DJ, Mixtape

Mixtape Monday: Jazz Spastiks – J Dilla Mix

Celebrate Dilla Day 2022 by playing some classic Dilla joints.

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Jam On It: J Dilla - The Introduction
Emcee, New Music

Jam On It: J Dilla – The Introduction

  The sirens you’re hearing go off in your head is the unofficial new Dilla shit alert, only alerting us when Detroit’s highness has some new new on deck. This time, we’re gifted with “The Introduction,” premiered by none other than Nas himself on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 Radio Show this morning. Featuring longtime Jay Dee […]

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Editor's Note: I'll See Y'all Later
Lifestyle

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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DJ

Jam On It: Listen to Flying Lotus’s Tribute Mix to J Dilla

It’s been 10 years since J Dilla left the physical world behind but his influence and spirit still rings true in modern music, from hip-hop to jazz to electronic. The week he died, Dilla’s masterful “Donuts” was released and the world mourned and celebrated his life simultaneously through this record. Just as his craft impacted […]

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Emcee, Media

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 […]

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Emcee

The 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 […]

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DJ, Emcee, Media

The 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 […]

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Emcee

The 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 […]

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Emcee, Media

The 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 […]

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Emcee

Jam 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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Issues

Jam On It: De La Soul x J Dilla – “Dilla Plugged In”

It was 1989: the big earthquake shook up San Francisco, Tim Hardaway and Shawn Kemp were just rooks, and yours truly was just a-brewin’ in the womb, but just like the aforementioned, 1989 was the year that sparked the beginnings of substantial significance on a whole number of fronts. That same year, Long Island-bred, Native […]

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Emcee, Media

The 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 […]

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Emcee, Media

The 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 […]

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Emcee, Lifestyle, Media

The 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 […]

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DJ, Emcee, Lifestyle

Will 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.” – […]

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DJ, Emcee, Lifestyle, Media

The 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 […]

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Emcee, Media

The 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 […]

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Fashion Lifestyle

Stussy 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 […]

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Emcee, Media

Jam On It: Phife Dawg – “Dear Dilla”

February is just around the corner, which means a few things: President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Super Bowl XLVIII. But aside from paid time off, flowers, and sports, February also represents Dilla month, and just in time to celebrate, A Tribe Called Quest’s infamous Five Footer has put out a personal J Dilla tribute aptly […]

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