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.

Top Ten of 2009 - Georgia Anne Muldrow "Run Away"

Yep. We already posted it. Save your emails/comments. Regardless, GAM is still in the "Top Ten" with this one. Recorded a few years ago (and released last year), you can never get enough of this song. Dope. Makes me feel all magical inside. Magical.

From the album, Early (Animated CarTunes).

Note: Top Ten are in NO numerical order/position.

Top Ten of 2009 - Savoir Adore "MERP"

Savoir Adore? This song bangs...literally. Free spirited vocals over rumbling drum work.

This song goes in two directions for me. Partly, it reminds me of something Prince would write for one of his side-projects (The Family). The end of the track treads into Jamiroquai/disco territory. It works.

From the album, In The Wooded Forest. Cantora Records.

Props to: 99dollarmusicvideos.com.

Top Ten of 2009 - Robert Glasper "Downtime"

Rob G. is my dude. I started rocking with him on the Canvas album. I followed him to the In My Element album. His latest Double Booked features both of his groups; The Robert Glasper Trio and The Robert Glasper Experiment. The first half of the album is straight-ahead jazz from his trio. The second half contains the Hip-Hop fusion of the The Experiment. I appreciate both aspects.

The song "Downtime" is classic Glasper.

Salute.

The album, Double Booked, on Blue Note Records.