J Dilla is regarded as one of the greatest producers of all time. Dilla’s combination of melodic loops, obscure samples, and hard-hitting drums made him one of the most revered boardsmiths. Dilla emerged in the mid-1990s underground Hip Hop scene in Detroit as a member of Slum Village. When Q-Tip heard the demo of the group, he reached out to Dilla and invited him to produce on A Tribe Called Quest’s album Beats, Rhymes and Life. Dilla went on to create classic material for a variety of artists including Busta Rhymes, Common, De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Ghostface Killah, and many more. Although his life and career were short, J Dilla is widely considered to be one of the most influential producers in the Hip Hop genre.
PROPS
J Dilla comes from a musical family. His father Beverly DeWitt Yancey wrote “It’s a Shame,” for The Spinners.
J Dilla played the cello, keyboards, trumpet, and violin, and mastered the drums.
J Dilla was a pioneer of the Detroit Hip Hop scene.
J Dilla was a founder, MC, and producer of Slum Village.
J Dilla was the first outsider producer to work on A Tribe Called Quest album.
J Dilla was a founding member of the Soulquarians collective.
