Whilst still in progress during his untimely death; collaborator and close friend Kareem Riggins was left with the heavy-duty task of finishing Dilla's arrangements for this, James Yancey's second full length player on BBE. A sterling job; this album is full of constant reminders that Dilla is going to be missed in the world of hip hop and far beyond. The line up of MC's and singers are a roll call of quality, Busta Rhymes, Madlib, Common, D'Angelo, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch and Dwele. The level of production is second to none, from woozy string loops to tightly edited vocals, chromey synths and jazz all reedited into psychedelic shapes.
A few examples: Common - The Light Pharcyde - Drop Slum Village - Climax Slum Village - Raise It Up Yo i forgot he did the Light that shyt was so laid back and souful 4 real dats the song that made me like Common. The reason people love Jay Dee is his ability to flip samples and for all intents and purposes he is the bridge between the early ninties Pete Rock, Rza, Primo sample era to the Just Blaze, Kanye West, Alchemist, and 9th sample era. On top of the fact that he is dead which adds sumthing more mythical. Also, for some versatility he did that Janet Jackson joint i think it was Joni Mitchell sample(It was ghost produced for Q-tip). I always sound so negative on subjects like this. Dilla was no different than 100s of other producers who have no standout appeal, but make good all around tracks. He's a noteable figure in the hip hop world, but on FP alot of guys get praise beyond what they do in the real world(The Roots, Lupe, No ID, 9th Wonder, ect.).
Considering that pretty much every Jay Dee track the Soul ever jumped on could be called classics in my book it's not suprising to see that Pos, Dave and Mase. Sign in now to see your channels and recommendations! Watch Queue Queue.
He's just one of these people who producers who don't wish to go the mainstream route thrive to sound like. But let's be honest, what seperates him from Juju of the beatnuts, No ID, 9th Wonder, Pete Rock, 45 King, Ski?
Battle of midway. Nothing but the fact that he's dead. Not saying his music wasn't good, he's made many hip hop classics, but I've never heard a beat from him that made me say 'Wow who made this?' No one did, that's why he made numerous records but was still unknown to the outside industry world until his death.
He was good at giving you a beat that fit a great song perfect, not a beat so hot it was all that mattered in the song. ^^^Of course people will disagree, this is FP. Once again I'll say, I'm not taking away from his talent, he's just not a producer with that flare that makes you want to know him. Nothing wrong with making songs instead of hot beats. The consequence of doing this is the beat isn't more noted than the song. Brittney Spears and N-Sync producers have made some of the most noteable songs of our generation, but that doesn't mean everyone broke they're neck to find out who produced 'Oops I did it again'.
You don't hear that and want to freestyle to it, you want to sing or hear the song originally done to it. That's a talent in it'self, just not the same talent possessed by more media dominant hip hop producers. I may sound like I'm knocking him, but I'm really not.
^^^Of course people will disagree, this is FP. Once again I'll say, I'm not taking away from his talent, he's just not a producer with that flare that makes you want to know him. Nothing wrong with making songs instead of hot beats. The consequence of doing this is the beat isn't more noted than the song. Brittney Spears and N-Sync producers have made some of the most noteable songs of our generation, but that doesn't mean everyone broke they're neck to find out who produced 'Oops I did it again'.