Donuts (album)

Last updated
Donuts
Dilladonutscover.jpg
Studio album by
J Dilla
ReleasedFebruary 7, 2006
RecordedSummer 2005
Genre
Length43:24
Label Stones Throw
Producer J Dilla
J Dilla chronology
Champion Sound
(2003)		Donuts
(2006)		 The Shining
(2006)
Alternative cover
Jdilla donuts altLPcover.jpg
Original vinyl edition cover

Donuts is the second studio album by the American hip hop producer J Dilla, released on February 7, 2006, by Stones Throw Records. It was released on his 32nd birthday, just three days before his death, making it his final album to be released during his lifetime.

Contents

Donuts received widespread critical acclaim for its dense, eclectic sampling and its perceived confrontation of mortality. [2] Pitchfork placed the album at number 38 on their list of the top 50 albums of 2006 [3] and at number 66 on their list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s. [4] In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked the album at 386 in their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. [5] It is regarded, by fans and critics alike, as J Dilla's magnum opus, [6] a classic of instrumental hip hop, and one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time, [7] with artists of many genres citing it as an inspiration. [8]

Background

By the mid-2000s, James Dewitt Yancey, better known as Jay Dee and later J Dilla, achieved recognition in the music industry, [9] [10] [11] with popular contemporary producers such as Pharrell Williams and Kanye West acknowledging his influence and talent. [12] [13] Despite not achieving mainstream success, [14] he worked with numerous artists throughout his career, [15] including the Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, and D'Angelo. As part of the Ummah collective, together with Tribe's Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, he produced music for Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Busta Rhymes. [16]

Following the release of two albums with Slum Village, J Dilla left the group to focus on solo career. [17] In 2001, he released Welcome 2 Detroit . Shortly after, he got signed by MCA. [18] However, the label shelved his second solo album. [19] During that period, he also started working with Madlib, with the duo releasing Champion Sound in 2003 through Stones Throw. [20] In the process, he befriended people running the label and continued working with them, releasing Donuts through the label. [16]

J Dilla's health started declining after a tour in January 2002, [21] when he had been diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a rare and incurable blood disease. [a] He spent the next years in and out of hospitals. [21] In 2004, after an invitation from his friend and collaborator, rapper Common, J Dilla moved from his hometown of Detroit to Los Angeles. A few months later, when his condition worsened, he asked his mother to move to Los Angeles to help him. After he was diagnosed with lupus, [21] he spent most of 2005 in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, [23] continuing creating music in his free time. [24]

Recording

Two different accounts exist regarding the recording of Donuts. According to the popular version, J Dilla worked on the album in the hospital. [12] Throughout the years, Dilla shared his latest work with friends and colleagues using short demo records, called "beat tapes". He played one of them, titled Donuts, to Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf, the founder of Stones Throw, who then shared it with other members of the label. All of them loved it, but Eothen "Egon" Alapatt, Stones Throw's general manager, did not want to release it, since he thought Dilla should instead work on a sequel to Champion Sound. Peanut Butter Wolf convinced him that they should release an instrumental album, as Dilla was unable to record vocals due to his deteriorating condition. [25] They brought vinyl records, portable turntables and samplers to the hospital, allowing Dilla to work on the album. [23] Some sources claim that most of Donuts was recorded in hospital, using a portable turntable and Boss SP-303 sampler. [26] [27] According to Egon, "almost all of [the album]" was created before Dilla was hospitalized, but he continued working on the album during hospital stays. The Source magazine claimed 29 out of 31 tracks were "completed" in the hospital. [28] At times, when Dilla's hands swelled up, causing pain, his mother massaged them, allowing him to continue working on the album. [29] His mother, Maureen Yancey, had requested Dilla's MPC, Moog keyboard, a turntable, a laptop, an audio interface, and a crate of records to his hotel room. [30] Occasionally, he would wake up in the middle of the night and ask her to move him from his bed to the instruments. According to Kelley L. Carter of Detroit Free Press , Dilla told his doctor he was proud of the work, and that all he wanted to do was to finish the album. [21] While working on the album, Dilla forbade anyone to listen to the unfinished version and was furious when he found out his mother listened to it while he was in dialysis. [31] [32]

Dan Charnas, the author of Dilla Time , presented a different version of events. According to his 2022 book, written based on nearly 200 interviews he conducted, the album began as a beat tape made by J Dilla but was largely finished by Stones Throw's art director Jeff Jank. [12] Citing people close to Dilla, Charnas asserted that the original version of Donuts was not recorded in the hospital, but rather at home, using Pro Tools audio editing software. He pointed out that time stretching used throughout the album is impossible to achieve on an Akai MPC drum machine Dilla used previously. [22] The author concluded that while publications created the "dramatic creation story" of Donuts, based on the reports of J Dilla's condition and equipment being placed in his hospital room, Stones Throw, who at the time faced financial difficulties, chose not to refute it, as it increased popularity of the record and consequently its sales. [33]

When Peanut Butter Wolf refused to ask weakened Dilla for any new material, Jeff Jank came up with an idea to release an extended version of the Donuts beat tape, which originally consisted of 27 tracks and was shorter than 30 minutes. However, when they asked Dilla about making a longer version, he replied: "Why don't y'all do that?" Jank agreed to work on the album, while Dilla focused on The Shining , a follow-up to his 2001 debut Welcome 2 Detroit . Due to other artists angering J Dilla with constant requests for multitrack versions of his beats, Jank chose to use the stereo mixed beat tape as a source, rather than ask him for multitrack project files. He started with minor adjustments, but gradually progressed to larger edits: the first one, which he used to find out what Dilla thought of his work, was combining two tracks into one, titled "Workinonit". Dilla approved it and Jank continued his work. Later he asked J Dilla for more material, as he thought the resulting album was still too short. Dilla gave him a CD with nine more beats, which Jank placed towards the end of the album. Jank named tracks on Donuts himself, but showed Dilla the final tracklist; he approved it, laughing at a couple of names. [22]

Composition

Donuts is an instrumental hip hop album; [34] the only lyrics on it are short phrases and gasps taken from various records. [35] Donuts contains 31 tracks, [36] which was J Dilla's age at the time of recording. [37] Most songs are quite short, running at lengths of 1–1.5 minutes each, [38] and vary in style and tone. [35] Clash called the album "a conversation between two completely different producers". [39] The original press release for the album compared it to scanning radio stations in an unfamiliar city. [40]

In his last interview, which was granted to Scratch Magazine in November 2005, Dilla briefly spoke about the creation of the album:

It's just a compilation of the stuff I thought was a little too much for the MCs. That's basically what it is, ya know? Me flipping records that people really don't know how to rap on but they want to rap on. There's a bunch of that. [41]

The track order is also unusual: the album begins with an outro and ends with the intro. [42] [35] According to Collin Robinson of Stereogum , "it's almost too perfect a metaphor for Dilla's otherworldly ability to flip the utter shit out of anything he sampled". [42] The ending of the final track flows right into the beginning of the first one, [43] forming an infinite loop, [44] and alluding to donuts' circular form. [42] [45]

Release and promotion

Donuts was ready to be released by October 2005, but according to Stones Throw, their distributor, EMI, "didn't think a weird, difficult instrumental album by an underground producer would move the projected 10,000 copies", since Dilla's previous album, Champion Sound , failed to achieve commercial success. [46] Later the label came to an understanding with the distributor and the album was set for release in early February 2006, along with a bonus single "Signs". [47]

Donuts was released on February 7, 2006, J Dilla's 32nd birthday. [48] To celebrate this, his friends, Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Egon, and J Rocc, visited his house. Although J Dilla was generally energetic despite his health condition, he was mumbling and gesturing weakly during that day. [21] [49] Three days later, on February 10, 2006, he died at his home in Los Angeles, California. According to his mother, the cause was cardiac arrest. [50]

The album's cover was designed by Stones Throw art director, Jeff Jank. Due to the state of Dilla's health at the time, it was not possible to compose a new photo for the album's cover. Instead, a photo from some raw footage of Dilla hanging out at MED's video shoot for his single, "Push" was used. The raw footage was submitted from director Andrew Gura to Jeff Jank. Seeing the photo, Maureen Yancey stated that she thought this photo perfectly captured her son's spirit. [51] The album's title came from J Dilla's personal fondness for donuts. [52]

Dilla's death, three days after the album's release, was widely mourned by the hip hop community, including all those who worked with him in the past and the years closer to his death, especially Detroit's hip-hop community (which included rapper Proof, a friend and associate of Dilla's, who died soon after Dilla).

Donuts: J Rocc's Picks

To promote the album, Stones Throw, in association with Guitar Center and Adult Swim, released a limited edition EP called Donuts EP: J. Rocc's Picks. The EP contained five extended versions of Donuts instrumentals and the bonus track, "Signs". Copies of the EP were given away on Winter Music Conference (WMC) 2006 and South by Southwest (SXSW) 2006. The label later started selling digital versions of the EP on their official site. [53]

Rereleases

In January 2013, the album was rereleased as a box set. Apart from seven 7-inch vinyl records it contained a bonus 7-inch with tracks "Signs" and "Sniper Elite & Murder Goons", featuring MF Doom and Ghostface Killah. [54] [55] A number of music journalists criticized the box set, stating that the album should be listened as a whole and shouldn't be split. [45] [26]

On September 27, 2014, Donuts was released on compact cassettes, as a part of Cassette Store Day. [56]

In February 2016, on Donuts's 10th anniversary, LP version of the album was rereleased. It included the original cover art with Jeff Jank's drawing on it, new drawing on the back, and liner notes by Jordan Ferguson, containing an excerpt from his book Donuts from 33⅓ series about the making of the album. [57] [58]

Reception and legacy

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 84/100 [59]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [37]
The A.V. Club B+ [60]
Clash 10/10 [61]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [62]
Now 4/5 [63]
Pitchfork 7.9/10 (2006) [64]
10/10 (2012) [26]
PopMatters 9/10 [35]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [65]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [38]
URB Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [66]

Donuts was released to universal acclaim from music critics and has since been a cult favorite. [67] The album holds a score of 84 out of 100 on the review aggregate site Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". [59] Will Dukes of Pitchfork wrote that Donuts showcases Dilla paying homage to "the selfsame sounds he's modernized", and in that sense, the album "is pure postmodern art—which was hip-hop's aim in the first place." [64] PopMatters ' Michael Frauenhofer described Donuts as an "album of explosions and restraint, of precisely crafted balances and absurd breakdowns, of the senselessly affecting juxtaposition of the most powerful of dreams." [35] The A.V. Club 's Nathan Rabin noted Dilla's "ability to twist and contort samples into unrecognizable new forms" and concluded that "as an album from one of rap's most revered producers on one of hip-hop's most respected labels, Donuts would qualify as a fairly major release under any circumstances, but J Dilla's recent death lends it additional significance and gravity." [60] Andy Kellman of AllMusic wrote that Donuts "has a resonance deeper than anyone could've hoped for or even imagined" given Dilla's passing shortly after its release, and ultimately "just might be the one release that best reflects his personality". [37] Giving it a three-star honorable mention rating in his review for MSN Music , Robert Christgau called Donuts "more about moments than flow, which is strange when you think about it". [68]

In a 2007 guest column for Pitchfork, Panda Bear of Animal Collective stated that Donuts was "By far the album I've listened to most over the past year, and I feel like almost any of the songs off there I could say is my favorite." [69] Online music service Rhapsody ranked the album at number three on its "Hip-Hop's Best Albums of the Decade" list. [70] It ranked number nine on Clash 's Essential 50 countdown in April 2009, [39] and the magazine later wrote that its "legacy is undeniable". [61] In a 2012 review of the Donuts 45 box set, Pitchfork accorded the album a revised 10/10 rating, with critic Nate Patrin writing: "It's a widely praised favorite for so many people, and yet there's something about Donuts that feels like such an intensely personal statement". [26] Q , in 2017, called it a "tour de force in postmodern beatmaking". [71]

Further track appearances

Many rappers have performed over instrumentals from Donuts, both on official and unofficial releases. The tracks "One for Ghost" and "Hi" were used in Ghostface Killah's Fishscale , under the names "Whip You With a Strap" and "Beauty Jackson", respectively. Ghostface Killah also used "Geek Down" for the song "Murda Goons", released on his Hidden Darts: Special Edition album. J Dilla's posthumously released album The Shining , also released with new verses on Common's Finding Forever , uses a re-edited version of "Bye.” After Dilla's passing, The Roots used "Time: The Donut of the Heart" for their J Dilla tribute "Can't Stop This" on the album Game Theory . In 2005, the track "Mash" was rapped over by MF DOOM and Guilty Simpson on the track "Mash's Revenge", which appears on the Stones Throw compilation "B-Ball Zombie War". DOOM also used "Anti-American Graffiti", which appeared on the Dilla Ghost Doom release Sniperlite , as well as "Lightworks" on a track of the same name on his album Born Like This . Other rappers that have used Donuts instrumentals on mixtape and non-album releases include Drake, [72] Nas, [73] Talib Kweli, [74] Jay Electronica, [42] Big Sean, [75] Big Pooh, [76] Charles Hamilton, [77] and Lupe Fiasco. [78]

Cartoon Network has used many of the album's tracks as bumper music during the Adult Swim programming block. Adult Swim, which has been in a partnership with Stones Throw records, cited the track "Stepson of the Clapper" as a favorite. [79] In 2017, Dave Chappelle used "Workinonit" as the theme music for his two Netflix stand-up specials. [80]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Donuts (Outro)"0:11
2."Workinonit"2:57
3."Waves"1:38
4."Light My Fire"0:35
5."The New"0:49
6."Stop!"1:39
7."People"1:24
8."The Diff'rence"1:52
9."Mash"1:31
10."Time: The Donut of the Heart"1:38
11."Glazed"1:21
12."Airworks"1:44
13."Lightworks"1:55
14."Stepson of the Clapper"1:01
15."The Twister (Huh, What)"1:16
16."One Eleven"1:11
17."Two Can Win"1:47
18."Don't Cry"1:59
19."Anti-American Graffiti"1:53
20."Geek Down"1:19
21."Thunder"0:54
22."Gobstopper"1:05
23."One for Ghost"1:18
24."Dilla Says Go"1:16
25."Walkinonit"1:15
26."The Factory"1:23
27."U-Love"1:00
28."Hi."1:16
29."Bye."1:27
30."Last Donut of the Night"1:39
31."Welcome to the Show"1:12

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. [81] [82]

Sample credits

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [88] 21

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In the years following J Dilla's death, doctors studied his case and now assume he had Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, a much rarer progressive disease, but one that had an effective drug treatment developed for it. [22]

Related Research Articles

<i>Madvillainy</i> 2004 studio album by Madvillain

Madvillainy is the only studio album by American hip-hop duo Madvillain, consisting of British-American rapper MF Doom and American record producer Madlib. It was released on March 23, 2004, on Stones Throw Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madlib</span> American record producer (born 1973)

Otis Lee Jackson, Jr., known professionally as Madlib, is an American record producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, and rapper. Critically acclaimed for his eclectic and sample-heavy production style, he is regarded as one of the most influential producers in modern hip hop and alternative hip hop. His frequent collaborators include MF DOOM, J Dilla, Freddie Gibbs, Talib Kweli, and Erykah Badu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stones Throw Records</span> American independent record label

Stones Throw Records is an American independent record label based in Los Angeles, California. Under the direction of founder Peanut Butter Wolf, Stones Throw has released music ranging from hip hop to experimental psychedelic rock. LA Weekly deemed the label an "eternally evolving experiment" in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quasimoto</span> Hip hop side project of producer/rapper Madlib

Quasimoto is a side project of hip hop producer Madlib, from Oxnard, California. Quasimoto is composed of Madlib and his animated alter ego Lord Quas. Lord Quas is known for his high-pitched voice, which often interacts with Madlib's regular voice. Quasimoto was conceived of one day in the studio, when Madlib decided to rap to his own beats. Madlib did not like the sound of his voice, so he decided to slow his recorder down, rap slowly, then speed the recording back up to produce Lord Quas' distinctive high-pitched sound. Quasimoto's lyrics frequently address themes such as violence and drug use in a comedic fashion, and the character of Lord Quas has been interpreted as a satirical take on gangsta-rap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karriem Riggins</span> American drummer

Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, record producer, DJ and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. He met Chicago rapper Common and fellow Detroit musician J Dilla both in 1996, and served as an extensive contributor for releases by both artists. He produced for Common's 1997 album One Day It'll All Make Sense, did so on much of his further projects, and formed the musical trio August Greene with the rapper alongside fellow jazz instrumentalist Robert Glasper in 2018. Furthermore, he formed the Jahari Massamba Unit with Madlib in 2020, and has also worked with prominent music industry artists including Paul McCartney, Kanye West, Denzel Curry, Earl Sweatshirt, and Norah Jones, among others.

<i>Ruff Draft</i> 2003 studio album / EP by Jay Dee

Ruff Draft is an EP reissued as a studio album by American hip hop producer and rapper J Dilla released under the moniker "Jay Dee". It was originally released in February 2003 as an EP, by his then-newly founded label, Mummy Records, and distributed by Groove Attack, a German record label. In 2007, Ruff Draft was extended, remastered, and posthumously re-released as a "solo album" by Stones Throw Records. The re-release sold 8,049 copies in its first week, J Dilla's largest first-week sales as a solo artist.

<i>Champion Sound</i> 2003 Album by Madlib and J Dilla

Champion Sound is a collaborative album by the duo Jaylib, consisting of producers J Dilla and Madlib. The album was released in 2003 and is considered a classic in the underground hip-hop scene. The title track, "Champion Sound", features a sample from the 1978 film The Deer Hunter and showcases the duo's signature blend of soulful beats and intricate rhymes. The album also features guest appearances from Talib Kweli and Percee P.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boss SP-303</span> Music workstation

The Boss Dr. Sample SP-303 is a discontinued digital sampler from Boss, successor of the Boss SP-202 Dr. Sample. The SP-303 was revamped and redesigned in 2005, and released as the SP-404, by Roland Corporation.

Beat Konducta is an 8-album series released by hip hop musician Madlib. "Beat Konducta" is also an alias which Madlib uses. The series began officially in 2006 with the release of Beat Konducta Vol 1-2: Movie Scenes. The album was stylistically a companion to J Dilla's Donuts, which was released the month before, 3 days prior to Yancey's death. He has since followed with Beat Konducta Vol 3-4: Beat Konducta in India in 2007 and Beat Konducta Vol. 5-6: A Tribute to...(Dil Cosby and Dil Withers Suite) in 2008, which is a tribute to Yancey. Although the 2010 release Beat Konducta in Africa is an installment of the Madlib Medicine Show series, it is also considered a part of the Beat Konducta series.

<i>Game Theory</i> (album) 2006 studio album by the Roots

Game Theory is the seventh studio album by American hip hop band the Roots, released August 29, 2006, on Def Jam Recordings. The group's first release for the label after leaving Geffen Records, the album was recorded by the Roots mostly using the Apple-developed software application GarageBand. A darker, grittier album with minimal emphasis on hooks in comparison to their previous work, Game Theory features a stripped-down sound similar to the work of Public Enemy, with lyrics that concern sociological themes and the late hip hop producer J Dilla.

<i>The Shining</i> (J Dilla album) 2006 studio album by J Dilla

The Shining is the third studio album by American hip hop producer and rapper J Dilla, who died on February 10, 2006. The Shining was incomplete at the time of J Dilla's passing and was posthumously completed by producer Karriem Riggins. Discounting the instrumental album Donuts, The Shining was the first full-length solo release by J Dilla since Welcome 2 Detroit five years earlier, and as such was highly anticipated. It was released on August 22, 2006, through BBE Records. It was his final album with his creative input, and an instrumental version of the album followed its release shortly afterward.

<i>Perseverance</i> (Percee P album) 2007 studio album by Percee P

Perseverance is the official debut studio album by American rapper Percee P. It was released on Stones Throw Records on September 18, 2007. All tracks are produced by Madlib. The album features guest appearances from Guilty Simpson, Diamond D, Chali 2na, Prince Po, and Aesop Rock, among others.

<i>Born Like This</i> 2009 studio album by Doom

Born Like This is the sixth and final solo studio album by British-American rapper/producer MF Doom. It was released under the pseudonym "Doom" on March 24, 2009 through Lex Records. It debuted at number 52 on the Billboard 200 chart, having sold 10,895 copies as of March 29, 2009. In addition to tracks produced by MF Doom, the album includes production by frequent collaborator Madlib, as well as J Dilla. The album title is borrowed from Charles Bukowski's poem "Dinosauria, We", which employs it as a cadence. The track "Cellz" opens with a sampled recording of Bukowski reading the poem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J Dilla</span> American record producer and rapper (1974–2006)

James Dewitt Yancey, better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer, composer and rapper. He emerged during the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan, as a member of the group Slum Village. He was also a member of the Soulquarians, a musical collective active during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He additionally collaborated with Madlib as Jaylib, releasing the album Champion Sound. Yancey's final album was Donuts, which was released three days before his death.

<i>Donut Shop</i> 2010 EP by J Dilla

Donut Shop is a 2-disc collection of previously unreleased instrumental hip hop songs by J Dilla, former founding member of Slum Village. The collection was posthumously released in 2010 by joint venture of Stones Throw, the J Dilla Estate, and Serato.

<i>Instrumentals</i> (mixtape) 2011 mixtape by Clams Casino

Instrumentals is the debut mixtape of American record producer Clams Casino. It was self-released as a free digital download on March 7, 2011. It features instrumentals of tracks that he produced for various rappers, including some bonus songs. In July 2011, Instrumentals was reissued by Type Records as a physical release.

<i>The Diary</i> (J Dilla album) 2016 studio album by J Dilla

The Diary is the sixth and final studio album by American hip hop recording artist J Dilla. It was originally intended for release in 2002 via MCA Records under the title Pay Jay. This long-lost album is the final batch of unissued material that J Dilla had assembled for release during his lifetime. It also represents his first rap album released since Ruff Draft (2003) and Champion Sound (2003). Unlike previous full-length releases – from Jay Stay Paid (2009) to Dillatronic (2015) – all edited with unreleased instrumentals, The Diary is a collection of Dilla's vocal performances over his production and that of other producers, such as Madlib, Pete Rock, Nottz, Hi-Tek and Karriem Riggins among others. It also features vocal performances by Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Kokane, Frank n Dank, Nottz, Kenny Wray and Boogie. Recording sessions for the album took place from September 16, 2001, to April 2, 2002, at The Spaceship in Clinton Township and Studio A in Detroit, and it was mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illa J</span> American rapper

John Derek Yancey, better known by his stage name Illa J, is an American rapper, singer, producer and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan who has released two albums on Delicious Vinyl Records. He is the younger brother of the late hip hop producer, and rapper J Dilla, and a former member of hip hop group Slum Village. He also released a collaborative album as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt. Illa J's second solo album ILLA J came out via the Brooklyn based record label, Bastard Jazz.

<i>Yancey Boys</i> 2008 studio album by Illa J

Yancey Boys is the debut studio album by Detroit-based rapper/singer Illa J, featuring instrumental production from his late brother Jay Dee, also known as J Dilla. The album was released on November 4, 2008 under Delicious Vinyl. The beats were created from 1995 to 1998 during Jay Dee's tenure with Delicious Vinyl. The album's release was supported by two singles – "We Here" and "Sounds Like Love" featuring Debi Nova. Recording sessions for the album took place at Yancey Boys Studio in Los Angeles in 2008. Stones Throw Records released a digital instrumental version of the album in 2009.

<i>Dilla Time</i> Book by Dan Charnas

Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm is a 2022 biography of hip hop producer J Dilla written by Dan Charnas. It chronicles the life of J Dilla until his death in 2006, as well 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to Paradise: The Timeless Unreality of Since I Left You?". Varsity Online. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Rewind: Donuts by J Dilla". TIDAL Magazine. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Staff Lists: Top 50 Albums of 2005 | Features". Pitchfork.com. December 19, 2006. Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Staff Lists: The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 100-51 | Features". Pitchfork.com. September 30, 2009. Archived from the original on June 8, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "J Dilla: Donuts (45 Box Set)". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ "A Decade Old, Still Fresh: How J Dilla Wrote the Future With 'Donuts'". Observer. February 9, 2016. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ O'Neill, Connor (February 10, 2016). "Life Is A Donut: Reassessing J Dilla's Legacy". Red Bull Music Academy . Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ Ferguson 2014, p. 4.
  10. ↑ Roper, Tamara (September 13, 2013). "The Evolution of J Dilla". Vice . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  11. ↑ McGee, Alan (February 19, 2009). "Remembering hip-hop hero J Dilla". The Guardian . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Ducker, Eric (February 1, 2022). "J Dilla Was a Revered Rap Producer. A New Book Deepens His Legacy". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (March 8, 2017). "Kanye West Talks Meeting J Dilla in Unearthed 2013 Interview". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  14. ↑ Russonello, Giovanni (February 7, 2013). "Why J Dilla May Be Jazz's Latest Great Innovator". NPR . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  15. ↑ Deleo, Sam (February 10, 2011). "5 years after his death, J Dilla's musical genius is still unfolding". The Denver Post . Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Roberts, Randall (February 25, 2022). "Studio fights, ghost stories and more revelations in bestselling new bio on producer J Dilla". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  17. ↑ Makupson, Amyre; Azore, Kyra (June 23, 2023). "Black Music Month: Honoring Detroit hip-hop pioneers Slum Village". CBS News . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  18. ↑ Gibbons, Chris (April 21, 2016). "J Dilla's Posthumous Album 'The Diary' Breathes New Life Into His Lyrics". XXL . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  19. ↑ ex, kris (April 20, 2016). "J Dilla: The Diary". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  20. ↑ Kenner, Rob (February 7, 2016). "J Dilla Essentials Guide: Jay Dee 2 Dilla". Complex . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Carter, Kelley L. (February 23, 2006). "Jay Dee's last days". Detroit Free Press . Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  22. 1 2 3 Charnas 2022, pp. 249–307, Chapter 12: J Dilla.
  23. 1 2 Ferguson 2014, pp. 65–66.
  24. ↑ "The 40 Best Albums of 2006: J Dilla, The Shining (BBE)". Spin . Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  25. ↑ Ferguson 2014, pp. 68–69.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Patrin, Nate (January 16, 2013). "J Dilla: Donuts (45 Box Set)". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  27. ↑ Lee, Morgan (February 5, 2016). "J Dilla's Donuts gets 10th anniversary reissue on Stones Throw". Fact . Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  28. ↑ Ferguson 2014, pp. 88.
  29. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Rob (January 27, 2011). "J Dilla: the Mozart of hip-hop". The Guardian . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  30. ↑ Charnas 2022, p. 289.
  31. ↑ Roper, Tamara. "The Evolution of J Dilla". Noisey . Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Shine On...and On (Extended Sentimental Remix)". The Fader. November 18, 2006. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  33. ↑ Charnas 2022, pp. 308–354, Chapter 13: Zealots.
  34. ↑ Soderberg, Brandon (February 15, 2012). "The Rebirth of Instrumental Hip-Hop". Spin . Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Frauenhofer, Michael (February 13, 2006). "J Dilla: Donuts". PopMatters . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  36. ↑ "A Decade Old, Still Fresh: How J Dilla Wrote the Future With 'Donuts'". Observer.com. February 9, 2016. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 Kellman, Andy. "Donuts – J Dilla". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  38. 1 2 3 Relic, Peter (February 1, 2006). "J Dilla: Donuts". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Clash Essential 50 – Number 9". Clash . April 16, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  40. ↑ Ferguson 2014, p. 3.
  41. ↑ "Dagens Dilla : J Dilla - Still Lives Through (Scratch Magazine May/June 2006)". Sirpierre.se. December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  42. 1 2 3 4 Robinson, Collin (February 5, 2016). "Donuts Turns 10". Stereogum . Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  43. ↑ Ferguson 2014, p. 99.
  44. ↑ Heaton, Dave. "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s: 80-61". PopMatters . Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  45. 1 2 Soderberg, Brandon (February 1, 2013). "Toro Y Moi: Our Finest J. Dilla Disciple". Spin . Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  46. ↑ Ferguson 2014, p. 74.
  47. ↑ Ferguson 2014, p. 76.
  48. ↑ Hardy, Ernest (February 14, 2006). "Thank You, J Dilla". LA Weekly . Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  49. ↑ Ferguson 2014, p. 77.
  50. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (February 14, 2006). "James Yancey, Producer Known for Soulful Hip-Hop, Dies at 32". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Behind The Smile: J Dilla's Donuts Album Cover | Stones Throw Records". Stonesthrow.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  52. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (February 14, 2006). "James Yancey, 32, Producer Known for Soulful Hip-Hop". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  53. ↑ "Stones Throw Store / Donuts: J Rocc's Picks". Stones Throw. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  54. ↑ Minsker, Evan (November 26, 2012). "J Dilla's Donuts to Be Reissued as 7" Box Set". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on September 24, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  55. ↑ Martin, Andrew. "J Dilla's "Donuts" Being Re-released as 45 Box Set". Complex . Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  56. ↑ Kaye, Ben (August 24, 2014). "Cassette Store Day to return in 2014, with releases from Julian Casablancas, Karen O, and Foxygen". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  57. ↑ Lee, Morgan (February 5, 2016). "J Dilla's Donuts gets 10th anniversary reissue on Stones Throw". Fact . Archived from the original on February 9, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  58. ↑ "J Dilla - Donuts, 10th anniversary vinyl". Stones Throw. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  59. 1 2 "Reviews for Donuts by J Dilla aka Jay Dee". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  60. 1 2 Rabin, Nathan (February 21, 2006). "J Dilla: Donuts". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  61. 1 2 Diver, Mike (February 13, 2014). "Clash Likes To Score: Ten 21st Century 10/10s". Clash . Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  62. ↑ Carroll, Jim (February 10, 2006). "Hip-Hop". The Irish Times . Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  63. ↑ Perlich, Tim (February 2, 2006). "Jay Dee". Now . Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  64. 1 2 Dukes, Will (February 8, 2006). "J Dilla: Donuts". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on May 3, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  65. ↑ "J Dilla: Donuts". Q (237): 119. April 2006.
  66. ↑ "J Dilla: Donuts". URB (134): 113. March 2006.
  67. ↑ "Charlie Coffeen gathers dream team to re-create classic J. Dilla album 'Donuts' - Chicago Tribune". Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  68. ↑ Christgau, Robert (August 2009). "Consumer Guide". MSN Music . Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  69. ↑ Lennox, Noah (February 15, 2007). "Panda Bear". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  70. ↑ Chennault, Sam (October 31, 2009). "Hip-Hop's Best Albums of the Decade". Rhapsody. Archived from the original on November 4, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  71. ↑ "Glitch Perfect". Q (367): 117. January 2017.
  72. ↑ ""Stay Down," A Busta Rhymes And Drake Collab Produced By J Dilla, Leaks". Okayplayer. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  73. ↑ "Nas - The Season (Prod. By J Dilla)". Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023– via YouTube.
  74. ↑ "Talib Kweli - I Feel You (J Dilla)". Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023– via YouTube.
  75. ↑ David, Charles (February 11, 2012). "Big Sean - "Only Two Can Win"". Earmilk. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  76. ↑ "Official Plastic Cups Video - Rapper Big Pooh feat. Joe Scudda & Chaundon". Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023– via YouTube.
  77. ↑ "Charles Hamilton – And Then They Played Dilla". Metallungies.com. September 17, 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  78. ↑ Marsh, Og Nick (February 20, 2016). "Mixtape Review | Lupe Fiasco – Pharaoh Height 2/30". Focushiphop.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  79. ↑ "Stones Throw". Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  80. ↑ Barber, Sam (January 23, 2018). "Album Spotlight: J Dilla – Donuts". The Avocado. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  81. ↑ J Dilla (2006). Donuts (liner notes). Los Angeles, California: Stones Throw Records. STH2126.
  82. ↑ J Dilla (2014) [First released 2006]. Donuts (liner notes). Los Angeles, California: Stones Throw Records. STH2126CS.
  83. ↑ "J Dilla's 10cc Sample on Donuts Is the Subject of Copyright Infringement Lawsuit|Pitchfork". Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  84. ↑ "Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill|AllMusic". Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  85. ↑ "Africa - Music from "Lil Brown"|AllMusic". Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  86. ↑ "The tomorrow people: When J Dilla met Raymond Scott". The A.V. Club. March 18, 2014. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  87. ↑ "David Ossman - How Time Flys Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic . Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  88. ↑ "Billboard – Independent Albums: The Week of February 25, 2006". Billboard . Retrieved September 24, 2017.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.