J Dilla

USA, 1992–2006

American producer (1974-2006, James Yancey) from Detroit. He programmed drums off the grid, letting the hits land fractionally early or late, and that deliberate stumble - later called Dilla time - became the rhythmic signature of a generation of producers. He finished Donuts (2006) in hospital and died three days after its release.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced J Dilla and 3 artists J Dilla influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced J Dilla?

• Pete Rock — Dilla took the head-nodding bounce of producers like Pete Rock and pushed it off the grid into his own swung drum programming.
• DJ Premier — Premier is the other East Coast producer whose sampling Dilla's own was built out of.

Which artists did J Dilla influence?

• Flying Lotus — Dilla's off-grid drum programming is the rhythmic foundation Flying Lotus builds his own on.
• Kanye West — Dilla's off-grid drum programming and soul chopping are a direct source for Kanye's production.
• Kendrick Lamar — The loose, behind-the-beat feel Dilla established runs through the production Kendrick built To Pimp a Butterfly on.