In 2006, the world lost one of its greatest musicians, but more importantly an amazing man: J Dilla. One of the most influential producers in hip hop, he still remains one of the most important and ofttimes compared beat smiths the genre has encounter. He helped craft the soulful sounds of Common, A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, and  Erykah Badu, creating the standard for the art of sampling for a large crop of up-and-coming producers in the process.

ATCQ founding member and energetic emcee, Phife, finally returns to the microphone—fifteen years after his last solo release. His latest single is entitled “#DearDilla”, and as you can probably guess from the title, it is a touching dedication to the late great producer. While praising the Detroit beat maker, he took the time out to criticize the current rap scene and call out some of the jealous emcees he sees lurking in the shadows. Although parts of the song feel like a lecture from an Old Head, his lyrical ability still stands strong and this is really well done ode to Dilla, a man who lived for the music.

Jimi (@Nativejimi)