Celebrate Dilla Day 2022 by playing some classic Dilla joints.
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Jam On It: “Dilla’s House” by AbJo
7 tracks to play on repeat.
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Weekend Visuals
Your weekend playlist of the videos you should be watching.
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SoundCloud Selections
A weekly playlist of the best tracks currently streaming on SoundCloud.
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Editor’s Note: My Dilla Story
In honor of February being Dilla Month, I’ve got my own Dilla related story to contribute: Let’s take a little trip back in time to my 16 year old self. It’s the summer of 2000, right around the height of my backpacker phase. No, not the Patagonia rocking, Clif Bar stashing, trailblazing type. What I’m […]
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It’s Jazz Season, Charlie Brown
Y’all ever notice the background music to the Charlie Brown holiday specials? You might not know it, but you were vibing to some good old jazz music. Those soft piano keys and subtle notes of the saxophone made you feel at ease and relaxed. That’s why the holidays are so just so jazzy. Thanks to […]
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Jam On It: Stream J Dilla’s “Dillatronic” LP in Full
The genius of J Dilla keeps on flourishing from beyond the sleep of death, as another release from the eternal Dilla Dawg himself, by way of his estate and Ma Dukes, is available earlier than its planned October 30th release. Today, “Dillatronic” was gifted to Dilla fans worldwide through an early release via full stream […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
We conclude our Dilla Month tribute with a Friday Five that’s got nothing but that good good from Dilla and his Detroit cohorts Baatin and T3 – otherwise known as the legendary Slum Village. So prepare to treat your Friday to some of Jay Dee’s best with nothing but the illest joints from the Conant […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
We’re into the third installment of The Friday Five’s tribute to the late, great J Dilla for Dilla Month, and this week we’re focusing on his greatest solo joints – or better yet, masterpieces, if you will. There’s five Dilla bangers waiting to be played here, all a testament to the greatness that he displayed […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
For the second installment of The Friday Five’s tribute to Dilla Month, we’ve put together a little something for all the lovers out there. This week’s five consists of Valentine’s Day friendly tracks that Jay Dee has had a hand in. So gather up your boo(s), pour up a little something and let this quick five […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
It’s been a long time, we shouldn’t have left you…WITHOUT A STRONG FRIDAY FIVE TO STEP TO! Our bad. Really. To make up for it, we’re coming back strong in honor of Dilla Month with the first set of Friday Five J Dilla tributes throughout February. For this first installment, we’ve got five of Dilla Dawg’s […]
Read moreJam On It: J Dilla – Give Em What They Want
As if Dilla’s vaults couldn’t get any deeper, a new track from deep within it has (re)surfaced entitled “Give Em What They Want”. This joint was taken from The Diary, a forthcoming J Dilla project that contains unheard tracks that he recorded in the early 2000’s. After clicking through to ear hustle this new new, […]
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Rare Form and Okayplayer Present: Donuts Are Forever 8
As the turbulent New York winter weather ebbs and flows, the big city’s Hip-Hop community all gathered to one constant on February 16th– the annual Donuts Are Forever event, honoring the late great J Dilla.
Read moreThe Friday Five
Anchoring the Dilla themed month for The Friday Five will be a selection of some of my favorite R&B/Soul-styled Dilla joints. It’s only natural to complete the cypher with Jay Dee music that goes beyond the borders of hip-hop, as it highlights the versatility, finesse, and pure genius that he contributed to music. So click […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
Completing the J Dilla-themed Friday Fives for the month of February – most importantly known as Dilla Month – this week’s edition highlights arguably his most well-known work with the Detroit trio, Slum Village. Their game changing and timeless album, “Fantastic Vol. 2”, sets the stage for another five quality tracks from the maestro of […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
In keeping on with the Dilla Month theme for the Friday Fives this February, we’re taking a look at my favorite joints from The Ummah – a musical collective that joins together the forces of J Dilla, Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and part-time members Raphael Saadiq and D’Angelo. So click through and get ready to […]
Read moreWill the Real J Dilla Please Stand Up?
Art by Amar Stewart “When I make my music, I want people to feel what I feel; I want them to feel that energy that I was (feeling), whatever it was. That’s all it is, ’cause I make it straight from the heart, so for it to be taken as anything else is crazy.” – […]
Read moreThe 5th’s Favs: J Dilla Edition
As any well-informed Hip-Hop head would know, Dilla month is upon us. The groundbreaking producer, who would have turned 38 last week, has undoubtedly prompted music fans across the globe to make personal, often deeply meaningful, connections to his timeless productions. We here at The 5th are no exception. That being said, I brought together […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
Happy Dilla Day, y’all. We spark up the first of a few Friday Fives dedicated to the late, great Jay Dee with a choice selection of my favorite work off of his collabo with Madlib, better known as Jaylib. The duo’s debut album, Champion Sound, was a crucial catalyst to Stones Throw Records’ shift into […]
Read moreStussy x Dilla: Turn It Up
Every year Stussy always come correct with the J Dilla tribute tee, and this year’s edition is no different. The elements of the tee form a makeshift shrine design, surrounding an image of the Detroit producer with “Turn It Up,” “Detroit” and “Los Angeles,” in the Stussy signature tribal font. Setting the Stussy crown atop […]
Read moreJ Dilla x Joey Bada$$ x Akomplice Proves to be a Crucial Collabo
“I feel like a fresh Air Force’s first step,” was one of the lines that Pro Era general, Joey Bada$$, confidently spit over a Dilla beat, resulting in a song that had me feeling the exact same way. On this new joint, “Two Lips”, we get to hear a dream match up between one of […]
Read moreRECAP: The Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio 2 Tour – Los Angeles
Fresh off the release of their latest chart-topping album, the Robert Glasper Experiment completed the final date of their “Black Radio 2” tour in Los Angeles. Giving a non-stop, electrifying performance, it’s hard to believe that the RBX is only a 4-piece band. With a healthy mix of original music, hip-hop and r&b covers, and […]
Read moreYancey Boys – Sunset Blvd
Not many things in this world last forever, but a J. Dilla beat is one of them. Ever since his tragic passing in 2006, his soulful legacy has been carried on through a number of posthumous albums, tributes, and covers. One album that has always stood out to me was 2008’s Yancey Boys, a collection […]
Read moreThe Friday Five
Rock The Bells last week brought out an unprecedented number of hologram performances, with two coming in the form of ODB and Eazy-E. Which got me to thinking – there’s still plenty of ill hip hop artists which have passed that would make for an awesome show, should they receive the holographic treatment at any […]
Read moreHow Ma Dukes Was Reunited With Dilla’s Lost Records
Rarely am I at a loss for words, but after listening to this audio documentary from NPR’s Snap Judgement radio show about how Detroit record enthusiast, Jeff Bubeck, reunited J Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, with Dilla’s long lost record collection, I was moved to a point where I just simply had to solemnly […]
Read moreFUSE’s Crate Diggers – J Dilla
J Dilla, Jay Dee, Dilla, Dilla Dawg, James Yancey. If you know the name, you know the scope of influence the man has had in not only the world of hip hop, but all of music in general. That’s why it comes as no surprise that even seven years after his death, plenty are still […]
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THE 5TH ELEMENT MAGAZINE 