Karriem Riggins, a longtime friend and collaborator of the late J Dilla, has released a tribute song to his friend — and he’s enlisted the help of Busta Rhymes and Westside Gunn to do it.
Riggins put out “Long Live J Dilla,” which features the aforementioned rappers, on the producer’s birthday, February 7 — a day that is now known as “J Dilla Day” in the producer’s hometown of Detroit.
AD LOADING...
“I’m excited to release this special song on Dilla’s birthday, featuring the incredible Westside Gunn and Busta Rhymes,” Riggins said in a statement. “This is a celebration of my brother, his artistry, and his timeless contributions to the culture.
“We give thanks to the Most High for his presence and his lasting impact. This one’s for Dilla.”
AD LOADING...
The drummer and producer explained to HipHopDX how the song came about.
“I’ve loved Westside Gunn, and I’ve been wanting to work with him for a while. I’ve been sending him beats for different projects that he had been working on, but we just hadn’t connected on anything,” Riggins explained. “So I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m going to ask him to be on my album.’
AD LOADING...
“So I sent him the beat. He hit me back and said, ‘When do you need it by?’ I’m like, ‘Now.’ [Laughs] This was like a year ago.”
Riggins said that the track did not begin life as a tribute to his friend.
AD LOADING...
“I did not give [Westside Gunn] the song concept,” he continued. “In the sample it was saying, ‘We pray to God to live a better day.’ He had this line where his his sentiment was, ‘Every day I pray to J Dilla/ It’s a full time job not to spray a n-word.’ I was like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty heavy.’ He was saying J Dilla’s his favorite producer. I had no idea he would do that. I was like, man, this is right up my alley — to pay homage to my guy.”
With Westside Gunn’s verse in the can, Riggins initially thought it was done — but he wanted a second opinion. So he asked one of Dilla’s other friends, Busta Rhymes.
“I was going to put this song out as-is — it was one verse and the chorus. I got on the phone with Busta and I was like, ‘I got this song that I want to put out. I just want you to tell me what you think.’ He listened, and he was like, ‘Yo, I gotta get on this. I’ll have my verse tonight.'”
Check the finished product out below.
Dilla’s legacy continues to live on, as he is set to be honored with his own day in Detroit.
During a city council meeting on Tuesday (February 4) attended by the late producer’s family, it was announced that Dilla’s birthday, February 7, will hereby be known as “J Dilla Day” in the Motor City.
AD LOADING...
It represents the first official municipal acknowledgement of the work and legacy of Dilla, who died in 2006 aged 32 after suffering from the rare blood disease TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura).
