The Myth and Meaning of J Dilla’s “Donuts” | Breakdown & Recreation

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Today we’re talking about Dilla’s final release during his lifetime, his supposed “magnum opus”, diving into the REAL story behind Donuts, the myth surrounding it, recreating several beats that showcase a variety of sampling styles, and attempting to find the meaning of it all.
Rest in Peace J Dilla
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SOURCES
"Dilla Time" by Dan Charnas: amzn.to/3HHelgb
Questlove Interview: www.xxlmag.com...
daily.redbullm...
#jdilla #hiphop #musichistory

[@diggingthegreats]

Tap in to my free Patreon-only livestream on Saturday, February 10th at 5pm PST. I'll be playing all Dilla stuff 🔥 Sign up for free to get the link here: www.patreon.com/diggingthegreats This DJ livestream is free, but a paid membership gets you things like the extended "full" edit of this video (over 6 mins longer) or downloads like the Ableton files I used in this video.

[@BravoShow]

I want u to know that ur content is not only watched and liked, but it's APPRECIATED. Ur knowledge of hip hop (real hip hop) is impressive to say the least. Ur ALWAYS welcomed to the cookout my dude. 💯

[@oscarodonnagain]

I still think its so cool him and Nujabes were born on the same day. Both legends taken from us too early ❤

[@guffingtonreal]

That's crazy I never knew that. RIP Nujabes and Dilla

[@MakeSomeNoisePlaylists]

and he died on February 26, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan, aged 36.....

[@DaveDEF82]

I swear... not ONE J Dilla video without a Seba fanboy acting like they were remotely on the same level. Stop pissing on Dilla's legacy by bringing up someone else when his work and craft is discussed.

[@MATALOMUSIC]

​@@DaveDEF82 Nujabes was a legend in his own right, how is that a knock to Dilla in any way?

[@otislindsey9993]

I would absolutely LOVE a dive into Nujabes catalog.

[@gezblair]

The book Dillla Time really captures how Detroit was at the middle of so many different musical traditions and genres and even invented a few of their own (Motown and Detroit techno) and what I love about Donuts is how it reflects that mad mash-up. RIP Dilla ❤

[@sawtooth808]

I would love to read the book “Dilla Time”, but there was much much more to Detroit than Motown, and Detroit Techno. There was George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, Iggy Pop, The M.C5, and White Stripes are also from Detroit. Detroit is definitely an interesting place.

[@oleg_samples]

The most masterful sampling project there might ever be. Thank you J Dilla 😎👍🏼

[@n-spired]

You never listened to watch out for the 3rd rail by LSD or DJ Shadows Entroducing. 😉

[@RnBGarvey]

@@n-spired i did, and he's correct.

[@keithprice1950]

It's great but there are other sample based albums that are incredible. Endtroducig by DJ Shadow is a masterpiece, as is Since I Left You by The Avalnches.

[@mysterychild2908]

Only two measure up to me: Exile’s “Radio” and Oh No’s “Oxperiment”

[@KtotheG]

Beastie Boy's Paul's Boutique is up there... the Dust Brothers did their thing.

[@KtotheG]

That "save me" sample is similar to what Minnie Riperton was singing on "Memory Lane," where she utters "save me" on the track and it was recorded during her last days.

[@braadsaad]

Donuts is the ultimate tearjerker for me.Maybe it’s because of the story behind it , but i feel like each song has purpose and meaning to it

[@explosionof9]

I've seen several of your videos and to me this is your finest, most in-depth work. I'm a huge fan of this album and wrote a poem about the way Ma Dukes cared for him while he worked on the album. Thanks for your detailed and empathetic work here.

[@davido3109]

Treal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@88sfuneral]

I love how the cover of the album is Dilla smiling. It’s very tragic that he was taken so soon, but I’m glad he was able to create something with so many messages and personality, without even using his words.

[@HouseOfSpheres]

I was first introduced to Dilla’s music in early 2006; I was a junior in college and several friends of mine were huge fans who were geeked about Donuts coming out. My birthday was several days after the release of the album, and we listened to it repeatedly at my birthday party, only to find out that he’d been sick and suddenly had passed away that day. Incredibly surreal and sad experience.

[@johndotcue]

I found out about that last song from Adult Swim’s bumpers lol. So good.

[@MegaVern1]

My man DJ Wreck One did a Dilla set on his birthday and last night! Dilla is a mad scientist and genius for his work. The way he chopped up the original samples still make me smile. Thank you for sharing this Bro🙏🏽❤️🍩🍩🔥🔥🔥

[@RaziAvel]

Great vid as always! I can’t recommend Dan’s book on Dilla enough, it is so well researched and well written even a non-musician can understand Dilla Time

[@EmceeLamaj]

Man, I love all of your breakdowns. It gives me a deeper appreciation for the artists, the producers, the groups, the albums, the music. The ART.... It's inspiring for my own creations. Bless

[@WS.187]

I remember shopping in London 06 and I heard this album playing over the store system, went straight to the staff and asked what was the name of it. Then went straight to HMV and bought that classic. Absolutely love this album.

[@farter_snail]

my favorite album of all time. ❤

[@1andonlydasilent1]

I had no idea Dilla was a fellow Aquarian brother to me!!! But this man's ear for music is undefined! Rest Easy King 👑

[@axysbeats]

my favorite youtuber don’t stop bro 😎

[@LeonardGums]

Absolutely love this album! Thanks for talking about it

[@nothanksplease]

I wish i discovered this man before he passed. What an album. Touching bro. 🖤🥺 The song he made for his momma.

[@randomsalmon4603]

this is one of my top-5 all-time albums; absolute masterpiece that I can listen to on a loop for hours

[@phinestro]

Also on personal tip.. the song “Don’t cry “ was also for Joylette the finance who he has a daughter with. It’s deep

[@JosephP-b7w]

This is my favorite music channel finally talking about the important things

[@anom3609]

Awesome video man 🔥🔥🔥

[@shuflbeats]

Easily one of the greatest channels on KZbin. Love from NY. So dope. 🔥

[@J57music]

Great job with this video. Thanks for this

[@airaaira9955]

Amazing how you dissect a well know album to us and one more time Donuts amaze us like, like...like a rainbow

[@planetplex]

Another great video! I was hoping you would also talk about how this album seems to be so different of a style to most of his other work as well but either way I still really dig this video. Thanks and keep up the good work!

[@petsounds3612]

Thanks for paying respect to a legend of hip-hop, sampling, and music in general!

[@Freakthesorceress]

To me this is not his magnum opus. Fantastic Vol. 1 or 2 is

[@JackTRMusic]

I’ve been waiting so long for this video

[@fish21_]

DILLA MONTH!!

[@010les]

a album i play numerous times every year cause its such a easy thing to listen to im gonna be honest some beats i cant stand like people, one for ghost, stop and light my fire and dont cry sounds like the only beat some of yall know and is ruined because of it but than you have waves and bye who are easily the best beats on this album weird stuff like the twister, geek down, lightworks and factory dark gloomy stuff like walkinonit and hi happy stuff like onecanwin and time donut of the heart and emotional stuff like anti american grafitti and donuts intro (final beat) i truly love this album im glad my brother introduced me to Dilla i didnt get it at first but when i started making beats myself the genius became apparent

[@joefortz2856]

For the context Im a producer. And the first few years bumpin on this album I have the same thoughts as you are. Like I couldn’t get the beats, and thinking what’s special about it. Arrogantly thinking some of the beats are just simple and easy to do. But then after a few years of watching a couple of breakdown videos of these beats I came to realize how intricate these were made. Like this man is really a genius on making these beats. How he came up and engineer each and every beat using unconventional techniques, which up until this day he keeps inspiring most of the producers in the industry.

[@cflo530]

Thank you, we needed this one!

[@Narokx]

Aaaaa I really want to work on the whole album. Hearing Hi and Bye again, it is soooo heart crushing. anyway... happy Dilla month everyone :)

[@dylanrowleyprod]

The album that got me into the greatest producer ever. Still working on snatching all the samples used on vinyl. Lovely video! Edit: I’ve got about 45 records left to get. Got all the 10cc, a Lou Rawls, a Ramsey Lewis, the Smokey Robinson, and some others I can’t think of off the top.

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥 that's amazing

[@dylanrowleyprod]

@@diggingthegreats i have been trying for a while to get The Iceman Cometh, but haven’t had luck locally

[@stxney777]

Regardless of the mythbusting this Beat Tape was elite, Glad to see that Dont Cry was still authentic, as it was the song that made me start producing. RIP Jay Dee

[@crimson6323]

ANOTHER BANGER

[@crimson6323]

one day one of these videos will be about me

[@JohnGM360]

One of the best hip hop KZbin channels ever 👌

[@lairdhercules4553]

The background music slaps hard in this one.

[@HerEvilTwin]

I love and respect your work but I was upset in the beginning of the video when you recited all the myths . Thankfully you came around abd proved you actually know your shit and even taught me some things I didn’t know about Donuts. Keep it up!

[@gezeo750]

Man basically was messing around with Pro Tools to try something new and it came out perfect like only Dilla could.

[@SethPlaysBass]

my favorite album in hip hop

[@darkodasefx]

Thanks for this video!!! Dilla Dawg forever!!!

[@johanhelander9696]

Had to pause the video ALL THE TIME and put on the tracks 😂

[@7dogg]

I love this album

[@cyberjazz]

Slight correction: You're Gonna Need Me is Dionne Warwick (not Diane). Otherwise, as always, great work.

[@nxbleprod.]

Make a video about Nujabes!

[@BlackedOutBoy]

As a Detroiter and Dillaphile, thank you bro.

[@alpaykasal2902]

Did he say "Diane" Warwick?

[@ZkayDigz09]

RIP Dilla 🫡

[@seekerowl3260]

I see why the outro/intro are switched, because the end of one thing can be the beginning of something new. Dope video 🙏🏽

[@101iswhatsup]

Donuts was intended to loop, staring at the end is seamless then....😢 It's a honor that we can appreciate his legacy. (Leave a life worth remembering, if you're leaving. (Legacy work) Dilla never passed. The loop

[@davido3109]

Thank's Thank's Always!!!!!!!! some review of Wellcome to Detroit?? God Sree Khrisna Bless Akai Lama aka Jay Dilla, James Jaycey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Namaste Haribol Asewe!!!!!!!!!

[@stloushug9830]

It should be a biopic of Dilla and the creation of Donuts.

[@designatedpiledriver8216]

You can’t talk about donuts without talking about madlib. I’ve noticed people keep leaving him out. The sound of donuts is a DIRECT influence from madlib. Dilla has said that what Madlib was doing spoke to him because that was where he wanted to go musically. This isn’t my opinion it’s fact

[@jf7506]

Awesome

[@gwopin1]

Go watch you can get with this they show him making beats on his death bed momma Yancy got the video and I know a few people who have footage cause he was working in something I just don't know if it was all for doughnuts.

[@40kap96]

RIP DILLA 🍩🍩🍩

[@aoea8163]

ANYONE KNOW THE BEAT PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE VIDEO PLEASE!!!!!

[@hotsaucecommittee0]

nah cuz what is the factory...

[@RodriguezNavarroGustavo]

that rainbow shi got me all emotional man damn

[@sugma2786]

crazy how Dilla died the same day i was born

[@richyahyah]

There used to be a shop and food truck in Detroit called Dilla's Delights that served donuts.

[@MakeSomeNoisePlaylists]

yup, just opposite of the TIgers stadium and run be two of his nephews !

[@hotdogcandy]

Damn eating donuts while listening to Donuts sounds like heaven.

[@richyahyah]

​@@MakeSomeNoisePlaylists they are good people. We worked several events with them!

[@Ghillis_Peyton]

Did it shut down? I’d like to go someday 😭

[@HouseOfSpheres]

@@Ghillis_Peytonthe brick and mortar location is closed as of 2021. There were some rumblings that the food truck was still around, but I’m not certain of that.

[@arifmemovic3383]

This is a fantastic video. Thank you!

[@joedellava7805]

“Save me” from workinonit just got levels more eerie for me. For that I thank you bro

[@damienrogers1114]

Made my eyes water

[@ShaadyG1]

@@damienrogers1114mine too🥲 literally look at the album so different now. It already gave me goosebumps but I’m looking from a whole different perspective now

[@spiketrakton329]

Fun fact, while Don't Cry is for his mother it's also for one of his baby mama's. One of them is named Joy, that's why the sample goes "My voice would've made an unbelievable better hook (oh, ok, Joy)"

[@yanceyboyz]

That's just more myth

[@spiketrakton329]

@@yanceyboyz That’s true. He does say Joy though and it is a coincidence that’s his baby mamas name is that. Seems intentional to me Edit: Forgot to mention I got that off of Dilla Time

[@SnailWithGlasses]

@@spiketrakton329Weird. I’ve always heard George because that’s what the original sample says but now I hear Joy.

[@spiketrakton329]

@@SnailWithGlasses it does say George, but like he did in light works when she says, “light up the sparks.” He makes the sample say “spliffs”. Dilla is known for making different words say something else, another example is the sample saying “Claire” and turns it into “Players”

[@yanceyboyz]

@@spiketrakton329 I just hear George on this one. Then again, forever I heard "running" on the pharcyde track when it's clearly just "Run" being triggered twice.

[@bryanbalment7993]

Black Thought from the Roots rhyming over "Time: Donut of the Heart" - titled "Can't Stop This" - might actually be my favourite hip hop track of all time.

[@arieboogaard4257]

Same here. Still gives me goosebumps everytime.

[@linzcraig793]

Their version of Workinonit is dope too

[@chayabat-tzvi1215]

I think the album is quite clearly a goodbye letter. Having a collaborator doesn't take that away, especially if Dilla approved the final draft. Wanted to add, it's not unusual at all for people who are terminally ill to downplay the severity of their illness, specifically because they don't want others pitying them or panicking over them, or excluding them. So, when I hear things like: "all the references to death on 'Donuts' are coincidental" I don't buy it. People who are that sick know their time is limited even if they choose to spend the last months of their lives living-living rather than wilting away in bed. Thanks for the video bro.

[@yetispaghetti5754]

Don’t Cry is still my favorite song of all time. It feels like somebody trying not to cry, and the chopped segment always felt to me like somebody unable to hold back the tears anymore. Btw, you did a great job discussing the album. This was very informative 👍

[@Justice098]

Man . I’ve been listening to this album almost 20 years and didn’t know all of these intricate details. The way he manipulates the vocals is genius. Jay Dilla is no different than Michealangelo or Davinci when it comes to art. That’s why his MPC is in a museum i guess.

[@EobardTron]

I was thinking through this it's like he didn't need an emcee. I always liked Dillas bars but I'm listening to this again cuz I neglected to think about him speaking any other way. Poetry.

[@sawtooth808]

I’m surprised his Roland/Boss SP 303 that he used to make “Donuts” isn’t in the museum with the MPC. Funny/sad story During December 20th in 2015, my younger brother (the last time I saw him alive) was asking me about getting an MPC. I told him about the Roland SP 404 and how artists made full albums with it and that J Dilla used it to make “Donuts” (I didn’t know at the time Dilla used the SP 303 instead 😞) and the beauty of the SP 303/404 A (the black and neon green one that was an Aira) is you could throw it in a backpack. 7 years and 5 months later my younger brother passed away. Thinking of getting an SP 404 mk 2 in his honor

[@arifmemovic3383]

​@@sawtooth808 May your brother rest in peace.

[@nixononthetrack]

Quote from the book: "In one track, looping part of an old Jackson 5 ballad, "All I Do Is Think of You," James suddenly halved the tempo and stretched the loop out to cover the doubled space, while keeping the pitch constant. This kind of "time stretching" wasn't possible on an MPC. He'd done all these beats right on his laptop, via his Pro Tools software, which enabled James to see the waveforms - dice and recombine them, squeeze and stretch them - in ways he'd never before attempted. Created in a burst of energy after James' discharge from Cedars-Sinai in early 2005, Donuts emerged as a complete thought." Dilla made Donuts on Pro Tools.

[@diggingthegreats]

9:53 Yeah man, you gotta let me cook 😂

[@nixononthetrack]

@@diggingthegreats 😂😅 you right I jumped the gun. Respect 🫡

[@diggingthegreats]

@@nixononthetrackI appreciate the fact check! 😂

[@kavanasama4365]

RIP Dilla the legend

[@diggingthegreats]

RIP Dilla

[@nicolesherman8974]

It’s almost J Dilla’s day too 🖤🖤. RIP to the goats man 🐐♒️🔥

[@ANGEL_DUCK]

While donuts as a whole is a myth it doesn’t take away from the fact that dilla was in the last stretch of his life and he made a body of work that was left for interpretation for the listener and that’s what Jeff Jank did his interpretation of the beat tape was what donuts was

[@gnarwhal7562]

Fun fact: J Dilla's MPC 3000, used to create a lot of iconic beats throughout his discography, is on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. You know he's an absolute legend when...

[@beyshore_]

went and saw it a few years back. truly moving.

[@artisans8521]

So is his moog (memory moog if memory serves).

[@citizencain01]

​@@artisans8521It's his Minimoog Voyager. The music exhiit there is amazing.

[@danielhoskins4690]

Donuts is a work of art. This video is excellent, and you deserve props. I’m getting closer to pulling the trigger on Patreon, because we really don’t deserve this kind of quality for free!

[@shenainai1]

two can win does actually have a hidden meaning behind it, through reading the book you can learn that dilla had two kids, not only two kids but these kids were from two different mothers, and one of the families lived far away enough for him to have to visit the other regularly. with that reasoning we can assume that “two can win” refers to the two families dilla had in his life.

[@cal4837]

He didn’t name the track…

[@shenainai1]

@@cal4837 🤓

[@shenainai1]

@@cal4837 party pooper

[@shenainai1]

@@cal4837coming back months later to say hop off

[@Krazie-Ivan]

this time of year is always rough. share a b-day with James. father killed by drunk driver 5 days before him. Elzhi's February brings tears still. great vid man, thx

[@GilKag2]

Man you're making me love my favorite albums and artists even more, and for that i can't thank you enough! By far best youtube page out there. would love a video on Slum Village, especially the time with Dilla in the group. Fan-Tas-Tic for me is one of the best albums ever.

[@1999ಠ_ಠ]

i remember listening to this album for the first time, it was so mesmerizing and nothing like i have ever heard of before. thank you j dilla.

[@thewizard___3030]

Ive always taken Two Can Win as Dilla accepting his impending death. Through life, we’re taught to be careful, make smart decisions, and be afraid of death because it’ll keep us alive. Death is portrayed as a negative, terrifying concept that many people struggle with. The sample singing “only one can win” is humanity’s mindset of fighting against/avoiding death, either you survive and win, or death takes you and he wins. However, when faced with an unavoidable fate, knowing death is coming, Dilla is able to accept his own mortality, accept that everything will be okay even after he passes. Accepting death as a friend coming to ease the pain instead of fighting against it, in a way, is both of them winning. Death doesn’t have to be evil, and when you accept this, two can win.

[@fynnglenno7060]

videos like this is why I love youtube, its a 20min journey to the brain of one of your fav producers R.I.P. J Dilla

[@tonychopper9142]

Excellent breakdown. As if donuts wasn't mind boggling enough itself, there was an unofficial "donuts" video on KZbin some years back that was a equally amazing as the album in the way that creator lined it up with the songs. RIP Dilla and that content creator. Sorry i don't have their name

[@jimbozium]

I cannot state enough how much I enjoy this channel. Brandon is fantastic at explaining the elements he covers and a noob like me understands it. Just fantastic work. Thank you.

[@tonybeatbutcher]

His last concert was in Gent, Belgium on a wheelchair organised by true fans and his mother came to see it. Exact 10 years later Illa J came back to Gent to play a tribute for J Dilla on a tribute event.

[@BuckpLAYZnOGAMEz]

I thought it was cold how Jay Dee sampled Diana Ross and the Supremes on "Can't you see" . He pitched down and sped up the sample there too, I initially thought it was a guy singing lol

[@CurtisBond]

Don’t Cry still gives me goosebumps every time I put it on.

[@A.R.V_02]

Another classic by you, u fr never miss, and ofc RIP JAY DEE he's my hero ❤❤

[@idontlikethings5911]

19:00 There's allegedly a secret meaning in Hi as well. In Dilla Time, there was a story of the time Dilla dreamed that he ran into ODB at a bus station. ODB warned him to not take the red bus. The actual sample of the song goes: "Standing at the bus stop and I heard a voice behind me say "Hi, baby" oh, I just fell all apart inside Because I hadn't heard that voice in such a long time I turned around" Dunno how true that is, but it is interesting to think about :)

[@matthewbu8315]

Hey, excited to watch this video! Can I ask what books you have on your bookshelf? I know Dilla Time is one of them, but curious what the other books are

[@diggingthegreats]

A couple Questlove books, Check the Technique volumes, Everybody's Hip Hop, gotta check what else!

[@BLRRadio]

Dilla could turn any sample into magic.....dude was cold...RIP

[@vjretro]

I had to buy this album at my local record store. As a music producer, he inspires me to create instrumental beats.

[@samueljansen7374]

mann I love these videos, im truly leaning things from you!!, thanks man, you help me get better making beats

[@labbaby189]

I think the myth started from the lack of info at the time. Unless you closely followed Dilla, you weren't getting hourly updates on his status. The fact that he made music at all was so mindblowing we just assumed he did it all in the hospital. A bit of research (that Mass Appeal Dilla special was very revealing) would uncover an even more beautiful reality... the label, his friends and his mother all pulled together to finish the album and give Dilla a proper send off. RIP James Yancey.

[@myleshigh9851]

Great video... I'd like to see you breakdown Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus

[@TARRS1]

Author Jordan Ferguson wrote about the Donuts album for the 33 1/3 series. It's difficult to find, but his extensive research and interviews are worth it. Internet Archive may have a copy.

[@AtNightmareBeach]

just finished Dilla Time and this video was great, man.

[@dropoutclub79]

what i got from this whole dilla story is that he was in and out the hospital while making the album and i feel like someone close to him said that dilla was in the hosptal bed while making the album and the fans took it literal and they ran with it leaving the album to get more attention for the story

[@AlexanderDivineEmcee]

J Dilla led me to GOD and Donuts lead me to myself. This album is deep. PEACE

[@nicholasrosella2952]

incredible video. all i ever knew about the lyrics was the one for Dont Cry and hw it relates to his mother.