For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of Hip Hop music. As a pre-teen I loved the sound of drums over chopped samples, but I could not appreciate the time and skill involved in making those kinds of beats. I always had a deep interest in how hipHop beats were made, but I didn't know that beat making would end up being a part of my life until I found J Dilla.
James Dewitt Yancey (AKA) J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey was born on February 7, 1974, and is in my opinion the greatest and most influential HipHop producer of all time. Before I even knew who he was, I knew I loved his style and approach to music. I say that because I was a huge fan of A Tribe Called Quest, but I did not know that some of my favorite tribe tracks were produced my J Dilla. It was only when I decided to find out who The Ummah were after hearing Tribes "Find a Way" that I found Dilla. This is the day I decided that I needed, not wanted, but needed to make beats.
The Ummah (Q Tip, J Dilla and Ali Shaheed Muhammad)
I knew that all of the years I spent listening to my grandfather' Jazz records, and all of my father's musical influences were not just small parts of my life. I knew that all of the hours I spent fiddling with my Uncle's bass guitar, drums and piano were not just passing phases of musical interest. So in the late 90's I bought my first MPC, it was a 2000XL. I had no idea how to use it but I knew what I wanted to make beats. I knew that I had something special inside of me that needed an outlet. I knew about keeping time, melody, bass etc, but it was all in my brain. Somehow, listening to Dilla's beats taught me all I needed to know with regard to using the MPC as a musical instrument.
Me in the late 90's Chopping a Nina Simone sample
Dilla's production taught me that there is a true art to sampling. There is a BIG difference between sampling and looping, and the true art form lies within the chopping of samples, which is where Dilla was and still is king. I feel like every Dilla beat I have ever listened too was like taking a class in the art of organic beat production. I knew that the MPC was the root of his sound, even his bass lines were sampled onto his MPC, although in later years he got into his Moog Voyager for bass lines. I taught myself how to use the MPC as the sole instrument in my production, almost as if I wanted to see how far I could take it without incorporating any other pieces of gear. I knew that thats how Dilla did it, so I pushed myself until I finally found my own distinct sound as a producer. I would challenge myself to re-make some of Dilla's earlier beats, this is how I learned not to focus so much on timing, but to focus on the groove instead.
When J Dilla Died in 2006 I was devastated, but his music will live on forever. I have 3 sons, and all 3 of them have listened to me rock J Dilla beats all their lives. My oldest son is 17 ,and he is actively producing HipHop beats for the nu skool HipHop kids of today. J Dilla impacted me in such a profound way that it literally changed my life for the better.
Me and My MPC 60 V1
I never got in to beat making to get rich or famous, but I have been fortunate enough to have done some work with a few Hip Hop legends. I make music because I just want people to feel, and because it makes me feel good, and most of all complete. I would have never though in a million years that beat making would be such a huge part of my life. And for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you JD...
I am not going to bombard this post with my production, only one of my favorites... Enjoy