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.
“If you ain’t got nothing nice to say, then don’t say nuthin”
The last song on the Eminem Show album sees EM at the height of his career. He’d blown up after his single, Stan, a couple years earlier, but on this album he became not only a superstar (Without me) but a Top 5 MC (Squaredance, My Dad’s gone crazy)
Beware: this part is not safe for work, it’s not safe for society :)
Dre on the high hat.
My Dad’s gone crazy 1:58 – 2:33
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
An oldie but goodie, this is one of Carl Craig’s more obscure projects. Here is he hooks up with Karriem Riggins and a host of old and new school Detroit jazz talent to record an homage to their city. This one track on here has been in my Itunes for a while and this part has always stood out. Right near the end, after a synth wave fades out, a bassy guitar loop chimes in. It’s a meeting of the minds between Craig’s techno bassline, Riggin’s hip hop drums, and the pedigree and patience of a jazz legend’s guitar. It all comes together perfectly. It’s always nice being surprised near the end of a song when it gets better instead of just fading away.
Vernors 2:53 – 3:23
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The Spirit of Dilla lives on in the Bullion release – Pet Sounds: In the Key of Dee. This isn’t that easy to find, so if you’re here and you’re a Dilla fan you’re gonna like this. You’ll hear Dilla right away, this could be Track 32 off of Dilla’s Donuts record if he’d chosen a Beach Boys sample. Dilla would have been proud of this I think, as Bullion makes this thing hop. The whole track is only 2 minutes, but the best part is when Bullion amps up the drums and brings in a couple new samples right at the end. Listen for the Run, Run, and the saxophone. This really is pretty bangin’ – in fact the whole record is if you can get your hands on it. So much so it’s time for a Best Parts first, a bonus clip from another track. Peep.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Bonus Clip: Bullion – I just wasn’t made for these times @ 0:44
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
“There is a light that shines, special for you and me..”
The background: Bobby Caldwell releases The Cat in the Hat in 1980. It features the song, Open your Eyes. Dilla uses the sample on the Common track The Light in 2000. The Platinum Pied Pipers do a cover of the song in 2003; there’s some history here.
PPP give it a nice re-rub, make it current, and keep the soulfulness from the original. The best part is right here when after the solo, the drums come back, and you hear the plea…”darling, open your eyes.” Come on baby!!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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!
