More often than not, he found himself “smothered in brotherhood” for a variety of reasons, be they perceived, legitimate, contractual, or just communication breakdowns. Yet during the first few years of his tragically short career, J Dilla-then known as Jay Dee-was not always properly credited for his pioneering work. His run of collaborations reads like a list of legends from modern day Black music: A Tribe Called Quest, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, De La Soul, The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Common, Bilal, The Pharcyde, Mos Def, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Janet Jackson, and the beats go on and on. In just about a decade of musical output, J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, was responsible for helping shape the sonic blueprint of several of the most iconic artists in hip-hop and R&B. Sure, there are numerous rappers, producers, musicians, writers, and tastemakers who breathlessly pledge their allegiance to the Church of Dilla, yet in the mainstream zeitgeist and scholarly journals alike, the artist formerly known as Jay Dee remains an enigma, more niche player than household name.Īn exhaustive new book released on February 1st, Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas, seeks to correct that course and tell the essential, unabridged tale in all it’s revolutionary rhythmic glory.
The Detroit hip-hop icon is celebrated for his pioneering production prowess and surreal, shape-shifting beats, but his personal story certainly lacked a definitive telling. Sixteen years on from his tragic death due to a rare blood disorder at thirty-two years young, the late J Dilla still feels somewhat misunderstood.
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