Honesty: It\u2019s not typically a word associated with the music industry. But it is the ideal that defines the very soul of hip-hop. What would hip-hop be without it? Better question: What would hip-hop be without Detroit legend, J Dilla?<\/p>\n
Born February 7, 1974, James DeWitt Yancey (J Dilla) came into this world with music in his veins. The son of two musically inclined parents, Beverly and Maureen \u201cMa Dukes\u201d Yancey, his education started early. Ma Dukes emphasized musical education as the \u201ctried and true tool for expansion of the mind and freedom of the soul.\u201d But it is hip-hop that serves as the metaphorical wrecking ball to life\u2019s barriers. Dilla was a Midwest music genius who used his lyrics and sound to break through.<\/p>\n
Dilla never did just the minimum. In fact mastering one genre of music was not enough for him. Dilla had formal instrument training on piano, cello, drums, flute and guitar. He learned to read music and even sung in the church choir. Everything Dilla did contained passion, with a focus on being different. \u201cEven through his remix of another artist\u2019s work, he would always present the Jay Dee<\/em> version,\u201d said Ma. Dilla never did anything unless it was his best\u2014even up until his untimely death in 2006, after battling Lupus and a rare blood disease.<\/p>\n [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”3538″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”540″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”960″}}]]<\/p>\n J Dilla (pictured above)<\/p>\n One can find a lot of information on Dilla with just a quick internet search: where he grew up, where he went to school, who he worked with. But in talking with his mother, it\u2019s clear she\u2019s the only one truly capable of defining why it was Dilla that changed hip-hop music.<\/p>\n His ability to live on through his music is not due just to his original sound, but also to the man he was, which naturally overflowed into his creations. \u201cHis music embraces the soul, heart and mind of the listener, because it is built on love,\u201d Ma explained. \u201cHis music is a recipe for loving others and the disappointment that sometimes affects us when we dare to care.\u201d<\/p>\n [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”3539″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”540″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”960″}}]]<\/p>\n Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey (pictured above), is furthering her son\u2019s legacy with a new project titled Motor City. The title comes from the nickname of Jay Dee\u2019s beloved hometown and is a collection of rare and unreleased Jay Dee instrumentals, hand-selected and sequenced by Ma Dukes herself.<\/p>\n While many radio stations are flooded with the sounds of careless tunes and empty lyrics, we hunger for Dilla\u2019s sound and the way it embraces a vision of greater days ahead. His music knows no cultural differences. The heart recognizes Dilla\u2019s sound as pure and honest. Hip-hop is a bullet train to freedom, acceptance and love. Dilla was, and still is, the conductor.<\/p>\n Dilla left behind an abundance of music for people across every culture and generation to enjoy. Some of it was left behind to be released posthumously, proving his fever for life and love for music. \u201cJay was never selfish. He loved everyone who was serious about life and serious about building a better platform for the \u2019artist\u2019 in the industry. He removed the politics and encouraged the artist who dared to be original,\u201d Ma said.<\/p>\n [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”3540″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”540″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”960″}}]]<\/p>\n Motor City (pictured above) is packaged in a limited-edition mailing envelope. Ma Dukes conceived the 19-track album as a \u201cletter\u201d to her son, complete with a handwritten message to him that fans can find in the insert. Motor City drops in physical format and digital outlets worldwide on April 21, 2017.<\/p>\n Last year, Dilla\u2019s Uncle Herm opened \u201cDilla\u2019s Delights,\u201d a donut shop in downtown Detroit, to continue his nephew\u2019s legacy. Dilla\u2019s last album was titled Donuts<\/em>, after his love of the tasty treats. His Uncle used to bring him donuts as a child, and Dilla even dated a girl that worked at Detroit\u2019s famous Dutch Girl Donuts. \u201cJay would be proud of his uncle, and would thank him for his perseverance,\u201d Ma explained.<\/p>\n Join us this Saturday April, 22 for Record Store Day in select stores for a first-listen of J Dilla’s new album. Detroit<\/a>, DTLA<\/a>, Venice<\/a>, Miami<\/a>, Chicago<\/a>, Tribeca<\/a>, San Francisco<\/a> and Washington D.C.<\/a> will be playing records by J Dilla. Complimentary Dilla’s Delights Donuts<\/a> will be available in Detroit.<\/strong><\/p>\n