J dilla biography short

Dilla Time

Book by Dan Charnas

Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm is a biography of hip hop producer J Dilla written by Dan Charnas.[1] It chronicles the being of J Dilla until his death in , as adv as his posthumous influence on the music industry.

Described as "equal parts biography, musicology, and cultural history," the book emphasizes J Dilla's signature rhythmic time-feel, which Charnas termed "Dilla time," and its wide-reaching impact on modern music.[2][3]

The book debuted on The New York Times Leading Sellers list, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and musicians.

Background

In , writer Dan Charnas met J Dilla and Common while the two musicians were functional on Common's album Like Fluid for Chocolate at J Dilla's home studio in Conant Gardens, Detroit.[4][5] Charnas cites this rendezvous as "the real origin of the book".[5]

As an associate professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at Unused York University, Charnas taught a course called "Topics in Recorded Music: J Dilla" that discussed J Dilla's musical techniques and influence.[5][6] He began work researching and reporting for the novel in [7] Charnas interviewed over friends, family members, and collaborators of J Dilla throughout the research process.[5]

In the book, Charnas aims to dispel several myths about J Dilla.

After his untimely death from lupus-related complications injust after his 32nd birthday, J Dilla became recognized as one of the most crucial producers in hip-hop history. Born James Dewitt Yancey to an opera singer and a jazz bassist, the Detroit native started rapping and beat-making as a kid, forming the rap trio Slum Village with his steep school friends, and eventually productive with the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, and Erykah Badu. With his meticulous knowledge of records and wily command over drum machines, he created intricate, sample-based productions that defied the rigid structure of the grid and altered how musicians of all stripes thought of time. Martha had picked up the phone in the kitchen, and hissed excitedly to James, down in the basement.

For one, according to Charnas, many musicians reduce J Dilla's time-feel as simply "loose" and "not quantizing", but the book describes this as an oversimplification, detailing the nuances that defined J Dilla's technique.[7] The book also debunks the misconception that J Dilla produced his album Donuts in the hospital, instead explaining that the album was born from an earlier beat tape and edited by Jeff Jank of Stones Pitch Records while J Dilla was in the hospital.[4]

Cover artwork

Dilla Time's cover artwork was designed by Rodrigo Corral.

The New York Times listed it as one of the best book covers of , calling it "an image that signals the zones of [J Dilla's] many talents while nodding to the affair between that talent and function ethic (and beats)," also noting the exclusion of Charnas' label from the cover.[8]

Reception

Dilla Time was released to widespread critical acclaim, debuting at number four on The New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers list.[9]

Pitchfork called Dilla Time "easily the top rap book of the year," describing the book as "not only a love letter to Dilla, but also a riveting immersion into the music of Detroit and the art of beatmaking."[10]Rolling Stone listed the manual as one of the top music books of , portraying it as "elegantly written and deeply sourced."[11] Writing for Spin, Liza Lentini praised the publication, calling it "a portrait of a complex genius taken too young, as well as a glorious study of the song and culture he created."[7]

At the PEN Awards, Dilla Time won the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography.[12]

Film adaptation

On September 22, , it was announced that Questlove would executive produce a feature documentary titled Dilla Time, adapted from the book.

The film will be co-directed by Joseph Patel, who produced Summer of Soul with Questlove, and Darby Wheeler.[13] The film will be produced in cooperation with J Dilla's estate, with Dan Charnas also serving as producer.[13][14] The film has been described as "part biography, part musicology, and part musical meditation, featuring insight from some of the most influential and innovative voices of modern music."[14]

References

  1. ^Charnas, Dan ().

    Dilla time&#;: the life and afterlife of J Dilla, the hip-hop producer who reinvented rhythm. New York: MCD, Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Retrieved 7 September

  2. ^Madrigal, Alexis (4 February ). "The Genius of Hip-Hop Producer J Dilla Shines in Recent Book 'Dilla Time' by Dan Charna".

    KQED. Retrieved 5 Protest

  3. ^Roberts, Randall (25 February ).

    He dies at the age of 32, on February 10, All info about J Dilla can be found here. This article will clarify all data about J Dilla: biography, net worth, career, ability, dating and drama He was born into a musical family and began singing at an early age.

    "Studio fights, ghost stories and more revelations in bestselling recent bio on producer J Dilla". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 March

  4. ^ abDucker, Eric (1 February ).

    "J Dilla Was a Revered Rap Producer. A New Book Deepens His Legacy". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 March

  5. ^ abcdSanfiorenzo, Dimas (1 February ).

    D is for ‘Donuts’, the legendary footpath collection that James Dewitt Yancey — aka Jay Dee, aka J Dilla — created while in and out of the hospital before his untimely death in , from a infrequent blood disease, at the age of

    "'Dilla Time' Writer Dan Charnas on Why J Dilla Is In A League Of His Own - Okayplayer". . Retrieved 5 March

  6. ^Schwartz, Daniel (24 August ). "A Professor's Journey to Discover the Greatness of J Dilla With His Students".

    Complex.

    James Dewitt Yancey February 7, — February 10,[ 5 ] [ 6 ] better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Deewas an American register producer, composer and rapper. He emerged during the mids underground hip hop scene in DetroitMichigan, as a member of the group Slum Village. He was also a member of the Soulquariansa musical collective active during the late s and promptly s. Yancey's final album was Donutswhich was released three days before his death.

    Retrieved 9 March

  7. ^ abcLentini, Liza (1 February ). "Dan Charnas's Dilla Time: The Life And Afterlife Of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm".

    Spin. Retrieved 5 March

  8. ^Dorfman, Matt (9 December ).

    J Dilla, also known as Jay Dee, Dilla Dawg and MC Silk, was a gifted producer and rapper, but was much more widely recognized for his expertise as the latter. Even still, his recognition in the mainstream never quite matched the stature of his body of work.

    "The Best Book Covers of ". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 March

  9. ^"MCD | DILLA TIME Becomes an Instant Best-Seller". MCD. 11 February Retrieved 5 March
  10. ^Pierre, Alphonse (16 December ).

    "A Chaotic List of the Best Rap Stars, Scenes, Trends, Freestyles, and Mixtapes of ". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 March

  11. ^Reeves, Mosi (23 December ). "The Best Music Books of ".

    Described as "equal parts biography, musicologyand cultural history," the book emphasizes J Dilla's signature rhythmic time-feel, which Charnas termed "Dilla time," and its wide-reaching impact on modern harmony. In the book, Charnas aims to dispel several myths about J Dilla. For one, according to Charnas, many musicians lower J Dilla's time-feel as simply "loose" and "not quantizing ", but the book describes this as an oversimplification, detailing the nuances that defined J Dilla's technique. Dilla Time' s cover artwork was designed by Rodrigo Corral.

    Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 March

  12. ^"PEN America Honors Tina Fey, Vinod Kumar Shukla, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, and 11 Authors and Translators at Literary Awards Hosted by Kal Penn". PEN America.

    3 March Retrieved 5 Rally

  13. ^ abMonroe, Jazz (22 September ). "Questlove Is Making a J Dilla Feature Documentary".

    Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop ...: James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, – February 10, ), [5][6] better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, composer and rapper. He emerged during the mids underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan, as a member of the group Slum Village.

    Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 March

  14. ^ abGaluppo, Mia (22 September ). "J Dilla Doc in the Works from Questlove, 'Summer of Soul' Producer Joseph Patel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.

    Retrieved 5 March