Sunday, February 10, 2008

On my Selection Box 2006, my favourite music tracks of the year,
I had three by J. Dilla.

At Greenbelt the three years I had fronted the wondrous iPod Show.
All three years I played some great beats by Dilla.
I am into 'beats'.
J. Dilla had a high profile on the iPod Show - out of my iPod.

J. Dilla died two years ago today - aged 32.
If you scan back through my piPod you will find a track called 'Mother' - his Mother speaking about his life and death.
Also you will find several Dilla tracks too. I played him and talked about much when I was at the Folk High School in Norway last year, next visit is THIS month hey hey, when I led a music workshop/iPod Show.


James Dewitt Yancey or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. He has had a major influence on so many artistes who have used his grooves to give their song some great sound and feel ....... and I loveitloveit.

Dilla was known as a "producer's producer", and was highly regarded by other better known producers such as Kanye West, and Pharrell Williams (who named him as his favourite producer). A large catalogue of his work, mostly unused beats, remains unreleased, and in some cases have been freely passed around through the internet, impressing enthusiasts and adding to his cult-status. I have some of his albums and there are more to be released - one soon.

I once asked Westwood, UKs biggest HIP-Hop DJ, if he had met him.
He said that he tended to stay in the backgound behind the more 'up front' artistes.
That was his musical style too.
Background.
But what a background.
What beautiful grooves.
What beautiful beats.
Rest in Peace J. Dilla.

Beats in Heaven eh?
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