Detroit Stand Up! It's Dilla Day 🍩

Paying homage to the iconic producer

View this email in your browser. Read 400 words in about 65 seconds. Edited by Geo Hagan. It's J Dilla Day: Paying Homage to the Iconic Detroit Producer It's Dilla Day, the birthday of the legendary hip-hop producer and music icon who left a lasting impression on so many influential rap personalities: from Q-Tip, D'Angelo and Little Brother to new Detroit upstarts like Boldy James. Today would have been his 50th birthday, and we're looking back at the different ways he has influenced Okayplayer's universe — from De La Soul lauding him as the originator of the modern beat tape to us curating our top Dilla tracks of all time. De La Soul On How J Dilla Invented the Modern Beat Tape Okayplayer was in conversation with Pos and Maseo about J Dilla's beginnings in the game and the role they played in the fateful introduction between the talented Dilla and Q-Tip. READ HERE 'Dilla Time' Author Dan Charnas on Why J Dilla Is In A League Of His Own We spoke with author Dan Charnas about J Dilla's complicated relationship with Q-Tip, and why he wants to recenter Slum Village and Fantastic Vol. 2 in the Jay Dee legacy. READ HERE The 17 Best J Dilla Beats Of All Time J Dilla wasn't just your favorite producer's favorite producer, he was also your favorite rapper's favorite producer. As Busta Rhymes once said, "His ability to EQ and hear the music a certain way — you didn't really have too much to do but rhyme on the shit." The Okayplayer editorial team took up the task of curating our favorite Dilla beats of all time. To see our full list, click the button below:. READ HERE An Introduction to J Dilla the Rapper By 2001, J Dilla was arguably at the height of his power and influence as a producer. Already considered the spiritual and sonic center of The Soulquarians, The Ummah, and a contentiously-named sub-sector of R&B, J Dilla was firmly, albeit reluctantly, the pillar of a movement in Black music striving to simultaneously expand its foundations and the scope of its trajectory. In addition to his production genius, Okayplayer wrote a piece about how Dilla also excelled on the mic too,  READ HERE Copyright © 2024 Okayplayer87, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is: Okayplayer87 281 N 7th St Apt 1 Brooklyn, NY 11211-2186 Add us to your address book