Inspiration for hip-hop producers everywhere, J Dilla aka Jay Dee, James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006), J Dilla was often dubbed “your favorite producer’s favorite producer,” and was highly regarded by hip hop artists and producers such as Madlib, Pete Rock, Common, Busta Rhymes, Pharrell, Waajeed, Flying Lotus, 9th Wonder, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Kanye West, and ?uestlove. About.com ranked J Dilla #15 on their “Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers” list.

Selected Discography

1997: Slum Village – Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) (Donut Boy Recordings) (2006 re-release: Counterflow)
2000: Slum Village – Fantastic, Vol. 2 (Goodvibe)
2000: Slum Village (as J-88) – Best Kept Secret EP (Groove Attack)
2001: Jay Dee – Pay Jay (MCA, shelved)
2001: Jay Dee – Welcome 2 Detroit (Barely Breaking Even)
2003: J Dilla – Ruff Draft EP (Mummy/Groove Attack) (2007 2CD/2LP – Stones Throw)
2003: Jaylib – Champion Sound (Stones Throw)
2006: J Dilla – Donuts (Stones Throw)
2006: J Dilla – The Shining (Barely Breaking Even)
2008: J Dilla – Jay Love Japan (Operation Unknown, official release uncertain)

Dilla was always a behind-the-scenes kind of producer, even though his vocals were featured on plenty of tracks, he produced the instrumentals for a number of popular songs. For example, Pharcyde’s “Drop,” and Janet Jackson and Q-Tip’s “Got ‘Til It’s Gone,” were both produced by J Dilla.

Pharcyde – Drop:

Janet Jackson & Q-Tip – Got ‘Til It’s Gone:

Also, most people don’t know that Jay Dee produced two songs for German rappers Afrob & Sammy Deluxe. So, Dilla not only kept an open mind in his production approach, but with his collaborations as well.

Adult Swim of Cartoon Network also took interest in J Dilla’s Music and started playing his songs in 2006 and earlier. Additionally, Adult Swim produced a music video for Dilla’s “Nothing Like This,” from the Ruff Draft EP:

J Dilla – The Money: