Dan Charnas
J Dilla was an exemplary and legendary Detroit musician and producer whose beats have influenced music for years.
This year, the city of Detroit proclaimed February 7, his birthday, as "J Dilla Day" and put up an honorary street sign near Nevada and Charest where he grew up.
In part, the proclamation said that J Dilla (James Dewitt Yancey) “transcended genre and influenced not only Hip Hop and electronic artists but also pop, soul, classical and jazz musicians."
If you're new:
Check out Runnin' by Pharcyde...
Or what Spotify tells me is my most played J Dilla track, "So Far To Go."
Dan Charnas is my guest today as we explore the life and legacy of musician and producer J Dilla.
Dan's new book, "Dilla Time," is described as equal parts biography, musicology, and cultural history