Category: Music

This review would have eventually been written but due to the circumstances, I thought it would be appropriate to do it now. J Dilla aka Jay Dee was born on February 7, 1974 and passed away on February 10, 2006. Although he will be missed he will not be forgot because his music will live on. The way that J Dilla produced music was a rare talent and he put his soul into his music. Every time you pick up one of his albums, you are feeling and listening to his spirit. J Dilla (Jay Dee) Donuts was released on February 7th (his birth date). Donuts features 31 tracks of pure enjoyment. Every track feels as if you are on a musical journey. Airworks a track on Donuts is similar to a walk on a sand beach without shoes. It feels raw yet you love the texture and feel of it. For any inspiring or established producer, emcee, fan or person not to have this album is pure insanity. All of the instrumentals have the J Dilla sound but each one has a different mood. It is nice to hear each track back to back because you do not know what to expect next but you know it will be great. Donuts will stand the test of time and will build momentum once artists or producers find samples or tracks to continue the J Dilla legacy.

Firewater will officially be Tha Alkaholiks last album as a group. This marks over ten years of drunken funk from Catashtraphe (Tash), J-Ro and E-Swift. The first single that I heard was “Make Room” from their debut album “21 and Over” which was my introduction into the Likwit sound. Tha Alkaholiks continued to put out hit albums throughout the years such as Coast II Coast, Likwidation, X.O. Experience and now Firewater. King Tee (King T) was the man behind bringing Tha Liks to the forefront and they have never forgot that or him. On the same note, Tha Liks have introduced and influenced many people including the Lootpack, Defari Herut, Phil Tha Agony and Xzibit. This is only a shortlist and I think RZA said it best, “There’s no counting how many emcees’ have sprung from my fountain.” Tha Alkaholiks have probably inspired thousands of artists. They will be truly missed and this should not be the last that we hear from them. This is an excerpt from their sight and official press release: “We were party animals for over a decade. Times are changing,” says Tash. “We’ll still get together once in a while to do a song here and a song there, but this is going to be it as far as albums go.” So raise your glasses and let us give a toast to Tash, J-Ro and E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks, may your legendary music and drunk status never sober.

1. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
   First time to hear something so groundbreaking.
2. Redman – Dare Iz A Darkside
   This is his second album where Red shows raw talent.
3. Tha Alkaholiks – Coast II Coast
   The second time for Tha Liks but more storytelling and defined their sound.
4. Ice Cube – Predator
   Ice Cube use to rhyme with emotion attached to great stories.
5. Cypress Hill – Black Sunday
   Second effort also defining their sound and going insane in the brain.
6. Del The Funkyhomosapien – No Need For Alarm
   Rumored that he freestyled this whole album and that is the correct spelling of his name on the first album.
7. Company Flow – Funcrusher Plus
   Independent as…open the case and remove the CD to find out.
8. Gravediggaz – 6 Feet Deep
   Labeled horrorcore at the time but the best collaboration with Prince Paul and RZA.
9. Lyricist Lounge – Volume One
   So much talent packed on two cds.
10. Boogie Monsters – Riders Of The Storm : The Underwater Album
    This group was overlooked but is a great album.

This was a list that I posted on the CAG forum about my top CDs of the 90s. I based my list on how I much I listened to each CD back then and how it impacted me at that time and now.

Jay Dee aka J Dilla passes away at age 32 on Februray 10, 2006. This is really sad day in music because he had his own sound and it will be missed. He had finally hooked up with Stones Throw and I thought it was a perfect match. R.I.P. Jay Dee aka J Dilla I will play his new album Donuts, Slum Village and Jaylib all night in his memory. If you want a complete list of his music there is a list on Stones Throw. I am really at a lost for words.

Update: According to Stones Throw front page, J Dilla had suffered for over three years with an incurable blood disease, and had also been diagnosed with lupus.” They are also taking donations for his mother and family and all the info can be found on the front page.