This article needs additional citations for verification .(May 2012) |
Welcome 2 Detroit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 26, 2001 [1] | |||
Recorded | 1999–2001 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 41:04 | |||
Label | BBE | |||
Producer |
| |||
J Dilla chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
The A.V. Club | favorable [3] |
Pitchfork | 8.5/10 [4] |
XXL | XL (4/5) [5] |
Welcome 2 Detroit is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist J Dilla, released on February 26, 2001. The album followed his group Slum Village's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2 , and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series (producer-driven albums).
Welcome 2 Detroit bears the name "Jay Dee" as well as "J Dilla", and marks the first time Dilla (who until that point was still known as Jay Dee) officially used the name J Dilla.
Welcome 2 Detroit is a showcase of the talent from J Dilla's hometown, introducing a pre-Slum Village Elzhi on the song "Come Get It", and making room for his longtime 1st Down partner Phat Kat on the appropriately titled "Featuring Phat Kat".
The album's sound ranges from grimy hardcore hip hop ("Pause") to electronic psychedelia ("B.B.E."). The track "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is inspired by Brazilian music group Azymuth. As Dilla mentions in the extensive liner notes:
I fell in love with Brazilian music the day I listened to a Sérgio Mendes album. We used to have jam sessions in the studio after work was done, (and) one day my mans Karriem Riggins came through. I asked him for "Bossa nova". He gave me exactly what I needed.
J Dilla covers Donald Byrd's "Think Twice," singing the lead vocals.
On "African Rhythms", J Dilla covers the Afro beat group Plunky & the Oneness of Juju's song of the same name, replaying all the instruments as well as mimicking the spoken introduction.
On the album's outro "One," J Dilla takes a moment to thank all who have helped him in the hip-hop industry, including Slum Village, Q-Tip and De La Soul. The Pop band 'N Sync is also mentioned. An instrumental version of the album was released on August 23, 2005.
All tracks produced by J Dilla except "The Clapper," which is produced by Karriem Riggins and co-produced by J Dilla.
Welcome 2 Detroit - The 20th Anniversary Edition
This edition was released on February 5, 2021 on the BBE label, containing the original 16 tracks, with instrumentals, bonus mixes, beats and alternate takes.
1. | "Welcome 2 Detroit" | 0:49 |
2. | "Y’all Ain’t Ready" | 1:28 |
3. | "Think Twice" | 3:52 |
4. | "The Clapper" | 2:06 |
5. | "Come Get It" | 5:02 |
6. | "Pause" | 2:45 |
7. | "B.B.E. - Big Booty Express" | 2:12 |
8. | "Beej-n-Dem Pt. 2" | 2:49 |
9. | "Brazilian Groove (EWF)" | 1:30 |
10. | "It’s Like That" | 4:05 |
11. | "Give It Up" | 3:08 |
12. | "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" | 1:25 |
13. | "Feat. Phat Kat" | 3:43 |
14. | "Shake It Down" | 2:55 |
15. | "African Rhythms" | 1:36 |
16. | "One" | 1:31 |
17. | "Welcome 2 Detroit (Instrumental)" | 0:46 |
18. | "Y’all Ain’t Ready (Instrumental)" | 1:29 |
19. | "Think Twice (Instrumental)" | 3:36 |
20. | "The Clapper (Instrumental)" | 1:57 |
21. | "Come Get It (Instrumental)" | 4:25 |
22. | "Pause (Instrumental)" | 2:46 |
23. | "B.B.E. - Big Booty Express (Instrumental)" | 2:09 |
24. | "Beej-N-Dem Pt. 2 (Instrumental)" | 3:07 |
25. | "Brazilian Groove EWF (Instrumental)" | 1:30 |
26. | "It’s Like That (Instrumental)" | 4:08 |
27. | "Give It Up (Instrumental)" | 3:11 |
28. | "Feat. Phat Kat (Instrumental)" | 2:46 |
29. | "Shake It Down (Instrumental)" | 2;54 |
30. | "African Rhythms (Instrumental)" | 1:35 |
31. | "One (Instrumental)" | 1:35 |
32. | "Think Twice (DJ Muro’s KG Mix)" | 3:51 |
33. | "Think Twice (DJ Muro’s KG Mix Instrumental)" | 3:51 |
34. | "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" | 5:53 |
35. | "Beej-n-Dem (OG)" | 0:51 |
36. | "Brazilian Groove EWF (No Drums, No Vocal)" | 1:25 |
37. | "It’s Like That (Alternate Version)" | 3:06 |
38. | "Give It Up (Acapella)" | 1:31 |
39. | "African Rhythms (No Drums)" | 0:44 |
40. | "Think Twice (Alternate Take)" | 3:33 |
41. | "It’s Like That (Original Beat)" | 0:42 |
42. | "Y’all Ain’t Ready (Cassette Demo)" | 1:30 |
43. | "Think Twice (Cassette Demo)" | 3:44 |
44. | "Come Get It (Cassette Demo)" | 4:05 |
45. | "Come Get It (Alt Beat)" | 1:26 |
46. | "Beej-n-Dem Pt. 2 (Alt Beat)" | 3:01 |
Single information |
---|
"Pause"
|
Slum Village is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. The group was formerly composed of the rappers Baatin (1974–2009), T3, and rapper / producer J Dilla (1974–2006). J Dilla left in 2001 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records. Elzhi joined in his absence, after which Baatin also left due to health complications.
Fantastic, Vol. 2 is the second album by American hip hop group Slum Village, released on June 13, 2000. During the time of its release the group was still composed of its earliest members T3, Baatin and J Dilla.
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.
Fan-Tas-Tic , is the unofficial debut studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village. It comprises songs from their demo album, which was recorded in 1996 and 1997, but not officially released until 8 years later. It was nonetheless leaked onto the underground circuit and caused "quite a stir" in 1997. The whole album was produced by J Dilla. Many of the songs would later be revamped or re-conceived for their follow up album, Fantastic, Vol. 2 in 2000.
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.
Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit) is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village. It was released on June 29, 2004, through Capitol Records, making it their second and final album for the label. The album was produced by B.R. Gunna, T3, J Dilla, and Kanye West. It features guest appearances from Dwele, MC Breed, Melanie Rutherford, Big Herk, John Legend, Kanye West, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Phat Kat, and former member J Dilla. Member Baatin parted ways with the group in 2003 due to health complications.
Slum Village is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village. It was released on October 25, 2005, via Barak Records. The recording sessions took place at R.J. Rice Studios in Southfield, Michigan. The album was produced by B.R. Gunna, MoSS, and T3. It features guest appearances from Black Milk, Dwele, J Isaac, Melanie Rutherford, Phat Kat, and Que D.
Jason Powers, better known by his stage name Elzhi, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is a former member of Slum Village and now records as a solo artist. In his youth, he made numerous visits to the Hip-Hop shop in Detroit, taking advantage of open-mic nights hosted by fellow Detroit rapper Proof.
Trinity is the third studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village. It was released on August 13, 2002, via Capitol Records. The recording sessions took place at RJ Rice Studios in Farmington Hills, Studio A in Dearborn Heights, and The Studio in Philadelphia. The album was produced by T3, Waajeed, J Dilla, Karriem Riggins, Young RJ, Black Milk, Ess Man, Hi-Tek, and Scott Storch.
Ronald Christopher Watts, better known by his stage name Phat Kat, is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan, best known as a favorite collaborator of the late J Dilla.
"Pause" is a single by Jay Dee that was chosen to lead his 2001 album, Welcome 2 Detroit. Besides a grunt and an ad-lib, ("Bounce"), Jay Dee doesn't perform on the song himself, but instead features his friends Frank-N-Dank, who brace the horn-laced track with suitably over-the-top braggadocio. Much of Dank's opening first is later featured in scratches on Dilla's Ruff Draft EP song "Let's Take It Back".
Curtis Eugene Cross, better known by his stage name Black Milk, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Michael Griffith Buchanan, better known as House Shoes, is an American Detroit-born hip hop producer and DJ who lives and works in Los Angeles. He served as a producer on albums by Phat Kat, Proof, Elzhi, Pumpkinhead, Marv Won, J Dilla, Danny Brown, and Quelle Chris among others. He is a three-time Detroit Music Awards winner for Outstanding Hip-Hop DJ.
Carte Blanche is the second studio album by American Detroit-based rapper Phat Kat. It was released on April 3, 2007, via Look Records. Production was handled by J Dilla, Black Milk, Young RJ and Nick Speed. It features guest appearances from Black Milk, Elzhi, Fat Ray, Guilty Simpson, House Shoes, Lo Louis, Melanie Rutherford, T3 and Truth Hurts.
The following is a list of productions by American hip-hop producer/rapper Black Milk.
Villa Manifesto is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village. It was released on July 27, 2010, via Ne'Astra Music Group and E1 Entertainment. The recording sessions took place at RJ Rice Studios in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The album was produced by Young RJ, J Dilla, Hi-Tek, Kon Artis, Khrysis and Supa Dave West, with Craig Lane serving as co-producer. It features guest appearances from AB, Colin Munroe, Dwele, Keys, Little Brother, Phife Dawg, Posdnuos and Vice Verse.
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 days before his death.
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.
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.
The following list is a discography of production by J Dilla, an American hip hop record producer and recording artist from Detroit, Michigan. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.