Chalk it up to an American aversion to ancient history and LA’s love for J Dilla, but I surmise that these next few days will see more celebrations for James Yancey than George Washington. Of course, Jay Dee did not wear nut-hugging tights, a sartorial decision that clearly aided G-Dub’s jerkin’ ability but hindered his musical aptitude. Between the Low End Theory, Stones Throw, and the constant vigil kept by the Beat Junkies, the legacy of J Dilla is very much alive in this town, a fact rendered obvious by the spate of events this weekend from Songs in the Key of D to Stussy’s Dilla Day on Saturday (flier below the jump).
Granted, the idolatry may be occasionally overzealous, but the cult of Dilla is a worthy one and the 2Pac monomania had gone on long enough. Of course, the love is not limited to LA and the D — in particular, British-based Benji B recently dropped this excellent retrospective on the BBC1 Xtra with some old favorites and esoteric selections from the cream of Conant Gardens, complete with ruminations and remembrances from Mos Def, Karreim Riggins, and J Rocc. Tracklist below the jump, RIP’s implied.
Download:
MP3: Soulful Beats With Benji B – J Dilla Tribute (2/07/10)
J Dilla – Intro (Alt) [Stones Throw]
J Dilla – Nothing Like This/Ruff Draft [Mummy Records]
J Dilla – Stop/Donuts [Stones Throw]
J Dilla – Body Movin’/The Shining [BBE]
Slum Village – Raise It Up/Fantastic Vol 2 [Capitol]
Phat Kat – Don’t Nobody Care About Us (Instrumental) [House Shoes Records]
Jay Dee – Welcome To Detroit [BBE]
Erykah Badu – Window Seat [Universal]
Sa-Ra – Love Czars [Ubiquity]
Yaw – I’m Gonna Make It [White]
Fatima – Soul Glo [Eglo Dubplate]
Strong Arm Steady – Best Of Times [Stones Throw]
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Morena Del Rey (Instrumental) [Ubiquity]
Soulquarians – Flutes Beat [CDR]
Jay Dee – Track 7/A Taste Of Detroit [CDR]
Jay Dee – Track 8/A Taste Of Detroit [CDR]
Jay Dee – History Beat [CDR]
Slum Village – Climax [Capitol]
Jay Dee – Trashy [Bling 47]
J Dilla – Various Beats [CDR]
Jay Dee – The Dee [CDR]
Jay Dee – Dreamy [Blink 47]
Shafiq Husayn – Cheeba (J Rocc Remix) [Plug Research]
Harmonic 313 – Lion [White]
Pangaea – Five [Hessle Audio]
Digital Mystikz – Anti War [Dub]
A Made Up Sound – Re-work [White]
Joy Orbison – The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow [Aus Music]
Kyle Hall – You Know What I Feel [Hyperdub]
Jay Dee – Big Booty Express [BBE]
