The newest release from producer/rapper Jay Dee, a.k.a. J. Dilla, is probably his best effort to date. Sadly, the Detroit native will not be around to see the success of his album. James 'Jay Dee' Yancey died Friday morning of kidney failure in his Los Angeles home. He was 32 years old.
As one of the most influential hip-hop producers of the past decade, Jay Dee's presence in the indie rap circuit will surely be missed. He has worked extensively with the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Common and Madlib. He also started Slum Village with his high school friends Baatin and T3, and went on to have great success with his project Fantastic Vol. 2.
Though fans will certainly be crushed by the loss of such a great hip-hop artist, they can take solace in knowing Jay Dee went out on top. His most distinguished work comes in the form of Donuts, an instrumental tour de force with 31 tracks that span 44 minutes. In the mold of his cohort Madlib, Jay Dee weaves together a group of short and diverse tracks to create a sonic experience that begs to be heard in its entirety anytime it comes on.
From the soulful samples of 'U-Luv' to the triumphant horns of 'Glazed,' Donuts takes the listener on a journey of vast musical expression. The diversity of sounds will at once keep the listener head-nodding and zoning out. The quality and overall vibe of the album is something that just has to be heard to be understood. Jay Dee's last release is an easy must-have for beat lovers and should definitely be included in the collection of any legitimate hip-hopper.
This album begins and ends with the same sample, so one can put the album on repeat and never know where it begins and ends, just like a donut. In this mold, Donuts is like an infinitesimal work of art, perpetually putting out quality sounds as far as the ear can hear. Likewise, Jay Dee's legacy will also have no bounds. It will live on forever through his music.
R.I.P James 'Jay Dee' Yancey.
