Dilla’s beats were notoriously dirty, grimy and heavy hitting and he is often referred to as “your favourite producer’s favourite producer”.
Our friends the Well Dressed Vandals are co-presenting a special tribute gig to J Dilla to celebrate what would have been his 36th birthday. Taking place in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland over 3 nights and headlined by Dilla’s close friend Dj Houseshoes from Detroit, The Genius of J Dilla will pay tribute to the music and legacy of the man Jay Dee.
All proceeds from the event – and from sales of their Just Dilla tees will be donated to Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey who as well as also suffering Lupus is still in debt paying off her son’s medical bills.
This track we have selected is from Dilla’s posthumously released album The Shining, and is a prime example of Dilla’s unique grimey sound. We had to choose this track (despite RETALI8′s protests insisting that we go with Dilla’s remix of trip hop classic Crustation – Purple) because it samples and deconstructs a classic beat from Italo disco legend Giorgio Moroder! With a super heavy bass drop, this joint is guaranteed to have heads nodding and dancefloors rocking.
Details of the gig are below:
Melbourne – Thursday February 11
DJ Houseshoes (Detroit)
M-Phazes
DJ Ransom
Sheriff Rosco.
The Espy, 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda
Free entry (but a donation is encouraged)
Sydney – Friday February 12
DJ Houseshoes (Detroit)
D*Phy
Dizz1 (Live set)
Huwston
Ology
Ruby Rabbit, 229 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
10pm until late
$15 entry
Auckland New Zealand – Saturday Feb 13
DJ Houseshoes (Detroit)
Manuel Bundy
Substance
Truent
Fu Bar, 4 Wolfe Street Auckland
$15 entry
Trackbacks and Pingbacks