The Greatest Dilla Stories Never Told

From expensive whips and clocks, doobie ashtrays, stomp outs and brotherhood, friends and collaborators share Dilla tales.

Many music artists are in the game for the millions of dollars to be made; others are lured by the flashing lights of fame and adoration. However, every once in awhile we stumble across a unique breed of true artists who are in the game simply for the love of it. James "J.Dilla" Yancey didn’t crave fame and fortune, though his friends will be quick to tell you he definitely didn’t mind it. After all, this is the man who once said [on his track “Make Em NV” on Ruff Draft] “You can’t change me, cause I'ma be a nigga wit ice!” But despite his affinity for the conspicuous, he wasn’t purely driven by money. Dilla was a man of musical genius that simply wanted to share his gift with the world. So naturally, when he passed away in 2006 of complications with Lupus, fans mourned not only the loss of a mentor, but someone who felt like a friend.

They say memories don’t live like people do, but the outcry of support, appreciation, and respect that we have for J. Dilla proves that adage to be wrong. Below are the favorite memories of Dilla’s friends and family that prove through his music, his legacy and the countless memories that we hold dear, Dilla is sure to keep shining.

“When I was six or seven years old we used to ad-lib songs. [Laughs] You know how singers do that Jennifer Hudson overboard singing? So we used to see who could go on the longest, just like ‘Mmmmm-oooooh-aaaaahh-uhhh-yaaaaah’ till you couldn’t go no more. [Laughs] I used to love that. I loved being around James…he would be in the studio a lot so sometimes I wouldn’t see him a lot, but in my family its more about how every time you see each other it should be like thanksgiving. It shouldn’t just be like that on certain holidays. You should appreciate every time you see someone…because you never know when you’ll see that person again.”
-- John ‘Illa J’ Yancey, Dilla’s younger brother and artist







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[Source: HipHopDX.com > Features - Posted by FreeAutoBlogger]