YANCEY BOYS Talk "Sunset Blvd", Dilla, etc.

Back in October Frank Nitty and Illa J rounded up a batch of previously unreleased Dilla grooves and released "Sunset Blvd." on Delicious Vinyl. The Yancey Boys had a close, personal relationship with the late legendary super producer, something they speak freely about amongst other things (including, of course, their new LP) during this 90 minutes sit down with Out Da Box Radio. A must listen for fans of the Yancey legacy! For the record you can stream the complete album @ DJBooth, and pick up the CD or LP from UGHH.

[Album] YANCEY BOYS - "Sunset Blvd"

A lot of dope releases coming out today, and one of the most exciting to me is the new Yancey Boys project "Sunset Blvd.". Entirely composed of Frank Nitty and Illa J rhyming over previously unreleased Jay Dee beats, this is definitely a nice addition to this years selection of dope music from the 'D'. Now DJBooth has put up the entire project for free streaming so all you have to do is press play and get your head nodding. I just started listening, but I've been digging the previous singles so this should be an ill listen - especially with guest features from the likes of Common, Posdnous, Guilty Simpson, Talib Kweli, Dank, T3 and SlimKid3. "Sunset Blvd." is now available from iTunes, while Delicious Vinyl will start shipping the CD and LP editions this November 5. TURN IT UP!!

01. "Dilltro" (Ft. Dank)

02. "Fisherman" (Ft. Vibe, J Rocc & Detroit Serious)

03. "Lovin' U" (Ft. Eric Roberson)

04. "Go And Ask The DJ" (Ft. Guilty Simpson & J Rocc)

05. "Jeep Volume" (Ft. T3 & C-Minus)

06. "Flowers" (Ft. Talib Kweli, Niko Gray & DJ Rhettmatic)

07. "Honk Ya Horn" (Ft. J Pinder)

08. "Slippin'" (Ft. Early Mac)

09. "Without Wings"

10. "Beautiful" (Ft. Posdnous & Bonita Applebum)

11. "Quicksand" (Ft. Common & Dezi Page)

12. "Rock My World" (Ft. SlimKid3 & Niko Gray)

13. "The Throwaway"

14. "This Evening"

YANCEY BOYS - "SUNSET BLVD"

Yancey Boys - "Jeep Volume" (Ft. T3)

As we're getting closer to the first album from the new incarnation of Yancey Boys, which features Frank Nitty and Illa J rhyming over vintage Jay Dee productions courtesy of Delicious Vinyl, we are treated to the fourth single from the project. So far everything has been sounding great, and the new "Jeep Volume" is no exception, even featuring a guest verse from T3 as well as C-Minus.

[Tracklist] YANCEY BOYS - "Sunset Blvd."

As I'm sure you haven't missed out on, The Yancey Boys are back in town and preparing their second album release on Delicious Vinyl for this year. The first album that was released a few years back featured Dilla's little bro Illa J rhyming over unreleased Jay Dee beats from the '95-'97 era, and to be honest I was never a huge fan of that project. However, the second album, which is called "Sunset Blvd.", is a little different as it's not a solo project by Illa J but rather a collaborative effort between Frank Nitty and Illa; again rocking over previously unheard beats from the Dilla vaults. Judging by the three singles that have been released so far this album, production, lyrics, guests, mixing sounds like a worthy addition to Jay Dee's posthumous catalouge. And the large amount of talented guests that the tracklist below reveals is not exactly hurting things either... If you have missed any of the singles, just click on the titles containing links below, and get ready for the October 29 release on Delicious Vinyl (and I'm glad to announce that the album will be available on both wax and compact disc; with the latter also include a bonus disc of all the instrumentals). Pre-order it in your format of choice @ UGHH!

01. "Dilltro" (Ft. Dank)
02. "Fisherman" (Ft. Vice, J. Rocc & Detroit Serious)
03. "Lovin’ U" (Ft. Eric Roberson)
04. "Go And Ask The DJ" (Ft. Guilty Simpson & J. Rocc)
05. "Jeep Volume" (Ft. T3 & C-Minus)
06. "Flowers" (Ft. Talib Kweli, Niko Gray & Rhettmatic)
07. "Honk Ya Horn" (Ft. J. Pinder)
08. "Slippin’" (Ft. Early Mac)
09. "Without Wings"
10. "Beautiful" (Ft. Posdnuos & Botni Applebum)
11. "Quicksand" (Ft. Common & Dezi Page)
12. "Rock My World" (Ft. SlimKid3 & Niko Gray)
13. "The Throwaway"
14. "This Evening"

New YANCEY BOYS LP Coming

Following the release of several semi-official unreleased J Dilla tapes in early 2006, right before the great producer's untimtely passing, he worked a lot with both his younger producer-brother Illa J and Frank Nitty (of Frank-N-Dank). Whereas the first Yancey Boys album consisted of Illa J spitting new vocals over unreleased tracks from Dilla's early mid-'90s contract as a producer for Delicious Vinyl (The Pharcyde, Brand New Heavies, N'Dea Davenport).

Now the duo has transformed into a trio, following the song "The Trowaway", and have recorded an entire album together of unheard Dilla productions. Then new Yancey Boy is titled "Sunset Blvrd", and is said to feature guest apperances by Common, Posdnous, De La Soul, Karriem Riggins, Guilty Simpson, SlimKid3, and Eric Robertson . The album is set for a September 17 release, so be on the lookout!

[Review] J DILLA - "THE LOST SCROLLS"

There's ancedots of James Yancey barely sleeping under his professional life; around 30 leaked beat tapes, classic production for some of the finest artists in rap and soul music, collaborations with Madlib, Slum Village, Frank-N-Dank, and Common as well as first-class solo releases like "Donuts", "Welcome 2 Detroit" and the "Ruff Draft" EP. Despite his passing, it seems hardcore Dilla fans still can't get enough of previously unreleased material from the late producer, cherishing any lost musik like holy grails; some of the posthumous work so far have been clever and extremely well put together ("The Shining", "Jay $tay Paid") while others have left a lot to wish for ("Rebirth Of Detroit").

Under the supervision of Ma Dukes and long-time Dilla associate Frank Nitty of Frank-N-Dank, PayJay Productions, Inc. has now been restarted (under the distribution of Delicious Vinyl) and from the releases announced so far it seems that they is aiming to focus on finally getting out previously unreleased quality material from the late Detroit producer. As announced before, the first releases in focus is Jay Dee's early 2000's productions that was originally to make up the two full-lengths he was working on for MCA Records before both projects were shelved. First out is Frank-N-Dank's "48 HRS" which was released and reviewed a couple of days ago, and D's solo endeavour "The Diary" (p/ka "Pay Jay"). To give a sneak peek of what to come, Delicious Vinyl has put together a four-track EP in both digital format and on 10" single. Unlike previous posthumous Jay Dee releases, the EP entitled "The Lost Scrolls Vol. 1" features not only the beats we've all come to love from the late producer but also previously unreleased vocals from the Detroit native. As we rarely are treated to never before heard rhymes from the original Slum Village son, it stands as an exceptional release in its own right. Yancey on the mic is actually quite undrrated as his rhyming skills often get downplayed in reviews and such. Granted he's no Rakim, but he's always enjoyable to listen to with his stand-out voice, infectious lyrics and on top of that he was always in tune wih whatever beat he rhymed over; and so, here as well.

The main track on the A-side is "Dewitt to Do It"; a somber, Rhodes-driven track that is actually a remix of "Shake It Down" from 2001:s "Welcome to Detoit" LP. It's heavily different from the album version which was a quite raunchy up-tempo joint, while the overall sound created here are laid-back and one of an etheral sound driven by a melodic bassline and an addictive rhodes sample. The somewhat agressive vocal performance and the mellow production creates a nice contrast which gives the track a unique spin not at all found on the original version. I still by far prefer the original album version, but it's a real treat to hear any ureleased Dilla remix of his own "Welcome..." work. While it stands well on it's own, it's laid-back and Rhodes-driven sound gives the impression that Jay Dee tried to mix the sound of Slum Village's "Fantastic II" with the more agressive solo stuff he made from the late 2000 and forward. This is followed by a short intermission-type song called "Smack a Bitch" that clocks in at under one minute, and is a remotely neat interlude but doesn't add much to the release more than as a bonus beat.

On the B-side we find the second real title on this 10"; "The Throwaway", a real slamming joint that was rightfully released as the lead single in promotion of this single.The drums goes hard here, featuring additional percussion and a roaming bassline and the occassional keys that together really creates an outstanding joint. This is by far the most interesting track on the EP; add to the fact that not only Dilla grab the mic here, but is also joined by long-time partners Frank Nitt and his lil' brother Illa J. It does however make me wonder, whether Frank's and Illa's vocals were added to the song after the fact in time for this release or if they were in fact part of the original multi-track. However that may be, you can hear a certain dynamic between the three emcees who effortlessly rock this ecstatc production. "The Throwaway" is by far the crown jewel of the EP and should have been placed as the A-side on this EP, despite a title that doesn't make the music very much justice.

Conclusion 

To be fair "The Lost Scrolls" is a bunch of glorified demos, left behind by Jay Dee in a warehouse of his record collection, recently discovered by Ma Dukes. Both "The Throwaway" and "Dewitt to do It" (a.k.a. "It's Like That Remix") is must-hear songs for any true Dilla fanatics, and though it's evident that these four tracks are demos probably never intened for release (although mastered you can hear slight hissing effects in the music), With that being said, Dilla's lost demos are still better than most producers official work and any "new" Dilla is always welcome if you ask me. I would recommend a purchase of this only to the hardcore Yancey fans that got the $$ to spend on it. Personally I would rather put my money on the official release of Frank-N-Dank's "48 HRS" and the upcoming "The Diary" project. I'd give this a 3/5 rating which is not bad, but still pretty damn weak for a Dilla release. You can order "Lost Scrolls Vol.. 1" @ UGHH .

FRANK-N-DANK / DILLA on February 5

Despite James Yancey, aka J Dilla, aka Jay Dee, passed away in early 2006, his legacy sure lives on through the huge amount of incredible music he left behind him; both in terms of the classic productions and albums he completed during his lifetime, as well as the vast amount of unreleased music left in the stash. Ma Dukes has made it her life mission to continue Dilla's legacy. Together with Delicious Vinyl, the label in positiion of much of Dilla's earliest material, Yancey Media Group are planning quite a few releases of official, but vaulted music, from the late producer in 2013. Two releases from the label will drop on February 5; the four track EP "Music From The Lost Scolls Vol. 1", featuring four tracks ("DeWitt to Do It" / "Smack A Bitch" / "Ruff & Rugged" / "The Throwaway") both produced and performed by Dilla. PRE-ORDER it here.

The second release is even more interesting for a hardcore Dilla collector like myself; in 2002 Dilla spent a year at MCA Records to record two albums. One by his Detroit brethren Frank-N-Dank entitled "48 HRS" and his solo album, though sporting productions by other talented beatsmiths. The former LP, "48 HRS" went to a lot of trouble before defing completely shelved; the first version was scrapped because it featured a large amount of samples. JD and FND then went back in the studio and completed a version with barely no samples, sounding something like a mix of Neptunes, Dilla, and Timbaland. It was not a bad LP, but it is easily the most unimaginative record Yancey ever produced with the exception of maybe five songs. I have the semi-official bootleg with cover and everything that I believe Frank-N-Dank themeselves put out, so if this turns out to be the same version I will not cop it (the tracklisting is slightly different though). If it on the other hand, is the sample driven version, I can't wait to finally get this in my collection! PRE-ORDER it here.

NOW PLEASE - Release the complete and mastered version of Dilla's MCA 2002 album "PAY JAY", an album that simply needs to get a proper release out of repsect for the late genius. It is the final and only project which features Yancey's vision and complete overseeing of an album that has not yet been released. Just like ODB's "A Son Unique" it's a huge disrespect that these albums have not yet been released. Keep your fingers crossed!

Yancey Boys Ft. Frank Nitt - "The Throwaway"

J Dilla was a true workaholic, and although we sadly will never get to hear a brand new JD beat again, all the times he spent in his home studio which resulted in hours and hours of previously unreleased beats. This has promted friends, and familiy to start the J Dilla Estate (run by Ma Dukes), and release original album with never before, officially released Jay Dee beats. One of the earliest was the other Yancey Brother's 2008 album "Yancey Boys". Since it was released on maybe Dilla's very first label contract, with Delicious Vinyl, the LP saw Illa J and guests like Guilty Simpson rhyme over never before heard  beats from the mid-'90s era (when he was putting in work on The Pharcyde's classic sophomore amongst other stuff), which gave the project a very different sound than the jokers releasing mixtapes over the "Donuts" tracks. The album was not perfect by any means, but it was far from wack.

Now the Yancey Brothers' return with a brand new single, featuring Frank Nitty, entitled "The Thowaway", a track that was announced a few weeks back as the starting shot for a host of releases from the Dilla vaults overseen by Ma Dukes; other releases will include a final release of Frank-N-Dank's "48 HRS" project. You can show your support by purchasing the song on iTunes, or check out the video up top, no strings attached. Stay tuned for more info on future releases. I can dig this!