J. Dilla - The Shining
Label: BBE
Grade: C
Dopeness Percentage: 33%
Highlight: E=MC2
Also Download: Love, Baby, Love Movin’
Overview: This posthumous release gives many of hip hop’s finest an opportunity to eulogize this classic underground producer. However, this is not one of Dilla’s better crafted projects. Recorded not long after Donuts, this album was a last chance for Dilla, who died of lupus, to show what he was all about. Combining clever samples, computer skills, and old fashioned DJ’ing, J-Dilla will always be remembered as unique and innovative. Guest appearances by Common, Madlib, D’Angelo, etc. add a nice touch to an album which is uncharacteristically dry. Black Thought’s “Love Movin’” stands out as a great tribute record. In my opinion, the vocal snippets from The Shining movie of the same name become annoying and interfere with the listening pleasure. This is a case of too much sampling, not enough substance. It’s difficult to criticize and artist who has done so much for hip hop minus the accolades, but this is not the record you should listen to when reminiscing on a legend.
Dopeness Percentage - Takes into account how many dope songs there are compared to tracks on the album. For example, if an album had 14 tracks and 5 of them were dope, you have a Dopeness of 36%.
November 21st, 2006
the shining truly shines in it’s instrumental form which is also out on BBE. the first listen might not do it for you. you have to let yourself be sucked into to the tracks where you will find essence. most tracks although repetitive in nature aren’t neccessarliy dry. somehow this fool has been able to bring that feeling, that heart felt, core hiphop feeling the whole way up into 2006. that’s something few people have been able to achieve. it’s one thing to copy the past it’s another to propel the past into the future. “we must be in love.”
November 22nd, 2006
Note- It has been brought to my attention that the movie samples were on the promo-copy only. The retail version does not include those clips. Please disregard my criticism about that aspect of the album.