February 10th, 2006
3 years ago today, the greatest producer ever to create hip-hop died. Even though at the time, I was only slightly familiar through tracks he had produced for Common and Kweli, this day now means a lot to me. The heart and passion he put into his music leaks from ever hi-hat clap, every snare beat, every bassline, every rhythm, every rhyme, and ever second of his songs like no other producer before him. Regardless of whether or not you like hip-hop you have to sit back and truly admire his work. Always on point with his samples and coming through with the right flow, J Dilla was truly a professional at his craft. And not for the money either, as most of his successful albums were released independently, but just to make music with his people. As a musician myself, the soul he crafted each of his tracks with is something that will remain an inspiration to me as long as I continue to carry a pair of drumsticks.
I'll leave with an instrumental track off his album, Donuts (which was released 3 days prior to his death) that I feel is appropriated by the day and by this entry. It's just sadly ironic that the album dropped days before he died and this cut, as well as a couple others on there, possibly allude to the fact that he was dying as he recorded this album. A man worthy of all praises thrown his way, RIP James Dewitt Yancey.
I'll leave with an instrumental track off his album, Donuts (which was released 3 days prior to his death) that I feel is appropriated by the day and by this entry. It's just sadly ironic that the album dropped days before he died and this cut, as well as a couple others on there, possibly allude to the fact that he was dying as he recorded this album. A man worthy of all praises thrown his way, RIP James Dewitt Yancey.
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