A new book explores how J Dilla forever changed hip-hop
Author Dan Charnas explains how a young Detroiter from the East Side moved people across many different categories of music to appreciate melody in a new way.
James Dewitt Yancey, the Detroit producer famously known as J Dilla, died at just age of 32, but he changed the shape of hip-hop and music forever. He weaved together a variety of artists — from Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest, to Common and Erykah Badu — in a unique way that solidified his legacy in the industry.
“They recognize the level of craft, they recognize the willingness to try new things and to experiment, and also a sense of play,” — Dan Charnas, author of “Dilla Time,” says of why artists appreciated J Dilla.
Listen: How James Dewitt Yancey altered the future of music.
Guest
Dan Charnas is the author of the book “Dilla Time.” He says his music brought electronic producers and traditional musicians together, influencing them to appreciate a new art form.
“They recognize the level of craft,” says Charnas. “They recognize the willingness to try new things and to experiment, and also a sense of play.”
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