DJ Stylus at Donuts are Forever 7, NYC J Dilla Tribute

Donuts Are Forever 7Donuts Are Forever is New York City’s leading yearly tribute event to deceased music producer and rapper James Dewitt Yancey, known as Jay Dee or J Dilla. Although I usually rock with the DC Loves Dilla events every year, I was asked to be a guest for NYC’s celebration, which also includes super-producer Just Blaze.

Proceeds from this event go to a scholarship fund that sends kids to music production and DJ classes.

Sunday, February 17th, 2012
Presidents’ Day Weekend

Rare Form & Okayplayer present
DONUTS ARE FOREVER 7
an annual NYC tribute to a Detroit legend

SRB Brooklyn
177 2nd Avenue (corner of 14th St)
Brooklyn, New York 11215

Purchase advance tickets here:
http://brownpapertickets.com/event/316673

When it comes to hip-hop and modern progressive soul, Dilla’s innovative production techniques and prodigious output place him among the greatest who ever did it. And those peers often cede that superlative to him. Dilla’s vast catalog includes Slum Village, The Pharcyde, De La Soul, and D’Angelo as well as a collection of highly prized solo releases. Donuts is a project he worked on from his hospital bed and was released three days before he passed away in 2006.

For more on Dilla’s work:

James "J Dilla" Yancey

2 thoughts on “DJ Stylus at Donuts are Forever 7, NYC J Dilla Tribute

  1. I went and was severely disappointed. The tribute is called “Donuts Are Forever” and these lack luster amateur DJs didn’t play any Donuts tracks. It seems as if they were trying to prove they’re underground stature by playing unpopular b sides, the original samples in almost in their entirety, and unreleased beats with wack remixes they created. The absurd thing is, I stayed for 3 DJ sets and they were not even playing Slum Village classics like “Reunion,” “Fall In Love,” or “The Look of Love.”
    The tribute in ’08 was a classic because Phonte was the host and not only were the opening DJs knowledgable of Dilla’s work, DJ Houseshoes was there as well. If Houseshoes and Phonte aren’t attending, then I’m never going to another “Donut’s Are Forever” tribute again. I didn’t even stay to see Just Blaze spin.
    Did I hear “Champion Sound”? No. Did I hear “Ruff Draft”? No. Did I hear “The Shining”? No. Oh yeah, did I hear DONUTS?!?!? No!

    • I personally played two version of “The Look Of Love” as well as multiple tracks from Ruff Draft, The Shining and one from Donuts. I started my set with a live cover of the intro to Donuts. The crowd came alive.

      I heard “Fall In Love” three times over the course of the night.

      I guess you missed all of that.

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