Fantastic....still.

Feb. 28th. The end of 'Dilla Month'. Two gems: "Untitled/Fantastic" (instrumental) & its orchestral companion, "Suite For Ma Dukes (Untitled/Fantastic)". 

Dilla Tribute Week: One Day Common Makes Sense

(from left; Dilla, Common, Karriem Riggins)

My feelings on Com, as an artist, are 50/50. He's done some things I like. He's done some things that I don't like. I copped the Can I Borrow a Dollar album. The singles, from that album, "Take It EZ" and "Soul By The Pound" (more so the remix) were dope. No question. The Resurrection album is a classic. That album probably catches Common at his most lyrical. So yeah...I've supported. Around the time he got to the Be album.....eh......meh.....I guess. Not that Be wasn't a good album, from his press rounds, I got the impression that he was trying to distance himself from Electric Circus (his experimental, yet dope album) in an effort to sell Be (the more mainstream, Kanye produced album). He talked down about the album (Circus). References were made to his dating Badu as the reasons for the album's eclectic sound and his wardrobe choices at the time. Crocheted sweater vest anyone?

The sad thing about the PR knocking of E.C.? Electric Circus is actually one of Com's best albums. It's spiritual. It's Hip-Hop. It's Rock and Roll. It's pretty f*cking brilliant. For real.

There were other things that raised question.

* Criticizing Diddy and others as being "commercial", but yet Common did a Gap commercial. The last time I checked he was actually ghost writing for the Puffster. [See: Diddy's Press Play album]

* Or what about those 2006 guest appearances on The Roots tour, where he just kinda sat on a barstool and did the GQ Man-Of-The-Year photo shoot poses?

* There was a serious effort to distance himself from Electric Circus but then he co-sign's Universal Mind Control. Wasn't that album "experimental" too?

Yeah, Com...I know. We all know. You don't burn the incense anymore. You don't make abstract albums that alienate people. You buy all of your clothes from Banana Republic. You're an actor on the come-up. You ghost-write for Sean John. The babes love you. Dude, I'm happy for you...honestly. Artists go through phases. I know that. C'mon son...I'm a Miles Davis fan. I think that says it all. 


I understand re-invention.

It's not that I don't appreciate your growth, It's just seems like you don't own the earlier phases that made you---you.

By the way, Universal Mind Control? Dope in theory. Not so much in execution. I think Chad and Pharrell are geniuses. For that to be your "dance album", it just lacked something. Let me go back and re-listen in 3 years. My mind grows every so often. I may need to listen with fresh ears. You know I love Bambaataa, Com. But it takes more than "Planet Rock" tributes/Kraftwerk to win me over.

But I digress.

I kinda cooled on Common. Somewhere, I just got off that boat. Really wasn't interested in anything he had to say...until today.

Dilla gave Common some heaters. No question. Outside of No I.D., Dilla and Com have probably had the best chemistry. In this clip from HardKnock TV, Com gives Dilla his due.

And for the record, Common is probably one of the illest emcee's alive. Hands down. When they make these Hip-Hop lists and DON'T include dudes like Com, Black Thought, GZA and Ras Kass, I shake my head with equal parts disgust and comedy. Lyrically, Common has proved countless times that his emcee skills are often without peer.

Damn, Com-ster. I may have to go back through your catalog and give it another listen.

Dilla Tribute Week. It makes everything okay again.

Props to HardKnock TV.

He Was Sent Here To Do Music

James Yancey

February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006

J. Dilla

a.k.a.

Jay Dee

a.k.a.

Pay Jay

One of the greatest to ever do it.

Amen.

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.

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: "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.