The Lost Album Of J Dilla: Pay Jay [PORTABLE]
The Lost Album of J Dilla: Pay Jay
J Dilla was one of the most influential and innovative producers in hip hop history. He worked with artists like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Common, Erykah Badu, The Roots, and many more. He also released several solo albums and projects under various aliases, such as Jay Dee, Jaylib, and Dilla Dawg.
The Lost Album of J Dilla: Pay Jay
However, one of his albums never saw the light of day. It was called Pay Jay, and it was supposed to be his debut album on MCA Records. He recorded it between 2002 and 2003, with production from himself, Kanye West, Pete Rock, Nottz, Hi-Tek, Bink!, ?uestlove, and Waajeed. He also featured guests like Bilal, Frank-N-Dank, Boogie (of DMP), and Nottz.
Unfortunately, the album was shelved by MCA due to creative differences and label politics. J Dilla left MCA in 2004 and signed with Stones Throw Records, where he released his acclaimed albums Donuts and The Shining. He also battled a rare blood disease and lupus, which eventually claimed his life in 2006.
Pay Jay remained unreleased for years, until an advance promo CD leaked online in 2008. The CD contained 11 tracks, but it was not the final version of the album. Some of the songs were unfinished or had different mixes or titles. The CD also had poor sound quality and was missing some tracks that J Dilla intended to include on the album.
In 2014, J Dilla's estate announced that they had acquired the original masters of Pay Jay from MCA Records. They planned to release the album officially under the title The Diary, with additional tracks and artwork. The album was finally released in 2016 by Mass Appeal Records and Pay Jay Productions.
The Diary received positive reviews from critics and fans, who praised J Dilla's versatility as a producer and rapper. The album also featured previously unheard collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Madlib, and more. The Diary was a testament to J Dilla's legacy and a gift to his loyal followers.
Pay Jay was one of the most anticipated and elusive albums in hip hop history. It was a glimpse into J Dilla's creative process and vision at a pivotal point in his career. It was also a reminder of his talent and influence that transcended genres and generations.
One of J Dilla's most celebrated albums is Donuts, which was released on February 7, 2006, by Stones Throw Records. It was his second studio album and his first instrumental album. It was also his last album released during his lifetime, as he died three days later from complications of his illness.
Donuts is a collection of 31 short tracks, mostly based on soul and funk samples, that showcase J Dilla's creativity and skill as a producer. The tracks are looped, chopped, layered, filtered, and manipulated in various ways, creating a collage of sounds and moods. Some of the tracks also contain vocal snippets from movies, TV shows, radio broadcasts, and other sources, adding humor and commentary to the album.
The album was recorded in 2005, largely during J Dilla's extended stay at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He used a 45-rpm record player and a Boss SP-303 sampler to make beats in his hospital room, with records brought by his friends and family. He later transferred the beats to his Akai MPC3000 at his home studio, where he finished the album.
Donuts received widespread critical acclaim for its dense, eclectic sampling and its perceived confrontation of mortality. Pitchfork placed the album at number 38 on their list of the top 50 albums of 2006 and at number 66 on their list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s. Rolling Stone ranked the album at 386 in their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It is regarded as J Dilla's magnum opus, a classic of instrumental hip hop, and one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time. 04f6b60f66