Pour commémorer la mort voici un an du producteur James Yancey, alias J Dilla (ou Jay Dee), Stones Throw sort pour la première fois en version CD le long maxi "Ruff Draft" sorti en 2003 uniquement en vinyl. Encore aujourd'hui la scène undergroung hip-hop est en deuil de ce natif de Detroit qui débuta en 1995 avec A Tribe Called Quest et multiplia les collaborations The Pharcyde ("Runnin" et "Drop"), De La Soul ("Stake Is High") ou encore à travers son groupe Slum Village (Fantastic vol. 2).
Il est parti en solo en rejoignant Stones Throw et Madlib avec qui il forma le mythique duo Jaylib. Durant les mois qui ont suivi son décès, ses dernières productions ont permis de palier son absence. Beaucoup d'artistes hip-hop ont utilisé ses instrumentaux comme Busta Rhymes ("Can't Hold The Torch"), ou encore The Roots ("Can't Stop This"). "Ruff Draft" est donc réédité afin de (re)découvrir un album pétri de talents et d'expérimentations. Il faut l'avouer ce fut une claque et le réécouter sachant que J Dilla n'est plus de ce monde, donne un goût amer et d'inachevé tant on aurait voulu découvrir les suites de "Reckless Driving", "Take Notice" et leurs samples de synthés Vangelis Seventies, de "Crushin' (Yeeeeaah!)" où le funk en mode downtempo et une déclaration d'amour du sexe opposé, de "Wild" et le hip-hop version country classe.
"Nothing Like This" est l'un des titres majeurs de J Dilla car c'est certainement l'un des plus déroutants. La déconstruction rythmique et sonore devient une ballade abstraite, envoutante et universel. Son écoute pour commémorer les 10 ans de sa disparition nous reprouvera que ce titre est intemporel et son talent exceptionnel. God Bless J Dilla...
To commemorate the death of the producer James Yancey, alias J Dilla (or Jay Dee) one year ago, Stones Throw releases for the first time in CD version the long EP "Ruff Draft" released in 2003 only in vinyl. Still today the undergroung hip-hop scene is in mourning of the producer from Detroit who began in 1995 with A Tribe Called Quest and multiplied collaborations such as The Pharcyde (“Runnin” and “Drop”), De La Soul (“Stake Is High”) or through his own project Slum Village (Fantastic vol. 2).
He start his solo carrier by joining Stones Throw and Madlib with who he founded the mythical duet Jaylib. During the months which followed his death, all his last productions allowed stage his absence. Many hip-hop artists used his instrumentals like Busta Rhymes (“Can't Hold The Torch”), or The Roots (“Can't Stop This”). “Ruff Draft” is thus republished in order to (re)discover an album full of talent and experiments. We should be acknowledged it was a snap and to listen it one more time knowing that J Dilla is not any more alive, gives a bitter and unfinished feeling and we would liked to discover the followings tracks of “Reckless Driving”, “Take Notice” and their synthetisers samples from the Seventies, of “Crushin' (Yeeeeaah!)” when the funk is in downtempo mode making a love declaration of the opposed sex, “Wild” and the nice country hip-hop.
“Nothing Like This” is one of the main tracks of J Dilla because it is certainly one of the most diverting. The beats and the sound deconstruction become an abstract, universal and dreamed ballad. Its listening to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death will prove for sure this tune is timeless and he was so talented. God Bless J Dilla…
