Ruff Draft

J Dilla, Jay Dee

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 20, 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Stones Throw
• ASIN: B000MCH5NG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,599 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When he was known as Jay Dee in the late 1990s and early 2000s, James D. Yancey was busy crafting loping, laid-back, soulful beats for progressive hip-hoppers such as A Tribe Called Quest, Common, De La Soul, and the Pharcyde--and becoming a highly prized rap and neo-soul producer. In 2002 and 2003, following a stint with his Detroit high-school buddies in Slum Village and a stillborn solo career with MCA, Yancey entered a major transitional phase. He began referring to himself as J Dilla, moved to southern California, embraced the indie scene, and started to take a more experimental approach to his productions. The decidedly lo-fi Ruff Draft signaled the beginning of this new period (even though it was the last album released under the Jay Dee name). Layering creepy and bizarre effects atop his hypnotic grooves, Dilla expanded the sonic parameters of his craft, texturing the music with eerie synthesizer bleeps, distorted samples, and lurching rhythms. Dilla tossed off this quick project for his own listening pleasure, but the obscure, forward-looking EP--released on 12" vinyl by German label Groove Attack in February of 2003--became something of a collector's item. The 2007 Stones Throw reissue adds a few bonus tracks and a second all-instrumental CD to this pivotal work by the late hip-hop innovator. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

The legendary producer for the likes of Common, Tribe Called Quest, & Slum Village originally released this rare vinyl only album in 2003. Here it is reissued, remastered, & packaged with 4 unreleased tracks including the instrumentals.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent bridge between Welcome 2 Detroit and Champion Sound, March 30, 2007

By	D. Thomas "Dawhud" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dope, not his best work though. A lot of the Stones Throw/bandwagon Dilla fans say it's this AMAZING classic gem. It's dope... but not that dope. The one really cool thing that this EP does is bridge Welcome 2 Detroit to Champion Sound. It really helps put the dots together as in his progress and movement with his production style.

Although in my opinion this release isn't his best work, I highly suggest checking it out. It's some dope ish you can just pop in the jeep and ride to. (in the same vein as Sittin' On Chrome)

Choice cuts

Make 'EM NV
The $
Chrushin"
Nothing Like This (which was also released on Chrome Children)

3/5

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh Yeah, March 31, 2007

By	J. D. Trevathan (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The great thing about this album is Stones Throw released the instrumentals along with the CD. I gotta appreciate that, cause that didn't happen with The Shining.

Not everything on this one's classic, but it's J Dilla, and anything else we get from his mastermind is more than worth it. Just listen to "Let's Take it Back," "Nothing Like This," "The $," "Make'em Nv, "Crushin' (Yeeeeaah!)," "Wild," and "Take Notice." Not only was Dilla the best producer, but one of the better Detroit MCs. It's a priviledge that this album got released to the masses with extra tracks and instrumentals to boot. It's a must not just for hip hop fans, but for fans of true music period. Get two, one for the house and one for the car. You're gonna need it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sick., March 21, 2007

By	Sean Bambrick (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This truely is a great album. J Dilla is brilliant, easily one of the top hip-hop producers of all time. Many consider him a "horrible rapper," which isn't true. His production just outshines his lyrical style. This album is raw, and blissful. To put his albums (Stones Throw) in perspective...

Ruff Draft - Raw, street-influenced, yet blissful.
The Shining - Entirely about love, and does it oh so well.
Donuts - Masterpiece. Beautiful. You can feel the last words of a dying man on a 31-track instrumental album. Amazing.

This album isn't as good as Donuts, but compete with The Shining. A must for any hardcore Dilla fan.