Dilla Tribute Week: "Runnin" - The Pharcyde

The first single from Pharcyde's second album, Labcabincalifornia.

The production, on this album, veered away from the Rhodes heavy music of their first album, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. Labcabin, probably doesn't get the love it should. Aside from the brilliant Dilla production, the album has aged pretty well. The more I listen to it, the more I like it.

Dilla Tribute Week: The Hoods Go Shopping...For Dilla.

Me and the hoods went to the local Best Buy to cop J. Dilla's Jay Stay Paid. Support Dilla (and his seeds). BUY the music. Actually, support all of your favorite music. The music industry is in shambles. More importantly, support Jay.

We love that dude.

J. Dilla. Jay Stay Paid. Nature Sounds Records 2009.

Wu-Wear: The Redux

Rocksmith x WuTang x Be Right mag T-shirt.

Just point me in the right direction.

No questions asked.

peep at: Highsnobiety

Its All In The Details

02/16/2010. Freeway and Jake One release The Stimulus Package. I'm a sucker for stuff like this. The packaging? It's a wallet. The liner notes/lyrics are printed on Freeway/Jake dollar bills. There's also a faux credit card included that has a code for downloading the instrumental version of the album.

I call that a deal.

The album? Not bad at all. Freeway has had his moments, but I've never been a die-hard fan. With this album, I'm more of a believer. Overall, it's a solid effort. It's worth the $9.99, just to get the instrumentals. This definitely gets high marks for being one of the better collabs of the year.

Free and Jake give you stimulus. Next? They tackle health care.

Dilla Tribute Week: Detroit Loves Dilla

Some of Detroit's finest speak on their love and respect for their fallen comrade.

Our next Dilla post? I'm going to hit you with a heater that has Dilla's influence all over it.

props to: HipHopOfficial.com

Dilla Tribute Week: "Think Twice" J. Dilla feat. Dwele

Valentines Day? Yuck. Whatever.

For those of you looking to be beat with one of Cupid's arrows, I offer you one of Jay's smoovey groovey tunes. Dwele gets down on the vocals...just enough to give it some sauce. The breaks on this one are crazy.

Classic Dilla.

From the album, Welcome 2 Detroit.

Dilla Tribute Week: Spacek feat. Frank-n-Dank - "Eve" (J. Dilla remix)

Rare unreleased gem.

Dilla takes the Steve Spacek vocal, punches it up with some bounce and adds a little Frank + Dank.

One of the great Pay Jay remixes.

Salute.

Dilla Tribute Week: Stussy x Stones Throw J. Dilla Tribute Tee

From j-dilla.com and stonesthrow.com

Stussy and Stones Throw Records have partnered for Raph Rashid's classic pic of J Dilla on a limited-edition Stussy Tee. This will be released Feb. 13, 2010 in White and Black, available at stonesthrow.com and Stussy locations.

The photo was taken by Raph Rashid in Dilla's L.A. dining room-turned-studio, summer 2005, for his book Behind The Beat: Hip-Hop Home Studios.

This tee is officially licensed with J Dilla's heirs, who have recently announced a reorganization of the J Dilla Estate.

Stones Throw will also be announcing a multi-city in-store release parties for this shirts. Stay tuned for details.

www.j-dilla.com
www.stussy.com

www.stonesthrow.com

Dilla Tribute Week: "Didn't Cha Know?" - Erykah Badu

E. Badu + Dilla. From the Mama's Gun album.

One of the many gems that came out of the Soulaquarians camp.

Probably the dopest song on the album.

Vintage Dilla.

Dilla Tribute Week: "Without You" (Dilla remix) - Lucy Pearl feat. J. Dilla

One of my favorite Dilla remixes, ever! Obscure, but still a favorite.

The beauty is in Dill's minimalist production. Saadiq on vocals? He knocks this one out of the park.

I never liked bitchy, begging-man R&B. The two Lenny's (Lenny Williams & Lenny Kravitz) get passes. No one else.

You take the right amount of Raphael Saadiq's vocal and a hefty dose of Dill's thumping bass and the magic happens.

In the "Man Book" the pitiful, whiny man is a no-no of the highest caliber. Somehow, Ray doesn't come across as the formulaic soul singer/whiner on this record.

It...almost...sounds...kinda...cool.

Please don't tell anyone I said that.

Dilla Tribute Week: Janet-gate OR Who really produced Janet Jack's "Got Til It's Gone"?

I've long heard that Dilla produced this. The speculation increased after he died (the song kept popping up on various Dilla tribute mixtapes).

The official remix is called "Jay Dee's Revenge Remix". Hmmm?

Why the "revenge" added to the title? Maybe it had something to do with not being credited for the original version.

Maybe.

Listen to it. No disrespect to Jam & Lewis (who I think are legendary/talented producers) but does this sound remotely like anything they've ever produced?

To me? I can definitely hear Dilla, circa Beats, Rhymes & Life or The Love Movement.

Some people say this is a Dilla production. Some people say Dilla only did the demo for this song.

Listen...again.

You tell me.

Dilla Tribute Week: "Fall In Love" - Slum Village

I can't effectively put into words how I feel about Dilla and his music.

There are great producers. Sure. But on a level of soul? I can name three: RZA, Pete Rock and J. Dilla.

I chose this track not because of lyrical dexterity or truck rattling bass. My pick was based on how Dilla's music makes you feel.

It's a pleasure listening to his music.

God bless you, James Yancey.

We love you.