The late and great J-Dilla, a true legend, would have celebrated his 36th birthday this week. Some of the hip hop community have taken the time to honour the man and his music.

Common talked exclusively to the boombox where he reminisced avidly upon Dilla’s passion for music and his impact on the industry.

“J Dilla was somebody I had never seen take music and do what he did to it. He made sounds that would be anything from the rawest of hip-hop to something like sounds flowing against Radiohead, and he would play some of the instruments.”

“I never seen a producer sit there and have so much revere for music and so much respect for it. I’ve seen everybody from Pharrell to Kanye, to Questlove … and I’m like, ‘Man, that’s my favorite producer.’ I think music would be in a different place if he was here. He provided so much inspiration.”

Recently, this past Wednesday, Black Thought, ?uestlove, Just Blaze, Q Tip, Juju (The Beatnuts), DJ Green Lantern and Buckwild all appeared as guests on Tony Touch’s radio show ‘Toca Tuesdays’ as part of a J Dilla and Big Pun tribute. They played some of the classic Dilla tracks in between recalling their encounters with both artists. Joining on live calls were Busta Rhymes and N.O.R.E. You can download the Black Thought freestyles as well as the show at the links below.

Black Thought – J Dilla Tribute Freestyles (Parts 1-3)

Toca Tuesdays J Dilla & Big Pun Tribute Show [Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4] (via NahRight)

Over the last four years, The Doctor’s Orders have celebrated the life of J-Dilla with tribute events entitled ‘J-Dilla Changed My Life’. This year they have collaborated with King Apparel to bring you an exclusive limited edition J-Dilla tee.

J-Dilla not only impacted hip hop a great deal, but he also did wonders for American music in general.  Dilla, a native to Detroit, Michigan, often worked in the background as a ghostwriter of sorts, influencing the industry and leaving his signature here and there – he was a member of Slum Village until 2002 and has worked with some of the finest hip hop has to offer, including Madlib, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde. He passed away four years ago from lupus, 3 days after his birthday. He will be remembered as one of the most influential and greatest hip hop producers ever.

- Raving Lunatik

Tags: ?uestlove, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Common, De La Soul, DJ Green Lantern, Hip Hop, j dilla, Juju (The Beatnuts), Just Blaze, Madlib, N.O.R.E, Q Tip, The Pharcyde
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