As many people around the world continue to celebrate the life and music of J Dilla, clothing brand Stussy has partnered with Stones Throw Records to create a limited-edition J Dilla Stussy Tee. The tee features Raphael “Raph” Rashid’s classic pic of J Dilla in his L.A. dining room-turned-studio, summer 2005. This picture comes from Rashid’s book entitled, “Behind The Beat: Hip-Hop Home Studios“, which features a look into the creative spaces of producers and DJ’s from the US and UK. The tee is now available in white and black and has J Dilla’s name printed on the back. You can purchase the tee at Stones Throw online store. It is licensed with J Dilla’s heirs who have recently announced a reorganization of the J Dilla Estate. Just a week ago, M.I.S.S. reminisced about the life and legacy of J Dilla. This limited edition tee is so cool because it displays J Dilla completely in his element.
Stussy x J Dilla in black.
In addition to the limited-edition tee, Stussy has partnered with Stones Throw on a 3-part documentary on J Dilla’s life during his later years in Los Angeles. The documentary features interviews with people such as J. Rocc, Garth Trinidad, DJ Rhettmatic, DJ Houseshoes, photographer B+, and Stones Throw Records founder Peanut Butter Wolf. Many of them speak about their first time hearing Dilla’s music and the impact that it had on them. Part 1 – Introductions and Part 2 – Detroit to Los Angeles – were just recently released. Part 3 (Donuts) will be released later this month. Be sure to visit the Stussy or Stones Throw website to check out all parts of the documentary as they become available over the next few weeks. Check out Parts 1 & 2 below!
Whenever I see donuts, I immediately think of J. Dilla. Some things are just strangely synonymous with one another. In my mind; Dilla and donuts should always go together. In fact, eating donuts while spinning J. Dilla’s Donuts album is something that I think everyone should do! The tracks on that album or any other Dilla album are always guaranteed to put me in good mood. J. Dilla’s music always made me feel all warm and tingly inside. He was one of the most respected, loved, and influential hip-hop artists and producers of all time. Many of the artists and producers that we listen to today including Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, and JustBlaze consider him to be their personal favorite producer. In my humble opinion, J. Dilla was nothing short of a musical genius. His use of sampling and hard-hitting beats made him stand out amongst his peers. I grew up listening to artists that he worked with so his sound always remains familiar to me. It brings on a feeling of nostalgia that is bittersweet. I’ve always heard the saying, “The good die young.” In J. Dilla’s case, this happens to be true. However, a talent and star as bright as J. Dilla certainly knows how to say goodbye leaving behind a legacy full of inspiration and plain good ole’ music. Reminisce with M.I.S.S. as we indulge in all of J. Dilla’s glory.
J. Dilla emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan.
J. Dilla or “Jay Dee” was born James Dewitt Yancey in Detroit, Michigan on February 7, 1974. Music would inevitably run through veins as it did through his family. His mother was formally an opera singer and his father was a jazz bassist. It was through his parents that he was able to acquire a vast musical knowledge and began collecting vinyl records at the tender age of two. Although he had a love and respect for all musical genres, Hip-Hop was Dilla’s passion. He formed the rap group Slum Village in high school with classmates T3 and Baatin, while also taking up beatmaking after being inspired by a number of people, most notably Pete Rock of the hip-hop group Pete Rock and C.L. smooth.
J. Dilla had a deep love and appreciation for vinyl records.
He would spend hours alone in his basement, surrounded by records, using only a simple tapedeck to create beats. When he met Detroit musician Amp Fiddler in 1992, he was first introduced to the Akai MPC (Midi/Music Production Center) Sampler. This electronic music instrument is used as a drum machine and has the ability to sample one’s own sounds. With this machine in hand, Dilla made magic! He mastered the MPC drum machine, serving up one of a kind beats that would be become classics among his generation. By the mid 1990s, Dilla had made his way through the Detroit music scene and was well on his way to becoming the producer that everyone wanted to work with. He still made beats in his basement, but also ventured into the studio, producing sounds for the likes of artists such as Erykah Badu, Common, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Janet Jackson among many others. The majority of J. Dilla’s productions were released without his name recognition. He produced a number of tracks under the alias of “The Ummah”. The first time I heard Janet Jackson’s single “Got Till It’s Gone”, I was in awe. Even though he never officially took credit for producing that track, it reeked of J. Dilla’s presence. The “Got Till It’s Gone” EP also featured a remix appropriately entitled “Ummah Jay Dee’s Revenge Mix”. You see with J. Dilla, it was never about the money or the fame. It was always about the music. He didn’t just strive to be the best producer he possibly could be. He strived to make “music” as a whole the best that it could possibly be.
Donuts hit stores on February 7, 2006, which was also Dilla's 32nd birthday.
At the beginning of the millennium, J. Dilla worked on a number of solo and collaborative projects. Although a great portion of his material was never released by a major record label company, he was able to gain notoriety and build a fan base through word of mouth and the internet. Welcome 2 Detroit, Ruff Draft, Champion Sound, Jay Love Japan, and The Shining are a few of the albums that J. Dilla worked on during this time. J. Dilla also started to work on what was probably his most successful and well-known record to date, Donuts. Donuts was raw, edgy, and filled with instrumental tracks so beautiful that lyrics weren’t even needed. The Donuts album was the first time I was introduced to Dionne Warwick’s “You’re Gonna Need Me” that was later sampled for one of my favorite Usher tracks entitled “Throwback”. Other tracks such as “Two can Win and “”Gobstopper” are always guaranateed to bring a big smile on my face
J. Dilla formed the hip-hop group Slum Village with schoolmates T3 and Baatin at Pershing High School.
In 2002, J. Dilla started to get really sick. He was diagnosed with lupus and TTP, a rare blood disease that causes a low platelet count. Doctors told him there was no cure or direct treatment. Despite his health problems, he continued to make music with his mother by his side to take care of him. In 2006, his health took a turn for the worse and he was once again hospitalized. He would work on the Donuts album from his hospital bed while letting doctors hear some of the music that he created. He finished all but two songs on the album. Donuts was released on February 7th of that year. J. Dilla died from complications of his disease just three days after that on February 10, 2006. Since his death, fans have come together to mourn his passing and celebrate the life and legacy of one of music’s finest. In May 2006, J Dilla’s mother announced the creation of “The J Dilla Foundation”, which will work to cure lupus and help kids who were musically gifted but had little hope due to poverty. J. Dilla’s music experienced a rebirth after he was gone and there have been countless tribute tracks and concerts by many artists dedicated to this bright star. Just recently, Mochilla announced the release of a limited edition DVD box set of Timeless, the 3 part event honoring producer J. Dilla featuring The Suite For Ma Dukes Orchestra. It’s evident that the force that was J. Dilla touched so many around the world .
J. Dilla's music touched the lives of people all over the world.
At times, I get emotional when I think about J. Dilla and his legacy. He taught me a lot about music and life in general. His passion, love, and dedication to his craft were not only admirable, but inspiring as well. He lived out his dream to make music until it was physically impossible for him to do so anymore. He made others in his field, even those whom he had personally looked up to, want to be better or just as good he was. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we were all as dedicated to something as J. Dilla was dedicated to music?
J. Dilla's legacy continues to live on through his music.
I grew up in a household that constantly played music. I was always surrounded by so much music and my parents’ vinyl records in particular that I kind of took it for granted. Taking trips to my local record shop had become routine to the point that it was beginning to get just a tad bit boring. After listening to a lot of J. Dilla, I felt the urge to dig for records and create a collection of my own. I would carefully read the credits on his albums and search vigorously for the songs that he sampled. I gained a new appreciation for my parents’ albums and the collection that I was starting to build for myself. J. Dilla really did change my life and the lives of so many others as well. I thank him for helping my discover my passion and re-introducing me to my first love which is and will always be music. Happy Birthday J. Dilla!- from everyone here on the M.I.S.S. Crew.
Here’s a quote from one of our M.I.S.S. staff:
“Although there are so many classics – the Dilla track that can always turn my frown upside down is “Won’t Do” from his album The Shining. That beat is so tuff!”
-Randi Hernandez
In loving memory of James Yancey aka J. Dilla. February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006
For more information on J. Dilla, please visit his website at: http://j-dilla.com/
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so says every commercial I see on television. My motto is and has always been, “Christmas is for the kids!” I firmly believe this, but it certainly doesn’t stop me from wanting things for Christmas. However, as an adult I don’t think I’m allowed to pout if I don’t get exactly what I ask for. I really don’t need anything, but if one of these five things were to show up underneath my 4-foot tall Christmas tree I certainly wouldn’t turn them down!
1. Cover Story: Album Cover Art: Wax Poetics Magazine is my BFF (Best Friend Forever)! I’m always flipping through its pages to get an idea of what rare soul, funk, and hip-hop records I should search the crates for. As a self described vinyl record junkie, I’ve been known to buy some records based on the cover art alone. This book published by Wax Poetics is a combination of rare record art picked out by the magazine’s most esteemed contributors. I’d take this book with me everywhere. I don’t know why I don’t have it yet, but I should! I want it as bad as Michael Jackson on the cover of his 1987 album in all black leather!
2. Keith Haring Scented Candle: I’ve always been a fan of Keith Haring’s artwork. Before Whitney Houston made the whole “Crack is wack” slogan famous, Keith Haring painted a mural on East 128th Street and the Harlem River Drive, in 1986 saying that exact same thing! After watching a documentary on him entitled, The Universe of Keith Haring recently, I’ve become even more intrigued by him and want more of this guy in my life. I would NEVER pay $42.00 for ONE candle. I’m just not balling like that. However, I would gladly accept this gift from someone else. It’s pretty and it smells like citrus too!
3. Dam-Funk’s Toeachizown (5LP) & Bonus 45: Dam-Funk has been nicknamed Los Angeles’ “Ambassador of Boogie Funk” for a good reason! His music is funk-tastic and spectacular! He recently released his debut album entitled, Toeachizown and a video to his single “Mirrors”. The album is currently available on a double-disc CD, but the 5LP box vinyl is what will make my heart sing! The set comes with five songs which are not on the CD version. You can pre-order the vinyl box set at Stones Throw Records, but it won’t ship out until early January. That’s perfectly fine by me. I’ll accept tracking numbers. Dam-Funk is so cool. He also has some of the best hair that I’ve ever seen on a guy before!
4. Boxing Kitten “Tina” Skirt in Orange: Boxing Kitten designer Maya Lake uses a combination of bold prints and flawless patterns to create one of a kind pieces. Her line is full of ethnic and elegant clothing that speak to my soul and fit my style perfectly. When I first gazed at the “Tina” skirt in orange for $69.00, I was tempted to hit the “add to cart” button immediately. However, a little bird appeared and told me to hold off because I just might get this awesome little skirt for Christmas. Okay, maybe I made the “little bird” part of the story up, but I’m hoping the rest of the story will be true! I’d love this Christmas.
5. Give Love on Christmas Day: The thing that I’d like the most for Christmas is for everyone to stop rushing, stressing, and freighting over material things and count their blessings. Christmas to me has always been about love and family. I lost my father to cancer just two months ago and the holidays are proving to be especially tough. I’d give up every single possession that I own if it meant that I could just see him just one more day, but I know that’s not possible. Christmas is joyous for so many different reasons, but many people get sad and depressed at this time also. Giving the gift of your time, warm thoughts, and love during this season might just be all that someone needs. The Jackson 5 was right. There really is no greater gift than love.
Come out to celebrate Chicago sneaker boutique, St. Alfred’s Grand Re-Opening this Saturday at Sonotheque… and don’t forget to check out the new space… the "Saint Alfred Spring Cleaning Sale Bonanza Jammy Jam" begins Friday, 3.30 at the store.
St. Alfred
1531 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, Il 60622
773.486.7159
