Breaking Down J Dilla’s Most Underrated Album

Get 15 tracks to sample on Tracklib for free: www.tracklib.co...
Songs Played are included on my Tracklib playlist, check it out here: www.tracklib.c...
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There’s one album that doesn’t come up in the Dilla conversation enough. It’s some of his best work, was a turning point for him as a producer, and helped birth the neo soul movement.
Today we're talking about Slum Village. If you’re a Dilla fan and you don’t know Slum Village, get ready, cuz it’s some of Dilla’s finest work, and that’s saying a LOT. If you’re already a Slum Village fan, you’re in the right place.
We’re diving into the story of Fantastic Vol 1 AND 2, of Slum Village, and of this pivotal transition time for J Dilla. We’ll dive into a few songs to see how his production evolved, why these albums aren't as well known, and how it birthed the neo soul movement.
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SOURCES
"Dilla Time" by Dan Charnas: www.amazon.com...
Questlove quote: books.google.c...
Questlove Supreme Podcast with T3: • Slum Village Recalls T...
/ the-fantastic-origin-s...
Amp Fiddler Interview - • Amp Fiddler on teachin...
Full Amp Fiddler interview with the original channel its from ‪@PopkillerTV‬ • Amp Fiddler - intervie...
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TOPICS COVERED
J Dilla
Jay Dee
Slum Village
T3
Baatin
Fantastic Vol 1
Fantastic Vol 2
Fan-Tas-Tic
Detroit
Hip Hop
Neo Soul
#jdilla #hiphop #musichistory

[@diggingthegreats]

Get 15 tracks to sample on Tracklib for free: www.tracklib.com/diggingthegreats Songs Played are included on my Tracklib playlist, check it out here: www.tracklib.com/music/collections/783538

[@disrails]

Claaaaire. Genius

[@ericfields2809]

Me too

[@artisans8521]

From your channel, I went to Spotty, searched for SlumVillage, found them, including a remark that they were performing in my hometown soon. Got a ticket to see them live in 4 weeks.

[@SkylarGarriott]

i see slum village, i click

[@tempeff8670]

I saw Slum Village in Chicago, upstair at Subterranean circa 2001. I probably saw Dilla but I didn't know it at the time.

[@kennethbosejr.4933]

Same

[@sorensmith8403]

Monkey see, monkey do

[@petykash]

Facts

[@artisans8521]

I'm going to see them in a few day's time in my hometown.

[@Chris-o7w6w]

This album was so smooth. " Get this money" "PLAYERS" "Climax" & " Hold Tight"

[@MegaVern1]

Facts!!!

[@assistant606]

Jealousy was fire too

[@npetinaud1]

Go Ladies is my favourite instrumental. Just reminds me of fine Women in the summer.

[@unworthyServant08]

Add “Fall N Love” and “2U4U” to that list! All these were on repeat in my late teens to early 20’s! Along with Little Brother’s The Listening. These two albums certainly make my classics list.

[@dasdabeatjunkieprod]

Untitled will always be my favorite

[@saint_yves]

This album was my introduction to J Dilla. Once I heard “Fall In Love”, I was hooked.

[@nickolas8013]

"Rock to the rhythm, forth & back, forth & back, forth and back back back back..."

[@actrite3139]

Kurupt and SV

[@gnarwhal7562]

This album was actually my introduction to J Dilla and I didn't even know it at the time. It just felt like a hidden gem of a record. Years later I found out he was a part of the trio, and it made sense why I vibed with the production so much. Rest In Power, Dilla my man

[@log1kanobi]

brooooooo it’s exactly the same for me😂

[@EobardTron]

My introduction to dilla was actually Pharcyde LabcabinCalifornia. I was pretty smug when I picked this up, Dillas was an established genius for "Running" to me. Come to think of it I bought beats rhymes and life the same day at Tower records in silver spring, MD

[@bigchewp9694]

It's mad I had this, loved it, I had stakes is high, labcab, beats rhymes and life and countless other stuff I loved, but never realised it was all one dude. Lightbulb moment when it clicked.😂😂 I think it was that a lot of the track said produced by the ummah that threw me off the scent😂😂

[@amsf1]

Slum village Fantastic 1&2 classics. Fantastic v.2 is mind blowing still to this day....

[@avgriffin]

The climax drums changed how I view drums forever, convincing me to learn them inside out and learn drums

[@BritoWorx]

RIP DILLA AND AMP Thank you for y’all contributions to the world.

[@grantbacon4471]

Slum Village was so mad underrated! Great video! I can’t believe someone finally covered this album. “Fall in love” is in my rotation forever.

[@rdicetv77]

4EVER.

[@djdospe1]

there are only a few albums where I can listen to it without skipping a single song.. this is one of them

[@steve_santiago]

I was today years old when I learned that rapping into a pair of headphones plugged into the mic jack was even possible.

[@mdihero]

a transducer is a transducer

[@gezblair]

Think I’ve got an old DAT machine I can post you

[@mellodope8904]

I'm just glad you're here.😂

[@jloiben12]

If you are a Dilla fan and don’t know Slum then you aren’t a Dilla fan

[@petykash]

That part!

[@brynellsidney3983]

Facts

[@lexxko]

Agreed!

[@impliedwisdom]

HELLO!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@mategeri5728]

Dude, I've been a huge SV fan for more than a decade and I've been spending countless hours reading and learning about music. It never even crossed my mind to dig into the story of SV and I love how you break down the beats, too. Love your videos! Cheers!

[@cheef825]

Man you gotta read dilla time if you haven't already. That book has so much cool shi in it

[@mategeri5728]

@@cheef825 got that on my readlist for a while, just need to finish my other books first

[@filipkroupa9455]

so dirty yet so clean at the same time! in love with those drums since the day I discovered this album

[@dubswirl3082]

Fantastic vol 1 & 2 albums were such fire ass masterpieces

[@BackToTheBoomBap]

Thanks for making a video on one of my favorite hip-hop albums!

[@DJ279V]

Quite simply: find stuff, make it fit, new flow. Thx for sharing the genuis of Dilla with your analysis!!

[@workshopninjathe1st]

I found this album while DJing in the north of England. The record shop knew me and knew what I liked - they said if you buy one album today it should be this one. It became one of my favorites of that era. The same record shop made me buy the Lootpack album too. God I miss that shop

[@ThisIsJBird]

Congrats bro I think you're the only one on KZbin that found the tiny sample segments right before "Claiiirre" on 'Players'

[@pdrbeats8286]

that was epic! I believe it is hard because equipment from the 90s has a organic sound and functions like the MPC 2500, but you did a very good job. I just thought I would mention the track "fantastic" save direct from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@michaela5053]

Slum village r so awesome. It’s sad most of the OG members are gone but I’m going to see them in April!

[@Rob2380]

Vol. 2 came out right when I graduated high school in 2000. This was immensely impactful for anyone who craved that Tribe Called Quest feel, after their breakup. I played the shit out of this album. This is an easy top 20 album of all time for me.

[@rpsibley73]

It really is sad that J and Baatin has passed I liked this crew and the music they put out

[@anthos818]

Fantastic vol 2 is my all time favorite hip hop album.

[@pyromega1931]

This is my Favorite Hip-Hop Album I had no idea Dilla Himself was involved in the group first thing and I just got to listening them all last year long R.I.P. Jay Dee, R.I.P. Baatin

[@iamkylehi6645]

I’ve been listening to this album a lot after hearing Tell Me on a playlist. Thank you for covering such a great album!

[@Narokx]

Vol 2 top 5 album of all time imo fight me

[@عمار-ج2خ]

no fighting it bro 😂

[@emreozsoy973]

this video is pure gold in the landscape of dystopian youtube.

[@Uchawibeatz]

God bless you for breaking this down. Fantastic 1 and 2 are still my favorite Dilla pieces to this day. I started listening to Players because my pops recognized the sample from the Singers Unlimited and that was the moment my obsession with Dilla's work started. Great video again

[@lil-j-waters]

the fact that the vocals had to be one take is a really smart and i think intentional restriction. over editing strips authenticity

[@lj.lenthousiaste]

In less than a month, I'll be front row in a small Parisian Jazz venue to attend Slum Village. I'm addicted to those beats and the flow of them guys

[@natemathewson5200]

One of the best of all time.

[@ShogunxCAL]

Channel could solely be a course study on Dilla. Would be dope, love the backstories to these timeless hits.

[@MegaVern1]

@diggingthegreats this was a great breakdown!!! Can’t get enough of Dilla breakdowns. Dude was an alien for sure

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

I am still trying to figure out how "Conant Gardens" ended up in TWO family films. It was in "Cheaper By The Dozen" and "Big Fat Liar'. This is an unsolved mystery regarding Slum Village that I have yet to understand.

[@ri067953]

Just like Get Dis Money ended up in Office Space

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

@@ri067953 It was actually on the film's soundtrack back when they were on Interscope Records, who was supposed to release "Fantastic Vol. 2" after A&M folded.

[@TheSpotRocker]

I hope you make a decent pay on these videos. You put in so much hard work to make them and it shows.

[@jeffreed2160]

Great job how you explained, and showed us how JD constructed the greatest JD produced album ever. On heavy rotation!

[@cheef825]

Man slum village was just killing it back then. Great video

[@evantheartisan]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS IVE BEEN WAITING FOR ANY CONTENT ON FALL IN LOVE AHHHHHHHHHHHH THANK YOU

[@PROFESSORGRIMM03]

There is a 3 way tie between my fav hiphop albums. Donuts, Fan-Tas-Tic Vol 2, and Madvillainy

[@ScampiSuede]

Never clicked on a video so fast. Favourite album (vol.2) of all time!

[@JTAITSINGER]

Whaddup Dod! Dila Forever!

[@Justice098]

This is one of the most full and exciting albums I’ve ever heard. This was a very fun album…outro beats …skits…drops and all dope records and features. And they still talking Detroit sh!t….getting fly and getting money. I ain’t bout shit, no…what me? Dawg, I don’t floss. Nope, I ain’t that nigga Jay Dee You ain’t never see me ballin at the club right? I don’t rock my ice and bounce foreign cars And my Rover ain’t the hardest rover you ever seen That ain’t a TV screen, it ain’t sittin on 18’s

[@mikerizzyraw]

Champion sound was by far my favorite j dilla work… that’s the heaviest album in hip hop history

[@aiedynwoods3499]

fantastic vol 1 takes the edge for me cuz of just how raw some of the beats were

[@aiedynwoods3499]

i spoke too soon! you're the fucking GOAT

[@ransu856]

Amazing video! No Ruff Draft mention tho? :(

[@MrColdwilliam]

8 seconds in and that beat woke me up. Imma go listen to that album ans come right back for this.

[@lil-j-waters]

thanks for sharing your source too. dilla time is so good

[@kouleifou]

Man, I remember hearing 'I Don't Know' off of The World Famous Beat Junkiez Vol. 2, after I found out there was a whole album by Slum Village I had to cop Fantastic Vol.2 with the quickness.

[@KingofThaJungle09]

Fantastic volume 2 is one of my favourite albums ever easy top ten saw Slum Village at Blue Note in New York a few weeks back great show. God bless J Dilla and Baatin

[@teddyfischer510]

Hey Mr. Digging, I've been loving your content and subscribed to your channel...I think you should dig deeper underground...do CunninLynguists do Kool Kieth do CannibalOx...

[@nicktee167]

Really great work here, as usual!

[@gsmith11172]

I think Marley Marl deservers a video. He's the Godfather of Boom Bap

[@tapioca3127]

Their first E.P or work was actually under de name J88.. Released on supperrappin' if I remember well

[@turk3sh]

Still have the CD went it came out 🔥

[@alexlibby1366]

Amazing video as always!

[@nemesis4884]

crazy i just bumped all slum albums this past month 😏

[@BENWORKIN89]

Ruff Draft too. People talk about The Shining Donuts and Jaylib a lot however Ruff Draft is 🔥 🔥 my favorite

[@joedellava7805]

I see Dilla, I click.

[@williamperri3437]

17:33 that’s just a flam in the world of drummers. The most basic rudiment you can do but never use in a backbeat for the most part. Funky as F!

[@nickfanning]

You’re on a roll man

[@QueMusiQ]

2:31 my cousin in law Billy was there too.

[@oldmanmikey]

Don’t stop doing videos .

[@karl.johnson1446]

fun fact, idk if i alr said this but i was born a day before his death and i literally found out through the soulquarians video

[@johnbrown4936]

What's the background music at: 0:22

[@justinbrown9037]

Love the vid, but a video on Nujabes would be fan-tas-tic

[@el_ruifo_1003]

My favorite album, RIP

[@morreddie717]

I thought everyone knew about fantastic vol and 2, mustve confused it with the singles released from them

[@ElanBrio]

Great video

[@rookp-j8p]

players is easily my favorite dilla beat. i dont think anything else come close

[@KSoloLoso]

hey digging the greats, what happened to j dilla album that got shelved on MCA at the time when he was signed to MCA records

[@aaronedwards6507]

Vintage vol .2 ...... my fav Dilla album

[@AustinGigstead]

Get dis money is a midwest classic

[@mareksaltberg1484]

Marcin Natali's interview! :))

[@williamperri3437]

I never understood donuts being his most popular piece of work. I love it, but there’s so much stuff that’s way better in my opinion like fantastic volume two and 1 but I understand it’s his final release and very playable. I remember hearing about it a lot by 98 or 99 in Philadelphia but I don’t think I had a copy till 2001… I’d say at least a year or so after Voodoo and Like water for chocolate.

[@damc8415]

Have you done a video on “Everything Is Everything” by Lauryn Hill?

[@damc8415]

Please provide link if so.

[@diggingthegreats]

Not that song specifically, but the whole album kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjUe3R7lqannNUsi=ZFnJRugFrdBt3gDm

[@matt3089]

Do J-88 next.

[@leemckenna8214]

I love this damn record

[@adamfligsten]

Great video! But I would say the Frank N Dank is his most underrated one

[@artisans8521]

In less than a month Slum Villages plays in my hometown, not being Paris alas, but Venlo, the Netherlands. First concert I bought a ticket for in a decade. But this you can not miss. But I could miss it thanks to two conflicting rules. My rule is to never take cards of any kind to any concert (nor phones), not that I'm worried about pickpockets but I'm worried about accidental loss (been there, no fun at all). The venue's rule was to have everything paid by card. Now that wouldn't have been a problem, if they had not decided that I had to put my coat into a locker, that locker needed to be filled with a 2 euro coin. I carried 5 euro in loose change and 40 euro in 2 20 euro bills. No one in the joint was able to change 1 euro and 2 50 cent coin into a 2 euro coin. Kafka. So basically I wasn't allowed in. Did I get a refund for the ticket? Hell no. Now I know why that joint is called Grenswerk (Dutch for Borderwork). They are borderline client friendly. First and last visit, or better not visit.

[@chaplin358]

how the hell would you call yourself a Dilla fan if you didn't know about these early SV albums???

[@tcrump212IsLmbrJck_t]

And let’s be clear Vol 2

[@Kevinschart]

Why are you assuming Vol 1 is lesser known or underrated? Honestly wondering why that's your take because you didn't really explain it in your video. You gotta do more research. Look into J-88. In the late 90s the blogs all loved that new Detroit sound. I bought Fantastic on day 1. Climax was played on the radio, and it had a video in heavy rotation on BET. Get Dis Money was on the "Office Space" soundtrack . This album had motion. I 100% prefer Fantastic over Donuts. Fantastic is hardly underrated, its probably the best album produced by Dilla

[@Angld003]

I actually think Fantastic Vol. 1 better! It's very underrated.

[@chrlzanthny]

where can i access the background music?

[@moayadalsayari6874]

What is the name of the beat at 0:23 ?

[@blanknoriega5726]

Prob best album of all time.

[@drewthehustler]

DAMN……

[@lairdhercules4553]

Finally! Slum Village. Those who know...know. RIP Baatin, RIP Dilla.

[@diggingthegreats]

RIP Amp Fiddler as well 🙏

[@startrakambassador3632]

@@diggingthegreats word, it broke my heart when I heard he passed as well. At least they in a better places ❤️🙏🏾

[@Ginger2882.]

Slum Village was actually my introduction to Dilla. Still some of my favorites of his albums.

[@Bandaroj]

Same here. Which is kind of a lie, because I bought a copy of Labcabincalifornia when it was released. But I was not aware of who this JD guy was till I heard SV.

[@drealinskiabel]

Same. Went from there to Welcome 2 Detroit and only learned about all the Soulquarian/Native Tongues and Pharcyde stuff way later. Suffice to say, it was a pleasant experience of catching up.

[@86Sentra]

Same my momma raised me on this

[@tonejames2080]

R.I.P. Dilla Dawg. Shout out to the Roots on Game Theory for showing him the love he always deserved but many times never received. A genius of the hip-hop game. A legend of music in general.

[@tr606]

Untitled/Fantastic from Vol. 2 is just so pretty. Just incredible. Great vid as usual by the way ♥

[@DocDoMuch]

My favorite track on this classic album

[@PopkillerTV]

Part starting from 2:16 comes from our exclusive interview with Amp Fiddler, which you can find on our channel (it's a 20-min. video called "Amp Fiddler - interview: on teaching J Dilla how to use MPC; touring with George Clinton; Prince") :) Great short doc guys, much love from Poland & Long Live Dilla!

[@diggingthegreats]

Can you send a link? For one I want to include it in the description since I didn’t realize the larger video the clip was pulled from. For two, I want to watch it myself! Thank you for doing this interview, much love from the US 🙏

[@diggingthegreats]

Found it and updated! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYGXYpWhadyFjbMsi=N0u8El6-428Rk6iV

[@PopkillerTV]

​@@diggingthegreats yes, that's it!! Perfect, thank you so much! All the best, keep up the great work! 😊🙏🙌 We also have done more Dilla-related interviews (with Common, Illa J, Pharcyde, Black Milk etc.) if you'd be interested! / Marcin

[@BasperMarshall]

Polska Gurom

[@GmegaManly]

Man, I grew up in Conant Gardens and was privileged to know some of the old Motown/Funkadelic musicians who kept their equipment in the basement near their pool table. Never ran into Slum but man those were good times! And you have to understand that at that time it was nearly impossible for Detroit hip hop artists to get played outside of Detroit, so leaving the group was the only choice he could make if he wanted to be heard. Shout-out to Nunn's BBQ!

[@drezred8478]

One of my favorite albums of all time. Remember hearing "Get dis Money" and "Players" at UNLV on an underground radio show back in 98. No skips on the album. Untitled/fantastic is my favorite joint. All the beats are crazy.

[@hhhsp951]

IT'S *DILLA TIME*

[@DiceBambu]

if you're a dilla fan and don't know about SV...you're not a dilla fan..

[@DriverDairycorp]

Exactly !!!!!

[@frankm5267]

basically.

[@ri067953]

Slum Village is who I first think of when I think of Dilla

[@dwightgriffin1314]

The outro was nuts too.

[@dn30001]

Maan that outro was like sex in the form of sonics