In life J Dilla, aka Jay Dee, who died of cardiac arrest last February at 32, was a bit of a ghostly presence. His hip hop and neo-soul productions wafted in and out at odd angles -- like shadowy light in a film noir tableau. Occasionally, his bass lines straightened into a rugged bounce or rumble, and his tracks appeared in colorful relief, like a morning sunburst (Common's 2000 "The Light") or a neon glint (De La Soul's 1996 "Stakes Is High") or a glittery flash (Q-Tip's 1999 "Vivrant Thing"). But after those vivid, arresting moments, he'd return to his drifting soft-focus keyboards and gritty, wobbly beats. While some producers like to make it look easy, Dilla was often content with mystery. So The Shining, Dilla's final studio work, is an unexpected blessing. His scattered styles are woven together seamlessly. From the buoyant hip hop soul of "Love" (with a firm Pharoahe Monch presiding) to the mesmerizing swoon of "Baby" to the punchy swagger of "Body Movin'," Shining brims with clear-cut and fully resolved ideas. It's a stirring example of how an artist can successfully imprint all sides of his personality -- from brash to sentimental -- onto his music and create something lasting, true, and whole. - Spin (October, 2006). A promotional sticker from BBE added, "On August 22, 2006 J Dilla's The Shining will serve as a testament to the fact that legends never die. "One of the most important musicians of our time. When we think of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gate, J Dilla will be going down along that history line of greatness," said Common in XXL. "The Shining" features Common, D'Angelo, Pharoahe Monch, Busta Rhymes, Madlib, Guilty Simpson, Dwele, Karriem Riggins, J. Rocc and Black Thought. Below is the advance copy of The Shining with dialog samples from Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" mixed into certain songs on the album. These samples aren't on the commercial release. Hear the promo below...
Rest In Peace, James Dewitt Yancey aka J Dilla...
