J Dilla (R.I.P.) Interview with Gilles Peterson on Worldwide, BBC Radio 1 (2001)

J DILLA: Yes, what's the deal y'all? How y'alls feeling out there? It's your man J Dilla checking in. You know how we do. It's Worldwide, Radio 1, you know how we do. So you know, glad to be here. What's going on y'all? Uh, feeling it. 

*PLAYS: The Love (Instrumental) – A Tribe Called Quest (US, 1998) [from The Love Movement]

J DILLA: Oh yes, yes. Hello, hello there, hello, there. So lovely to be back in London. J Dilla, Dilla, Dilla... Worldwide! Chillin' with my man Gilles Peterson yo. Radio 1 you know how we do. 

*PLAYS: Welcome 2 Detroit – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

J DILLA: Okay... well the title 'Welcome 2 Detroit', it's to welcome you to Detroit, the realness. It's about that. I mean, the compilation basically came about from a breakbeat album idea that Peter [Peter Adarkwah] from BBE had, which turned into giving Jay Dee [J Dilla] 100% creative control. Basically, he let me do whatever I wanted to do, so I wanted to put people on there who, you know, who's gonna spit, you know? I mean, lyrically. And represent Detroit because I wouldn't have been able to pull this album off if it came out under a major, you know, because they're not gonna let you just do a song and you can't just do an instrumental and 'you gotta have this feature' and you got to have... You know, ‘you're Jay Dee, why don't you got Erykah Badu?','why ain't you got so-and-so on your album?'. You know, I would have to go through all of that instead of just putting out, you know, beats on this joint.

*PLAYS: Think Twice – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

J DILLA: With Think Twice, you know, the Think Twice, the Donald Byrd cover... Basically to make a long story short, it's one of my favourite cuts. I always wanted to replay it or sample it or anything, so that's why I mess with that. And, you know, just wanted to also get it to sound like something that I would find digging. You know, sonically, for those that don't know, that's very hard to do. It's like, and not saying that I did it, but it's really hard. When I listen to a Roots album, you know, it's like, yo, they did a lot of work. They did a lot to get that sound because you compare that to an Acid Jazz group that does the same thing and plays the same instruments and record live and everything. It's just sonically, It just doesn't sound the same. You know. It's more of a raw sound.

*PLAYS: B.B.E. (Big Booty Express) – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

J DILLA: BBE [Big Booty Express], moving on, was uh, I wanted to do something that, you know, if you hear it, you'll hear Trans-Europe Express(Kraftwerk), You know, that's what I was trying to get across, but in my own way basically. And like I said, you know, it reminds me of some Terminator theme music. And that's where the melodies come from and the strings and, you know, the whole direction of that song.

*PLAYS: Rico Suave Bossa Nova – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

J DILLA: Right now, um, what to expect is, whatever I ain't touched on is what to expect, I guess you could say. So, anything I've done, I'm not about to do. And that's my word. That's my word. Y'all gonna see it, y'all gonna witness, bear witness. Like the Rico Suave, Bossanova, just you know, to show people a little, little difference.

*PLAYS: Runnin’ (Instrumental) – The Pharcyde (US, 1995) [Labcabincalifornia]

J DILLA: Check it out, y'all. I got a little story for you. It's J Dilla checking in. Now, I'm gonna tell y'all about Runnin', uh, you know, Pharcyde. I've seen a fight out of that song from members of the group, because the 950 [AKAI S950] filter sounds better than the uh, what was it, um, the ASR-10 [Esoniq]. Yeah, that was the argument and that was fun. I mean a fight! That was just one incident, but not to mention for others... I mean, i done seen this cat gets arm broken and then cats with leopard skin boxers on, with their pants coming down and that shit. Yo, man, I'm telling you, the making of this Pharcyde - Labcabincalifornia album was hilarious. It was, it was, it was just all the way around. It got me prepared for what, you know what I'm saying, what was ahead in this rap game, basically. Uh, is Pharcyde still together? Do you know? 

*PLAYS: Runnin’ (Vocall) – The Pharcyde (US, 1995) [Labcabincalifornia]

J DILLA: I remember coming to Worldwide about almost, what, two years? So, you know, I was in the middle of uh, doing the Slum Village joint. That whole album just, you, know, that was an experience, you know. They say we went platinum in the streets or multi-platinum in the streets because there was bootlegs. I mean, everybody got different companies bootlegged, to the point where when it finally came out, everybody already had it. You know, but it's all good. And just to speak on that, I really thank you people who, you know, I thank the bootleggers because you actually helped me because that gave me a little, I guess you would say, power in this industry. And it's so, it's needed, you know what I'm saying? Being an artist who wants to change things and wants to do something different. You can't do it alone, you know, basically. And it took all of that bootleg and all the labels to look at it and say, okay, this is actually, you know, people want this, you know what I'm saying? So let's get on it, you know what I'm saying? So I appreciate everything. It's actually, it's cool with me.

*PLAYS: 2U4U – Slum Village (US, 2000) [Fantastic, Vol. 2]

J DILLA: Well working with Common is like... I tell everybody it's like working with Slum [Village], it's like working with Frank N Dank, Phat Kat, that's like he's a Midwest cat he's automatically, he's connected with us you know I'm saying? I mean he damn near staying in the D [Detroit]. He was... He’s been coming to Detroit for the longest you know what I'm saying? I kind of knew what he wanted you know what I'm saying? He gave me an idea of the direction he wanted to go basically... He just let me do my thing and just after that just whatever you bring is what we're going to do, from hooks to beats to whatever.

*PLAYS: Nag Champa (Afrodisiac For The World) – Common (US, 2000) [Like Water for Chocolate]

COMMON: All right to all the Worldwide listeners this is Common Sense, the C to the O for the world... Yeah! Well Jay Dee is one of the best producers to ever touch it, you know, point blank. And like I think he's been so innovative with his sound and so like... So progressive with it ain't.... Even though you know his feel, it's like he can do it, he can give anybody what they need, really and it's like it got a certain funk to it and a certain like, special thing about it I don't know. I can't put like, my finger all the way on it but, basically from the work he did with Tribe [A Tribe Called Quest] from him producing that Janet Jackson song... You know that 'on and on it seems to go'? He ghost produced that many people don't know but if you listen to it, you can tell he ghost produced that.

From the work he did like, with Busta [Busta Rhymes] even with Pharcyde and with Slum Village, I mean people are just feeling him. And I can say this from the Soulquarians perspective, I know for sure that like Questlove and D'angelo and James Poyser, they all like sit and study Jay Dee. You know and like he's like the the genius behind it, like you know what I'm saying? Like, he like the one they sit and be like 'yo, how he do this or do that?' And then they start trying to play similar to him. Not like they don't have their own thing with them but the point of the matter is that yo they do look to him for inspiration, as do many producers and I just... All I can say is the boy is dope you know.

*PLAYS: Got 'Til It's Gone – Janet Jackson (US, 1997) [The Velvet Rope]

J DILLA: The Ummah consists of four cats: Raphael Saddiq, Jay Dee, you know, myself and Ali [Ali Shaheed Muhammad] and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. So, I wanna speak on 'Got Till It's Gone' by Janet Jackson and who really did the production. That doesn't sound like a Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis beat, not to say any names, but it just doesn't sound like it. I know they couldn't have done it. Why is Q-Tip rapping on it? It sounds like a Tribe beat. We all had an input into that, me, Tip and Ali. In this game, there's cats coming up, producing and have joints come out and your name is not on it?

*PLAYS: This Beat (Remix) – Slum Village (US, 2006) [Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol. 1]

J DILLA: You know, it's all good It's all in the end, but you just gotta stay focused man. From the Beats, Rhymes and Life and from The Love Movement, Q-Tip from day one has always been... We've been on the same page creatively. Working on this Q-tip album I just used to send him joints, you know It was just It was love like that. He used to get the beat zip disc, you know what I'm saying? I never send that to anybody else, you know, what I am saying? But I trusted him with that.

*PLAYS: Things U Do – Q-Tip (US, 2000) [Amplified]

J DILLA: I got a D'Angelo story, going back working on this Slum album. The illest thing I can remember is going to the studio and seeing D'Angelo And it was him and Ahmir Thompson [Questlove]. 

*PLAYS: Hate Or Love (Caffe Latte Mix) – LSK feat. Slum Village & Dwele (UK, 2000) [Hate Or Love (Remixes)]

J DILLA: But this cat comes in, D' Angelo comes in first with the cigarette, you know, just chilling and kicking it whatever, whatever. But he gets behind his Fender Rhodes And this is my first time... You know, I've jammed with him before whatever, but this is the first time you know, he's recording You know what I'm saying? We about to put something down. So I swear, I got dats at the crib of just playing. Just him and Ahmir just.. It seemed like it was all night different grooves until we were just like, okay we'll use this one. And I just got to say he is, with the things he do with that keyboard, you can't play like that, man I mean people can't just.. He got his own thing, man, he remind me of like Stevie Wonder with that. But that's the whole Soulquarian crew, D' Angelo, myself, Ahmir and James Poyser, we automatically click, it's the Aquarian thing I guess. You know what I'm saying? We just come to find out we're all Aquarian.

*PLAYS: Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine (Jay Dee Remix) – D’Angelo (US, 1997) [Jay Dee Unreleased EP]

J DILLA: It's funny how things work I mean, I can't do nothing but to just say I'm blessed you know, to have had the opportunity to work with such artists. But, I don't know. It's just funny how things come together and how people come together. And like I said, I think this music, the whole thing is about to do a 360, you know, in a good way. I think the good music is coming back around. People are making things that they... Well, I won't say good music, just people making things that they honestly are proud of and that they feel and that's truly them, you know what I'm saying?

You know, like I said, thank God first, but people are starting to accept this Common single, which is, you know, somebody who never sold over 125,000 units before and now he got. a Gold album and the single is doing well, and you know what I'm saying, it's good to see that it's turning around and to see The Roots go get a Grammy a couple years ago. That was just, you know, it doesn't have to be all, you know, just watered down, non-original, you know, stuff you hear every day. It can be, you know, a little bit of everything. It could be everything out here, you know what I'm saying? I know myself and as well as the people I work with and as far as Common and to Busta, you know, I mean, all these artists, De La' [De La Soul] you know, we all have like this goal. I guess the goal is to like, no, we want to change things. We want to, you know, make a statement, you know what I'm saying?

J DILLA: Basically, I mean Ahmir is my head If I can say this? Ahmir would be... If I could just pull him out of my head and he would be the drum kit that I would use on joints because it's unlimited. He is... It's unlimited the things he can do with that you know? D'Angelo would be the keyboard player, the song arranger in my head, you know what I'm saying? The stuff that... It's like it's unlimited. Like if I have samples that I need, I don't want to clear it, James [James Poyser]. Just like that he'll play it, redo it. Even if it's just drums behind the loop, Ahmir can come in and put them right there... The EQ just like them.

I mean so that's why it's good to have them the brothers in my pocket because, woo, That's some serious business man. And It's hard to find talent like that because you know what I'm saying? They are what I consider the best of the best right here, And it's just Okay well What do we do? We're gonna try to touch everything. I mean I tried to do it in this little compilation I tried to touch a couple areas but we're gonna try to really take it I mean somewhere else We're really gonna try to take it there and you know try to.. You know a complete album...

*PLAYS: Kiss Me On My Neck (Hesi) – Erykah Badu (US, 2000) [Mama’s Gun]

J DILLA: Okay, I'll tell y'all a story. Check me out. Here's a nice juicy one. All right, we're working on the Erykah Badu album (Mamas Gun, 200). All right, you know, she's at the crib like I said, she makes this tea for us, you know, but today for whatever reason, I got a headache, a crazy headache. So, you know, we're chilling upstairs. So, you know, I tell her I'm gonna chill out for a minute. Now the beats is banging downstairs. She writing, you know, so it's all good. I'm going to just take a lil breather. Mmnhmm. She comes upstairs, she fixed me some tea. You notice my voice change. She fixed me some tea. Nice, you know, she sat on the couch with me and, you know, next thing you know, I'm getting a massage from Erykah Badu. Mmmm. On top of me, straddled on my couch. Now, nothing happened. You know, it was just nice to have Erykah on my lap. And immediately after that, we made the track. Kiss Me on My neck.

J DILLA: Biggest influence? Well some influence, like I said, from Kraftwerk, Prince, James Brown, Jack McDuff. These are all people I grew up listening to, like, in my household. Classical music. I can't even name anything... My mother listened to classical music. Old Doo-wop music, The Platters, you know what I mean? Four Freshman. But, um right now? Radiohead. Probably Stereolab, Omar [Omar Lye-Fook]. High Tek, Timbaland, Madlib. Okay, check, um, Feather - Going Through Changes. Yeah, I don't know why I think of that. It's on, I think, Discovery Records. It's actually one of the joints that I did use on the Beats Rhymes of Life album. But, um, this song is, you know, a good song to listen to also, so I definitely recommend that. 

*PLAYS: Goin’ Through Changes – Feather (US, 1980) [Goin’ Through Changes]

J DILLA: It's ya mans J Dilla checking in with Giles Peterson, baby. Worldwide! You know how we do. From the D to London, baby, bringing it.

TRACKLIST:

1) The Love (Instrumental) – A Tribe Called Quest (US, 1998) [from The Love Movement]

2) Welcome 2 Detroit – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

3) Think Twice – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

4) B.B.E. (Big Booty Express) – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

5) Rico Suave Bossa Nova – J Dilla (UK & US, 2001) [Welcome 2 Detroit]

6) Runnin’ (Instrumental) – The Pharcyde (US, 1995) [Labcabincalifornia]

7) Runnin’ (Vocal) – The Pharcyde (US, 1995) [Labcabincalifornia]

8) 2U4U – Slum Village (US, 2000) [Fantastic, Vol. 2]

9) Got 'Til It's Gone – Janet Jackson (US, 1997) [The Velvet Rope]

10) This Beat (Remix) – Slum Village (US, 2006) [Fan-Tas-Tic, Vol. 1]

11) Things U Do – Q-Tip (US, 2000) [Amplified]

12) Hate Or Love (Caffe Latte Mix) – LSK feat. Slum Village & Dwele (UK, 2000) [Hate Or Love (Remixes)]

13) Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine (Jay Dee Remix) – D’Angelo (US, 1997) [Jay Dee Unreleased EP]

14) Kiss Me On My Neck (Hesi) – Erykah Badu (US, 2000) [Mama’s Gun]

15) Goin’ Through Changes – Feather (US, 1980) [Goin’ Through Changes]