What Did J Dilla Mean To You? February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006 

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So, as we prepare to celebrate Dilla day tomorrow, Spoonfed http://www.spoonfed.co.uk talked to a few of our favourite artists to see what Dilla meant to them and how his work has affected theirs.

"I've been the biggest Slum V/J-Dilla fan ever since around that 'Stakes is High' kind of time...with me being an aspiring producer and stuff I've always taken notes and studied what he's done." DJ Babu

"For me Dilla is quite simply the best that ever did it. The way he chopped samples and crafted tracks is second to none. I am constantly in awe of his beats and never tire of listening to them. Many have tried to imitate his style but there will only ever be one James "J-Dilla" Yancey." - DJ Spindoctor

"There are very few producers that create a new level and sound in their music. Dilla was one: he made a small almost subtle broken sound acceptable and it can now be heard in music everywhere. It's more than just a hot beat; he created a sonic sound that has become part of hip hop's tapestry" - Baby J

"To be honest, I only became aware of J Dilla towards the end of his life, although I was raised on his music. I was raised on A Tribe Called Quest and Pharcyde, but was unaware of J Dilla's role in it all. By the time his health began to fade, I was living in England and his name and health seemed to be the centre of conversation for every hip hop aficionado. Though I had heard his name, I had no idea of the extent of his influence. I don't know if it was a British/American thing. The old jazz and blues cats would say they only got recognised in Europe. Whereas in the States we would know Miles Davis, but wouldn't have a clue who played the drums on 'Kind Of Blue'. Maybe in England they paid more attention to the liner notes.

I just know personally, I listened to J Dilla's production religiously in my formative years and never really became aware of him until his health began to fail while I was living in England. I hope that Dilla is a beacon to all, a reminder how important the beat is to the hip-hop experience. J Dilla brought the essence to many of the classic hip hop albums, and I'm glad he's getting some recognition. Too often hip hop sleeps on anyone who's not in the video." - Joe Driscoll

"ALL Dilla is killa. - it's just FULL production from top to bottom, silky smooth but with a nice fat rough edge - it goes sideways... Fave track (out of 1000s I guess?) has to be Pharcyde Runnin' - (Labcabincalifornia, a true classic!). AMAZING, IN FACT LISTENING (TO IT) NOW!!!!" - Chris of Zero dB

"He's the Hendrix of the sampler generation. We'll always wonder what he would've done next, but there's a legacy there that'll live longer than any genre, trend or individual. We send love to his memory and family, thanks for providing a major part of the soundtrack to our lives and a source of inspiration to all." - Stonephace

"Dilla really inspired me to try and be inventive with sampling. The way he would flip a beat or sample would make you think it about it in a completely different way - even if it was something well-known and well-used." - Lance Ferguson of Lanu/The Bamboos

"For me Dilla had such creativity and vision in the way he used samples, almost otherworldly! It's amazing the way he could make his beats bang so hard, I mean you could take away the music and just have the drums and your neck will still be snapping...It was clear he just oozed love for music and his passion shines through along with the attitude he employed to his work. To read that his mother had to massage his fingers, during the last few weeks of his life, just so he could keep pressing the pads on his MPC, was heartbreaking." - DJ LOK

"...I still obsessively collect unreleased J Dilla pieces, bits and rarities. Every time I discover a new track, it's like a brand new joint from the "hottest" new artist. His music really does live on..." DJ Rags of Livin' Proof

It's clear that the legacy of J-Dilla goes beyond just a really amazing body of work. He has literally changed peoples lives. Today's hip hop producers, MCs, and DJs have all been influenced by his music, conciously or unconsciously, as his unique sound resonates ever louder with time. As Busta Rhymes so succinctly put it "...he wasn't just a producer, he was the best producer."

Added by: Watcher, 28/Mar/24 | Comments: 0
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