What's so good?
By sweeneykovar | February 22nd, 2013
Since 2006, the shortest month of the year gained another layer of significance. February holds, in its scant 28 days, James Yancey’s birthday and the day he left this realm. There are no shortage of words on the Internet to describe Jay Dee aka J Dilla’s mastery, influence and importance in modern music. I won’t go into that here. Instead I’ll just share the trite meme that’s spread across the globe in seven short years: he changed my life. I wouldn’t have met important people in my life or had important experiences if it were not for the legacy of a man I never met.
Today’s Friday Five celebrates his work with five selections from his vast and luminous catalogue. This is not a best-of, this is not meant to be comprehensive. Just five tunes that I love and can always listen to. Enjoy and as always, turn it up!
"Royce Da 5'9 - Snatchies"
Though they didn't release much, Dilla and Royce held a mutual respect and musical chemistry that is apparent on songs like "Life Goes On," but my favorite definitely has to be "Snatchies." Extra points for including an extended Trading Places reference.
Download from:
Soundcloud
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Slum Village - World Full of Sadness"
One of the best tracks Slum Village ever recorded ,and even though it wasn't officially released, it's a classic! Reportedly, D'angelo heard this when he was beginning to make Voodoo and had to completely re-think what would be his seminal second LP, evolving it into a work that was covered in Dilla's influence without James Yancey having one single production credit.
Download from:
Soundcloud
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Danny Brown - Set"
These are jail bars. When Danny Brown was locked up for a year or so before 2008's Hot Soup, he used his time to craft some of the most powerful and perturbing bars he's ever spit. The story goes that he had no music with him in the clink, so he was writing to the freshest beats he had heard up to then: Dilla's. Though this resulted in Danny having some mean verses over some Donuts joints, this one-verse song over Dilla's Hall and Oates flip remains one of my favorite Danny performances of all time.
Download from:
Soundcloud
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Jay Dee - Ahmad Impresses Me"
This one always gets me. Shades of Brooklyn's "Change" is a classic record to me, and when I heard that Dilla flipped the same Ahmad Jamal sample as Da Beatminerz did for "Change," I lost it.
Download from:
Soundcloud
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
"Jay Dee - Electric Piano Solo"
In the late 90s, Dilla spent some time remixing artists on major labels, like Busta Rhymes, Masta Ace, D'angelo and The Artifacts. When all of those remixes were rejected by blubbering execs, Jay's man House Shoes stepped up and pressed what is now one of Dilla's most rare and coveted pieces of wax. This instrumental bonus cut was added on as a treat.
Download from:
Soundcloud
Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
