Busta Rhymes Announces J Dilla Collab
Busta Rhymes announced "Dillagence 2," a new collaborative project featuring production by the late J Dilla. This sequel to their original 2007 mixtape promises to be essential listening for hip-hop purists and fans of classic beats.
- The original *Dillagence* was a free-to-download mixtape released in November 2007 as a tribute to J Dilla, who had passed away in February 2006. - The project is possible because J Dilla entrusted Busta Rhymes with a large number of unreleased beats, with Rhymes stating in a 2020 GQ interview that the producer gave him over 300 tracks before his death. - J Dilla, born James Yancey, was a highly influential producer from Detroit who passed away at age 32 from complications of a rare blood disease and lupus. - His signature production style was marked by a rejection of quantization—a process that perfectly aligns notes to a grid—which gave his drum patterns a unique, "off-kilter" and human-like feel. - A snippet played at a New York City listening party for *Dillagence 2* reportedly features a collaboration with Lil Wayne, which would mark the first time the rapper has appeared on a J Dilla-produced track. - The two artists had a long and fruitful working relationship, with J Dilla contributing production to six of Busta Rhymes' first seven solo albums. - The first *Dillagence* mixtape, hosted by DJ Mick Boogie, featured guest appearances from artists like Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Raekwon, and M.O.P.
