J Dilla aka Jay Dee is the most underrated "Hip Hop" producer of all time

[Awesome Wells]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that he was never as big of a producer like a Kayne or Pharrell. That's all. But I know how the bandwagon went once dude got sick and passed. Because I can remember a time when dude's name never came up in "GOAT" worthy discussions about the greatest producers.

Hell, back in the day Dilla was even criticized for his work on Tribe's Beats, Rhymes and Life album!

What you're talkin' about, technically doesn't exist though. It's that "producer of the month" shyt. Popularity is whatever, there's been tons of cats that have worked consistently and have had both "underground" and mainstream success. I think anyone would rather have that, than be some "flavor of the week" producer like a Mike Will or how a Lex Luger was.

Dilla had a different lane, that doesn't mean he was underrated though. That's like sayin' that Primo or Pete Rock, even a Marley Marl was underrated. Cats have their time, they don't need to be all up on the screen all day to be appreciated. Pharrell himself said that Dilla was The Goat. People know what's up with dude. You can't have all those bandwagon overnight fans and be "underrated".

 

[Obtain Knowledge]

Not true.

Common's biggest single ever, "The Light" was a Dilla joint. They got nominated for a Grammy for that one. That's that old story Dilla used to always tell, about being nominated and all that. He's done some damage.

Right, because that did come after that Janet joint. But even still, "The Light" came as a surprise because dude was still underground. It wasn't like he was this super producer at that point, even with the grammy nod.

Cats are acting like when dude was here he was on some super producer status when he wasn't.

Dude maybe overrated now but he didn't start getting his props until he got sick and once he passed.

Trust me, I remember back when Dilla was more of a underground or "crew" name amongst backpackers and underground Hip Hop heads.

 

[Obtain Knowledge]

What you're talkin' about, technically doesn't exist though. It's that "producer of the month" shyt. Popularity is whatever, there's been tons of cats that have worked consistently and have had both "underground" and mainstream success. I think anyone would rather have that, than be some "flavor of the week" producer like a Mike Will or how a Lex Luger was.

Dilla had a different lane, that doesn't mean he was underrated though. That's like sayin' that Primo or Pete Rock, even a Marley Marl was underrated. Cats have their time, they don't need to be all up on the screen all day to be appreciated. Pharrell himself said that Dilla was The Goat. People know what's up with dude.

I think me and you are saying a lot of the same thing just phrasing our words differently.

All I was saying when mentioned Mike WiLL Made It was that Dilla never even gained momentum like he has. It's not like you ever heard his name outside of the usual crew he worked with (D'Angelo, Questlove, Common, Badu etc). If a person wasn't checking for their music which back in the late 90's and early 2000s was more underground, the chances of them knowing a Dilla was slim to none.

That's all I'm saying. I hear you though

 

[Awesome Wells]

Dude maybe overrated now but he didn't start getting his props until he got sick and once he passed.

The homie had "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe & Stop" spinnin' on MTV crazy. He had "Runnin'" with the Pharcyde, ATCQ's "Find a Way" and then later got credit for the Mya joint, that sampled him on the Pharcyde record. He wasn't some obscure producer that got dusted off and never got love. Dude was workin' both sides of the game.

Dude had D'Angelo joints, joints with Badu, Heavy D, a ridiculous amount of joints for Busta. Mad people. He got props way before he passed. The only people who started afterwards were the overnighters. Actual fans knew the dude was serious.

 

[Dillah810]

This.

Like Q-Tip said recently at RBMA, Dilla has so many fans who say they "love" Dilla just because they think they're supposed to say that. People who hadn't even heard of him before he died. He's easily got more bandwagon fans than any other producer in the history of Hip Hop.

I went to a Boiler Room party where Questlove was just spinnin' straight Dilla beats all night, and there were so many posers in there actin' like they loved dude so much. Have a conversation with them, they don't know shyt about the guy. Underrated, is the last thing he is.

Here's the thing, Dilla has a shyt load of underground fans, but he's still a relative unknown to many. This is crazy considering the gigantic worldwide influence he had. Dilla's influence play a big part in the Japan and UK hip-hop movement. The only other hip-hop artist that equals him in worldwide influence is 2Pac. Yet Dilla is still very unknown here.

 

[Obtain Knowledge]

The homie had "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe & Stop" spinnin' on MTV crazy. He had "Runnin'" with the Pharcyde, ATCQ's "Find a Way" and then later got credit for the Mya joint, that sampled him on the Pharcyde record. He wasn't some obscure producer that got dusted off and never got love. Dude was workin' both sides of the game.

Dude had D'Angelo joints, joints with Badu, Heavy D, a ridiculous amount of joints for Busta. Mad people. He got props way before he passed. The only people who started afterwards were the overnighters. Actual fans knew the dude was serious.

I hear what you're saying and I agree with this exact post but all I'm saying is dude was never as popular as a Kanye or Pharrell, he wasn't a international super star producer. That is all I'm saying.

But again, I hear you and I agree with this very post.

 

[The_Third_Man]

Call Jay Dee great producer, call him even the goat, but underrated?!!!!! He's far from underratd. There will never ever ever be a underrated dead rapper/singer/producer/player...et in the history of mankind.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I hear what you're saying and I agree with this exact post but all I'm saying is dude was never as popular as a Kanye or Pharrell, he wasn't a international super star producer. That is all I'm saying.

But again, I hear you and I agree with this very post.

You gotta keep in mind that those dudes are artists too though.

Dilla rapped here and there, but he wasn't croonin' on songs like Skateboard or try'na be in the forefront like a Ye. And Dilla was nice too! I'd say better lyrically than both Kanye and P. But his focus was on the beats, not with being in front of the camera. Even Tim and Swizz, these dudes live to be all up in the videos and shyt. LOL!! That's just not what Dilla did.

In his documentary they asked him that, he said he wasn't about being seen all the time. His focus was the music. That's how it used to be. Producers weren't always bigger than the artists they worked with. Cats used to just make the beats and chill. He was more in that Primo and Pete lane. And we all know those cats ain't underrated.

 

[dubsmith_nz]

I see Dilla in people's top 5 all the time. His legend grew exponentially after he passed, people say he's better and more influential than Dre, Premo, Rza and Kanye. He's definitely dope but overrated to me, if he was still alive maybe he would of gained recognition in the mainstream like No I.D.

 

[Awesome Wells]

if he was still alive maybe he would of gained recognition in the mainstream like No I.D.

I'd hope so. Because he shyts all over No ID. LOL!!

That dude's best years were like '94-'98, sparsely.

 

[Obtain Knowledge]

You gotta keep in mind that those dudes are artists too though.

Dilla rapped here and there, but he wasn't croonin' on songs like Skateboard or try'na be in the forefront like a Ye. And Dilla was nice too! I'd say better lyrically than both Kanye and P. But his focus was on the beats, not with being in front of the camera. Even Tim and Swizz, these dudes live to be all up in the videos and shyt. LOL!! That's just not what Dilla did.

In his documentary they asked him that, he said he wasn't about being seen all the time. His focus was the music. That's how it used to. Producers weren't always bigger than the artists they worked with. Cats used to just make the beats and chill. He was more in that Primo and Pete lane. And we all know those cats ain't underrated.

Oh I agree and you are right.

The "Super Producer" era really came afloat once the 2000s came around when the producer became just as big if not bigger than the actual rapper. Although Diddy (CEO/co producer) was one of the first to be "all in the videos" lmao

But yeah, Dilla was all about the music and more so a producer than a producer/rapper even though he did rap from time to time.

But yeah, you're exactly right.

 

[Obtain Knowledge]

@Awesome Wells

What's your favorite Tribe album?

 

[Awesome Wells]

@Awesome Wells

What's your favorite Tribe album?

Low End Theory.

That's actually my favorite Hip Hop album of all-time.

 

[Toe Jay Simpson]

Hell, back in the day Dilla was even criticized for his work on Tribe's Beats, Rhymes and Life album!

Dilla almost got rode out on a rail for Beats, Rhymes, & Life. Even his work with The Pharcyde on Labcabincalifornia had been criticized

But that was a tough period for Hip Hop, especially if you had been deep into the early 90's sounds. Things were changing and no one really understood where it was all headed to. Heads wanted another Midnight Marauders or another Bizarre Ride and that just wasn't for the times. Stakes is High was critically panned when it dropped now its everybody's go to De La album

Things didn't get better for him until first his work with Common, then Fantastic Vol. 2 which blew everybody away

 

[Obtain Knowledge]

Low End Theory.

That's actually my favorite Hip Hop album of all-time.

Yeah, it's easily my favorite Tribe album too.

I can remember Q-Tip talking about how The Low End Theory influenced Dr. Dre and how he was even influenced by Dr. Dre's music. Here's a link:

Q-Tip Recalls "Competing" With Dr. Dre On "Low End Theory" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX