J DILLA – Donuts (2006)

“Donuts was released on February 7, 2006, on Stones Throw Records, on J Dilla’s 32nd birthday, just three days before his death.”

On the morning of February 10, 2006, a Friday or Saturday, I woke up super hyped, knowing I would pick up a copy of Jay Dee’s brand new instrumental album, which I had been long waiting for. HHV was called Hip Hop Vinyl and on top of this backpaper Hotel of the same yard. Being a beatmaker myself at that time, Jay Dee, as I was still calling him, was my absolute favorite producer since the Ummah and Slum Village days. Every one of his productions would be analyzed, deciphered, and cherished. Records collected and Files looked up on Soulseek.

On that particular morning, I turned on the computer and connected to the web just to check Okayplayer, only to shockingly learn that my favorite musician of that time had died from his sickness.

Listening to the record that day felt very special, and it gave the whole album an extraordinary beauty, even though I didn’t really understand it at first. It took me a while to understand his departure from the soulful beats and grooves I loved to an incredible work of art on the sampler, a true masterpiece.

I’m happy to share this record with you, 20 years after its release and the artist’s sad transition to another planet: James Dewitt Yancey, aka Jay Dee, aka J Dilla.

If you want more details about the record, I can recommend Jordan Ferguson’s Donuts (33 1/3 Edition, Bloomsbury) or the more complete and biographical Dilla Time by Dan Charnas (Swift Press).

✨ The bar opens at 6:30 PM, needle drop at 8:30 PM.
✨ No reservations.
✨ We ask for silent listening during the length of the record.
✨ Come early and stay late for a chat and a drink!