So it’s a chilly evening in London Town and I’m rapping online and cracking jokes with my Detroit homie of nearly two decades, Phat Kat….
Kat, a long time friend and music collaborator of James Yancey, says he’s about to jump on a plane and come to Blighty (England…) to roc mic at the Doctor’s Orders 10th Anniversary, celebrating Dilla’s life.
In hindsight, I was fortunate during the early noughties to spend time in Detroit with my music fam and after hanging with Dilla in London he instigated my working relationship with protégé Detroit beatmaker, Wajeed (pka Jeedo).
Immersed in music from a child, the journey has taken me to running clubs and DJing to working in central London’s Wyldpytch Rekords, continuing to my entrance into the corporate music world in the mid 90s.
I have always been aware and a fan of Dilla’s musical DOPENESS !
A soundtrack of my life with fond memories from being in LA on A&R duties for (Edel / Island) working with Kanye West and us waxing lyical about Sa Ra Music, Wajeed and of course J Dilla.
During my A&R years at Universal Music, I worked on LA raptress T Love’s ‘Long Way Back’ album which had production from Dilla and both rapping and the soulful vocals of a young Dwele.
Click the photo below to listen to T-Love Feat Dwele ‘Long Way Back’
I also A&R’ed Spacek (an electronic soul/funk/ RnB collective from south London), signed to Mos Def’s ‘Goodtree’ record label, the EP featured Black Thought, Bahamadia, Slum Village,
and a fresh Dilla laced qwerky boom bap remix of their single ‘Eve’ Feat Frank n Dank
Click the photo below to listen to Spacek Feat Frank n Dank ‘Eve’ (J Dilla Remix)
While he’s here in London I managed to catch up with Phat Kat for my BigPromoShow on Itch.FM, we just reminisced about life, music and Dilla !
Click the image below to hear Phat Kat in interview :-
WOW ! Ten years already….
Click the photo below to see pics of J Dilla Changed My Life event !
The 10th Dilla Changed My Life event at Scala, Kings Cross was a VERY busy multicultural affair of joyous fans all there to enjoy and pay homage to Dilla’s life and music. Hosted by UK Kiss FM’s Shortee Blitz.
DJ’s on the night Kid Kanevil, Mr Thing, Spin Doctor, DJ Maseo (De La Soul) and performances from Illa J, Phat Kat, Slum Village. An electric atmosphere throughout and reaching fever pitch at times, a special moment being when Illa J (Dilla’s lil brother) got the whole audience to sing ‘Happy Birthday Dear Dilla’ it was a fitting way to mark the decade of his passing, with all the proceeds donated to J Dilla Foundation & Lupus UK.
Click the photo below to see lil bro Illa J leading the birthday singalong to Dilla !
Socials :-
@officialjdilla1
@Jdilla_FnDn
@illaj
@ronnieeuro
@spindoctorUK
@slumvillage
@therealdwele
@Jeedo_X
@DJMrThing
@shorteeblitz
@tazarnold
@DeLaSoulsDugout
@kidkanevil
@thadboogie
@bbemusic
@LupusUK
