I think I came back to this after I saw he was guesting on the new Daft Punk album. Daft could work with anyone they want, and they chose Chilly for a reason.
And that reason is in this clip, listen up, I gave you a lead in, the best part starts at :10.
Kenaston 2:09 – 2:29
From Solo Piano II, released through Gentle Threat Records, 2012
“…the lines we’ve crossed, the lines we crossed, have always been why I’ve lost..”
This is such a strong album, I would have liked to have seen this given some respect at the Grammys. Big Boi is in a position to do whatever he wants, and here he goes crossover working with Wavves, Little Dragon, Jai Paul, and a group called Phantogram. Wait till you hear her voice below (@ 0:24). Combine that with a screwed intro, clipped sample, A$AP and Big Boi, and you’ve got a barn burner.
It was the 7th anniversary of J Dilla’s passing on Feb. 10th this year, and Stones Throw are re-releasing the Donuts album as a box set of 7″ singles. Pitchfork (I know I’m mentioning them again) did a great review (10!!) of the release and Nate Patrin pinpointed what is always such a great part of any Dilla tune, the siren:
Even the ubiquitous siren he lifted from Mantronix feels like Dilla’s sole property now– maybe because Kurtis never thought to lay it over a mobius-strip revamp of Kool and the Gang album track “Fruitman” (“The Diff’rence”) or a tense, staggered piano loop cut from Martha Reeves’ mid 70s post-Motown solo debut (“Thunder”).
The siren is all over the Donuts album and like Nate says, it’s his now.
Side Note: Armand Van Helden used it first back in 2000, but Dilla used it best.
The Diff’rence 0:09
Thunder 0:29
As I said on March 5, 2006 when I aired these tributes on CIUT. The Best Ever.
“..on the beach, on the ocean of my dreamscape only in my dreams”
It’s like homemade lo-fi Beach boys right? The best part is the chorus I think, but the guitar throughout makes the track. The video is worth watching to see the humour in the song, and look out for the Dam Funk track on the album too.
Only in My Dreams 0:40 – 1:04
From Mature Themes, released through 4AD Records, 2012
It’s not surprising to see Diplo (who produced this track) get put on by the mainstream. But I am surprised that he manages to sneak in a signature bass club “drop the hammer” sound effect. He’s letting us know he’s holding back a little, but still staying true to his original sound. Listen for it at 0:07 below.
It could be the intro, the drum drop, the drum break, the drum solo, the bass hit, the sample, the interlude, the build, the peak, the breakdown, the loop, the skit, the extro... the best part of the song baby!