In the three and a bit years since James Dewitt Yancey – AKA J Dilla and, earlier, Jay Dee – passed away, reverence directed toward the hip-hop producer has grown considerably.
It makes sense, then, that the gems left unpolished during his lifetime be dug up and given that official release sheen – The Quietus’ curiosity only grew upon hearing earlier posthumous releases The Shining and Ruff Draft so it’s with expectant ears we await the 25 tracks of Jay Stay Paid.
Due to arrive in the US on June 2nd, the album was executively produced by Dilla’s mother Ma Dukes, a former opera singer and very close to her son while he was recording his final and most heralded album Donuts.
Jay Stay Paid also features the vocal talents of (MF) DOOM and Black Thought while Pete Rock, the producer Dilla started out trying to emulate, took care of the record’s mixing and arrangement.
A nice circularity. The album will be issued by Natural Sounds.
