Today is a special day; it's the marked birthday of one of hip hop - or even contemporary music's - most treasured, loved and ultimately, missed talents. James Dewitt Yancey - AKA J Dilla - is the unidsputed definition of a prolific super producer, continuing to set a benchmark for producers from all genres and sounds. A vault of productions that could make Jimi Hendrix cry in overhelmed joy; a list of production credentials to make the Neptunes never feel that they made an impact; a loyal following that's still thankful for his musical output (lets ignore the plundering of his posthumous, private collection) - J Dilla is hailed as one of the greatest producers to ever lavish his techniqiues upon the world. From triumphant solo albums Ruff Draft, Welcome to Detroit and Donuts, to extensive production duties for Slum Village, The Pharcyde, Oh No, Madlib and more, Pulse asked a handful of DJs to pick their favourite Jay-Dee productions and tracks, in honour of the great man on his 39th birthday. Ma Dukes would certainly be proud.
SCRATCHA DVA
"Pharcyde - Runnin"- "Completely timeless. i can always go bk 2it if in need of inspiration or just to generally feel good about music".
DARK SKY
"What made Jay Dee's production so unique and incredible was his ability to flip samples like none other and his drum programming. Dilla's dedication to his craftsmanship, most notably on the Donuts LP and how he went that little bit further to discover a worthy sample has been a big inspiration for us."
RYAN CROSSON
"All of Welcome to Detroit or "Raise it Up" by Slum Village"
LEE BRIGHT (BBE Music)
"Think Twice" - "I remember clearly the day that Welcome to Detroit arrived at the tiny BBE office under Peter's stairs in Cricklewood, it was a dat and so couldn't listen to it right away as we weren't that advanced in our humble little office a few days later i got to hear it and to this day it gives me goose bumps , such a beautiful laid back dream ... i had the pleasure of meeting Dilla and he has left a profound mark on my soul, understated, thoughful, words fail me to think we lost him so young."
MISTAJAM
"Pretty hard to narrow them down but at gunpoint I have to say either Lightworks from Donuts or Royce Da 5'9"s Let's Grow."
TILL VON SEIN
"The first time I heard his beats was in 1995 on the 2nd Pharcyde LP. Runnin is a Meisterwerk for me,still an all time favourite.that sample ,that beat ...that vibe. Still, almost 20 years later, kids from my generation get tears in their eyes when they listen to it at the right moment, at the right party..."
NIKHIL SHAH (MIXCLOUD)
"For me, I reckon it's "Jaylib - The Red."
LEATHERETTE
"J Dilla - Don't Cry" - "This was really tough, we're still not sure if we've picked our absolute favourite, but this is the beat we both said first when asked, so i guess that counts for something. People often say to us, 'anyone can sample a record, blah, blah..' and they're right, anyone can, but this track shows that you can unlock something beautiful and original if you sample imaginatively. Anyone can sample, but not everyone can be J Dilla."
LAPALUX
"J Dilla - One Eleven". "I remember the first time i heard this track and every time i hear it i get the same feelings that i did back then. Its such a beautifully simple track and the use of that Smokey Robinson & The Miracles is pure genius. Seriously makes me well up sometimes listening to this one."
TOM TRAGO
"B.B.E. (Big Booty Express) - Jay Dee"
KING BRITT
"Crustation - Purple (Jay-Dee Remix)" - "I remember getting this about 12yrs ago and it has stayed with me ever since. The simple yet complex loop, that is synonimous to Dilla, the drums and of course the gorgeous vocal that is floating over the top ... pure bliss and always a good end of the night tune for lovers."
DJ TENNIS
"J Dilla - Won't Do (instrumental)"
CHAMBOCHE
"For me it has to be 'workinonit' or 'ride with it' on the recent dillatroit release. Amazing!"
MORGAN ZARATE
'I remember the day my flatmate brought this to the house as one of the defining wtf am i gonna do with my life moments. It has all the elements- soul, rugged swing, beauty, aggression, bassline all in 1 mad simple beat and really i'd never heard anything like it, not put together in that way. This and the A side Player floored me. Still does. "Slum Village 2U4U - this version from the 12" that had players on the A side. '
WOLF+ LAMB (GADI)
"I just bought an mpc2000xl in honor of him, it's on its way! My fave tracks of his is "J Dilla - Make'em NV - Instrumental Mix" especially because the middle eastern sample he uses is the bomb!"
JAMES HUXLEY (PULSE RADIO)
"The Brand Ne Heavies - Sometimes (J Dilla's Ummah Remix)" - "This was the first time i heard J Dilla's productions, and years later I can still listen on repeat. This got played at a JD tribute night recently and it still sounding amazing."
JOE GAMP - (PULSE RADIO)
"Ruff Draft" - Crackly, lo-fi and conceptual, this album for me still stands as a breath of fresh air, in a scene that's historically strived to create exciting and enevelope-pushing music. I'd have picked anything by Jay-Dee, but Ruff Draft, for me, is the blueprint in experimental, boundary pushing beats. And no one else has choosen it!"
Listen to Lapalux, DJ Tennis, Scratcha DVA, King Britt, Till Von Sein, Ryan Crosson& WOLF+ LAMB on Pulse Radio.
