Moka Only drops by on this latest joint from Yancey Boy Illa J. Its from the Detroit rapper’s new self-titled album out soon, and you can listen below.
Category: J Dilla
Lupe Fiasco – ‘Pharoah Height’
Lupe Fiasco drops this new EP, with beats recycled from various old tracks, including some from J Dilla and Flying Lotus. Still one of the most gifted lyricists working today, its worth checking out. Listen on the link below.
Stream here.
MC Magnif – ‘The Last’
J Dilla left a huge archive of unused beats when he passed, and the latest to bag one is Detroit artist MC Magnif. The Last is taken from a special 7″ vinyl release coming soon from Fat Beats, which also features the previous Dilla/MC Magnif collabo, The Shining Pt 2. Listen on the link below.
Stream here.
Illa J – ‘Never Left’
Illa J is intrinsically linked to the memory of his older brother, the maestro J Dilla. On new joint Never Left, he gives us a heartfelt account of the huge impact the legacy of Dilla still has on him, and how his spirit lives on every time he makes music. Its from Illa J’s upcoming new album, and you can listen below.
Illa J – ‘Universe’
Yancey Boy Illa J (aka the younger brother of J Dilla) is back with a video for his Universe single. The laid back, funked out track is a change of pace for the Detroit rapper, but the video is well put together, and sees him get his MJ on as he tries to bag himself a hottie. Watch below.
Slum Village – ‘Love Is’
Slum Village have dropped this video for the J Dilla produced single Love Is, from their recent Yes! album. It features Bilal on the hook, and you can check it out below.
MoSS – ‘Boombastic’ feat. Slum Village
There’s now a video for the Boombastic single from MoSS that we told you about last week. It features the legends Slum Village, and is taken from producer MoSS’ new album, also called Boombastic. Watch below.
Slept-on albums in retrospect: Raekwon’s – ‘Immobilarity’
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was always going to be difficult to top, even for one of the best artists amongst the nine men that made up the Wu-Tang Clan. By 1999, the world had already been blessed not just with Raekwon’s classic debut some four years previously, but also superior albums from Ghostface Killah, GZA, Old Dirty Bastard, Method Man and Cappadonna. The pressure on Rae to turn-in something as good as his debut must have been thick, even if no one dared to mention it.
When Immobilarity did drop, it was given something of a lukewarm reception from fans and critics alike. Listen again in 2015 however, and its actually a pretty good album, and arguably better than the genuinely disappointing proper sequel to the classic debut, 2009’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II.
What seemed to bug people most at the time was how little this seemed like the other Wu-Tang solo albums so far. There are no guest spots from Ghostface, and in fact Method Man and Masta Killa are the only two official clansmen to appear. And perhaps most noticeably of all, there are no beats by RZA.
Looking back, this was actually a good thing. A lack of guests gave Rae the space needed to focus, and write with enough confidence and weight to carry entire tracks on his own, the way that Ghost has always been able to.
Moving from RZA production also added some variety, away from the occasionally stale beats that he was sometimes guilty of making, even if the little-known producers on the album were usually just trying to ape his style. Its no coincidence that the nicest beat is the Pete Rock produced Sneakers, hinting for the first time just how good Rae sounded over beats from skilled beatmakers outside of RZA. By Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, the line-up of producers had become diverse enough to include everyone from Dr Dre to J Dilla, via Erick Sermon, Alchemist, Marley Marl and more.
Other standout tracks include Friday, My Favorite Dred and Live From NY, each of them filled with the same vivid imagery that helped maintain Rae’s reputation as one of the best storytellers in the game.
If you slept on this album in 2009, dust it off and have another listen. You’ll be surprised at how good it sounds.
Slum Village – ‘Tear It Down’
The impressive new album from Slum Village has been out long enough for any self-respecting hip-hop fan to have heard and purchased it by now. If you haven’t yet, then go do it. If you still need a little convincing, try new single Tear It Down below, which happens to be produced by original member and all-round hero J Dilla.
MoSS – ‘Boombastic’ feat. Slum Village
Slum Village guest on the dope new track Boombastic, from Toronto producer MoSS. It’s from his upcoming album of the same name, which also features DJ Premier and AZ to name a few. Listen below.