The main point of this post is to point you to Complex magazine's list of the 50 best J Dilla songs, posted in commemoration of the late Detroit hip-hop producer's birthday and untimely death (Tuesday and Friday, respectively). It's a fantastic list and tribute to Dilla's indisputable genius. It awakened me to many tracks I'd never heard before and allowed me to reminisce on some of my all-time favorite hip-hop songs. Author Andrew Barber did a great job, and he clearly has listened to more of Dilla's output than I have, but I still have to join the debate. Here are six great tracks I think he should have included:
6. Slum Village - "Fat Cat Song"
From Slum Village's debut album, Fan-tas-tic Vol. 1, which put then-SV house producer Dilla on the map. The off-kilter bounce of the piano and the "oooh" and the "aaaahh" of the soul samples were early indicators of Dilla's trademark style.
5. Jaylib - "The Red"
Champion Sound was a collaboration album between Dilla and my personal favorite underground producer - Madlib of Oxnard, Calif. - which featured the two rapping over each other's beats. "The Red" was the album's first single.
Champion Sound was a collaboration album between Dilla and my personal favorite underground producer - Madlib of Oxnard, Calif. - which featured the two rapping over each other's beats. "The Red" was the album's first single.
4. Common - "New Wave"
Common's experimental Electric Circus, which showcased lots of production from Dilla, was misunderstood by many. But there's no doubting "New Wave," featuring an aggressive piano riff played on the instrument's lower register and segueing into a thoughtful chorus sung by Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab.
Common's experimental Electric Circus, which showcased lots of production from Dilla, was misunderstood by many. But there's no doubting "New Wave," featuring an aggressive piano riff played on the instrument's lower register and segueing into a thoughtful chorus sung by Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab.
3. Raekwon the Chef - "10 Bricks"
Released after Dilla's death, "10 Bricks" was one of two tracks he produced on Rae's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II (the other, "House of Flying Daggers," made the Complex list). As Dilla was primarily known for his feel-good Soulquarian bounce and his love-rap jams, these beats showed he could emulate the grimy Wu style as well as RZA himself.
Released after Dilla's death, "10 Bricks" was one of two tracks he produced on Rae's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II (the other, "House of Flying Daggers," made the Complex list). As Dilla was primarily known for his feel-good Soulquarian bounce and his love-rap jams, these beats showed he could emulate the grimy Wu style as well as RZA himself.
2. DOOM - "Gazillion Ear"
Another posthumous Dilla beat, this time off of DOOM's Born Like This, "Gazillion Ear" is actually comprised of two Dilla compositions - "Dig It" and "Phantom of the Synths." DOOM does the late great producer justice, providing four-plus minutes of classic hip hop.
Another posthumous Dilla beat, this time off of DOOM's Born Like This, "Gazillion Ear" is actually comprised of two Dilla compositions - "Dig It" and "Phantom of the Synths." DOOM does the late great producer justice, providing four-plus minutes of classic hip hop.
1. Slum Village - "The Look of Love"
My personal favorite Dilla track. I don't know how this didn't make the Complex list. Something about this song just gets me every time. Its mellowness, its quiet confidence, the seemingly freestyled verses of Dilla's SV brethren - just give it a listen:
My personal favorite Dilla track. I don't know how this didn't make the Complex list. Something about this song just gets me every time. Its mellowness, its quiet confidence, the seemingly freestyled verses of Dilla's SV brethren - just give it a listen:
I'd like to make a belated addition to this list. I totally forgot about this one - De La Soul's "Verbal Clap." Listen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoCLF0Pvhe8