The Detroit Pistons and Royce Da 5'9 Team Up to Honor J Dilla With New Capsule Collection

Educating NBA fans around the world about his lasting impact on the global music [scene] and his deep pride for Detroit was also important to us.

- Bilal Saeed Pistons/VP of Brand & Marketing to Billboard

Celebrating the legacy of J Dilla in his hometown... Detroit, MI.  

The Detroit Pistons snagged the notable Royce da 5'9 as the creative director for this honorary capsule, which is also backed by Dilla's estate.  The collection includes designs that pay homage to Detroit with city grids and Dilla's musical mind with equipment such as the Akai MPC3000 MIDI and his acclaimed Donuts album.

The Kennedy Center is Celebrating J Dilla and Duke Ellington With a Special One-Night-Only Show

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. will present a special one-night-only event celebrating Hip Hop and Jazz in lieu of the respective icons: J Dilla and Duke Ellington.  Led and conducted by Derrick Hodge, the Black Radio Orchestra and Grammy-Award winning Robert Glasper will hit the stage for the Duke x Dilla Celebration.  

{Trailer} HULU's... "The Legacy of J Dilla"

via the NYTimes

Hulu has a new series, 'The New York Times Presents", that gives insight and journalism to each specific standalone documentary episode.  Episode 5 is focused on James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla.  With an unfortunate life and career cut short at the age of 32 from a long battle with Lupus, Dilla has made an unforgettable permanent mark in hip hop culture.  Producer.  Musician.  Influencer.  Detroit's very own has produced timeless records; for example : Runnin' x The Pharcyde, Find a Way x A Tribe Called Quest, The Light x Common, Didn't Cha Know x Erykah Badu.

Author Jordan Ferguson speaks on new book 'J Dilla Donuts'

Image via HypeTrak

Earlier this year on April 24th, author Jordan Ferguson released his new book “J. Dilla’s Donuts”; an examination of J Dilla’s final album (Donuts) before passing three days after his 32nd birthday. The 130-page book of Bloomsbury Publishing’s ‘33 1/3’ series, contains research of theories about death and the role they play in the ‘Donuts’ album, why he chose particular samples and more, as well as, a sound biography of J Dilla.
Life + Times was able to catch up with Ferguson to discuss. Read an excerpt below::

“At this point, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to it. People ask me am I sick of it and the funny thing is, I’m not. If anything, I love it more now than I did when I started the book, and this is after probably hundreds of listens. I still think it’s a genius work made more so by the fact of the conditions in which it was created, and if it adds to your appreciation that’s fantastic. That’s all I wanted out of this project: to do right by him, and give back a little bit of the enjoyment that he has brought to my life.” – Ferguson

Only Two Can Win| Big Sean

Same ol me…

 but ery’thang round me new…

Sean pays tribute to J.Dilla (RIP) to one of his fav. Tracks off Dilla’s album, Donuts.  On his tumblr he says:...

In honor of J.Dilla being one of the most influential producers of all time, I decided to lay a verse to one of my favorite tracks off of J.Dilla’s Donuts.  Being from Detroit I feel I have a responsibility to honor his legacy n continue it in my own way.  His soul will live forever… RIP J. Dilla.