There are Dilla Day celebrations taking place all over the world, but we know that the family/foundation endorse the Detroit dates. This Sunday is Dilla Youth Day, which will be hosted by his daughter, Ja’Mya. Later that night is Dillatroit featuring several of his friends and collaborators. Check the foundation’s FB for authorized events.
New Dillatronic limited vinyl now available! Over 40 instrumentals with a decidedly electronic feel. Limited run of 2,000…the covers also glow in the dark. Available now in the shop.
Sample the tracks which are streaming on Soundcloud.
Tickets are now available for J Dilla weekend 2016 in Miami, FL. The ticket packages offer early bird pricing for all-access passes to all events & shows. More info at the Dillatronic site.
It was just announced at the DC Loves Dilla event that Dilla’s MPC and custom-built Moog will be placed in the Museum of African American History and Culture. The Smithsonian is currently building the museum which is set to open late next year/early 2016. Formal announcement on the J Dilla Foundation’s FB page. Video from the event below.
via okp
Here’s the latest record from Dilla’s long-lost (and still tangled) album The Diary, “Give ‘Em What They Want,” 12-inch on clear vinyl with five tracks produced in 2002 by J Dilla and Supa Dave West. This will be released on May 6th on Pay Jay Productions.
Dilla set out in 2002 to record an album collaborating with his favorite producers, and Supa Dave West was among them. The first two vocal tracks on this record are built around the same lyrics – “Give ‘Em What They Want” produced by Dilla and “The Doe” produced by West are typical of how he would re-record a track, changing his delivery to fit another producer’s beat. (Another version of this track over a completely different Supa Dave West beat is still missing.)
The last vocal track “So Far,” also produced by Supa Dave West, will be familiar to some fans of MP3 bootlegs. On this record, it’s mastered for the first time by Dave Cooley, who worked on Donuts, The Shining and Ruff Draft.
Thanks to James & Karla Murray for the cover photo, from their book Store Front (Ginko Press). The label illustration is by Denise Nestor, based on a photo by B+. Sleeve by Jeff Jank. This was produced for reissue by Eothen Alapatt, with coordination from House Shoes, Henoch Moore and J Rocc.
Pay Jay Productions was founded by J Dilla (James Yancey). The Estate of James Yancey is administered by attorney Alex Borden and overseen by the Probate Court of the State of California on behalf of Yancey’s four heirs – his mother, Maureen “Madukes” Yancey, his brother John “Illa J” Yancey and his two daughters, Ja’Mya Yancey and Ty-monae Whitlow.
via @rappcats
On what would have been his 40th birthday, we’re just taking a moment to remind you about the remaining Dilla Day celebrations going on around the world…
February 7: Detroit – DILLA DAY DETROIT at Fillmore; 2115 Woodward Ave, 48201 TICKETS
February 7: Sydney, Australia at The Basement, 29 Reiby Place TICKETS
February 9: Detroit – DILLA YOUTH DAY at 5E Gallery, 4605 Cass Avenue, 48201 INFO
February 13: Miami at Bardot with Slum Village, 3456 N Miami Ave, 33186 TICKETS
February 15: Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave INFO
February 23: Washington DC at U Street Music Hall; 1115 U St NW, 20009 TICKETS
Dilla’s name will grace a Detroit Donut shop opening at 242 John R. Street. His uncle, Herman Hayes, a former baker at Avalon Bakery, plans to open Dilla’s Delights in October or November.
More info at J-Dilla.com and Detroit News
Also keeping Dilla’s spirit alive is the just-released single from Yancey Boys (Frank Nitt & Illa J). “Quicksand” also features Common & Dezi Paige on a track produced by Dilla. Avail for purchase on iTunes.
Finally got a chance to catch up with Madukes this morning…she is busy as usual. She’s concentrating on a new project called,The Rebirth of Detroit, and very excited about the next round of scholarships for the J Dilla Foundation beginning July 1st. She also mentioned that she’s going to have to pry Dilla’s MPC away from Illa J because it will hopefully be in the new African American Smithsonian set to open in the next year or so (this may be old news, but I was like, “WHAT?!”)
She’s been trying to get her social media on, so you can follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/officialmadukes or connect with her on Facebook.
Luckily Stones Throw writes blog posts so I don’t have to…I can tell you that every time I speak to Madukes, she is completely humbled and appreciative that people all around the world work to keep her son’s spirit alive.
J DILLA: BEHIND THE BEAT
Stones Throw joined with the J Dilla Estate to produce this poster of the 2005 photo of Dilla at work, photographed by Raph Rashid.
http://sthrow.com/jdilla
BEHIND THE SMILE: J DILLA’S DONUTS
A clip from the video that turned into the cover of Donuts, with a back-story from the director.
http://sthrow.com/donuts
THANK YOU JAY DEE
Streaming audio from the definitive J Dilla mixtape by J. Rocc
http://sthrow.com/thankyou
We’re playing Secret Santa for Dilla’s two daughters, Paige & Ja’Mya. We’re helping to get some things on their Christmas list…if you’d like to help out, check this page.
