11/02/2022

“Last Donut of the Year” – J Dilla

J Dilla is one of the most talented producers of our generation, and just like Nujabes, he left us too soon. In fact, both Dilla and Nujabes share the same birthday and died 4 years apart. Both of them pioneered the modern sound of “lofi”, but unlike the mellow genre of today, Dilla’s beats included extravagant soul samples, and boom-bap beats somehow always fit with the melody. Dilla is also known for his chopping and reconfiguration of pre-made songs. His most popular song, “Don’t Cry”, is a prime example of this. While not being my favorite, it truly shows his unmatched expertise in using the MPK.

“Donuts” is his final album, released mere days before his passing, and he actually produced every single track on his deathbed. The entire album is a must-listen, this song in particular.