New book covers the life and legacy of J Dilla

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  • Author Dan Charnas conducted over 150 interviews during four years of research.
  • New book covers the life and legacy of J Dilla image
  • A new biography, musicology and cultural history documenting the life and work of James Dewitt Yancey, AKA J Dilla, is out next month. Dilla Time: The Life And Afterlife Of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm will be published by MCD on February 1st. Over 480 pages, it chronicles the life of the late Yancey, who revolutionised hip-hop and popular music with his innovative approach to sampling, rhythm and drum machines. The book claims to be "the first comprehensive biography of James Dewitt Yancey." Author Dan Charnas spoke with over 150 of Yancey's friends, family and collaborators to chronicle his story from childhood in Detroit to becoming, largely posthumously, one of the most revered music producers ever. It includes emotional passages on the artist's time spent suffering from a rare blood disease and discusses the family disagreements that followed his death. As well as biographical details, the book includes a cultural history of the genres Yancey engaged with, stretching from Motown to techno. It also breaks down some of his techniques and approaches to rhythm. Dilla Time was born from a course Charnas led on Yancey's work at NYU. The pair collaborated in 1999, when Charnas was working in the record business. Charnas is best known for his book The Big Payback about the business of hip-hop. Listen to a playlist of all the tracks mentioned in Dilla Time.
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