- Welcome 2 Detroit
:"This is an article about the
J Dilla album. For theTrick-Trick song of the same name, seeWelcome 2 Detroit (Trick Trick Song) ."Infobox Album
Name = Welcome 2 Detroit
Type = studio
Artist =J Dilla
Released =February 27 ,2001
Recorded =
Genre = Hip-Hop
Length = 41:04
Label =BBE Records
Producer =Jay Dee ,Karriem Riggins
Reviews = *Allmusic rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4sj97i53g7or/ link]
Last album =
This album = "Welcome 2 Detroit"
(2001)
Next album = ""
(2002)"Welcome 2 Detroit" is the 2001 debut solo album from the late
Slum Village producerJ Dilla (akaJay Dee ). The album followed the group's critically acclaimed "Fantastic, Vol. 2 ", and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series (producer-driven albums). "Welcome 2 Detroit" was preceded by the 12" single "Fuck the Police", a cut which didn't make the final album although it is considered to be among his best material. The album cementedJ Dilla 's reputation amongst those in the know as a virtuoso beatmaker.Overview
As the title suggests "Welcome 2 Detroit" is a showcase of the talent from J Dilla's hometown, introducing a pre-Slum Village
Elzhi on the song "Come Get It", and making room for his longtime1st Down partnerPhat Kat on the appropriately titled "Featuring Phat Kat".Although it is a solo album, on several cuts such the first single "Pause", Dilla takes a backseat and lets others command the mic. He covers
Donald Byrd 's "Think Twice", singing the lead vocals (which many may assume to beDwele , who actually plays bass on the track).The influential sound for which he's received praises from
?uestlove (ofThe Roots ) toPharrell alike, is on full display here.J Dilla provides various moods for his listeners, ranging from grimyhardcore hip hop ("Pause") to electronic psychedelia ("B.B.E."). The track "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is inspired byBrazilian music legendSérgio Mendes . As Dilla mentions in the extensive liner notes:On "African Rhythms", J Dilla covers the
Afro beat groupOneness Of Juju 's song of the same name, replaying all the instruments as well as mimicking the spoken introduction.On the albums outro "One", J Dilla takes a moment to thank all who have helped him in the Hip-Hop industry, including Slum Village, Q-Tip and De La. The Pop band
'N Sync , among many others is also mentioned, indicating to a point around the album's release where Dilla was slated to do a few beats for the act. (This collaboration never materialized.) Both the intro and outro were recorded on a hand-held microphone the night before the turn-in date. An instrumental version of the album was released onAugust 23 ,2005 .Track listing
"All tracks produced by
J Dilla except "The Clapper", which is produced byKarriem Riggins and co-produced byJ Dilla , and also "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" which is co-produced byKarriem Riggins ."# Welcome 2 Detroit – 0:49
# Y'all Ain't Ready – 1:28
# Think Twice (Feat.Dwele ) – 3:52
# The Clapper (Feat. Blu) – 2:06
# Come Get It (Feat.Elzhi ) – 5:02
# Pause (Feat.Frank-N-Dank ) – 2:45
# B.B.E. (Big Booty Express) – 2:12
# Beej-N-Dem Pt. 2 (Feat. Beej) – 2:49
# Brazilian Groove (EWF) – 1:30
# It's Like That (Feat. Hodge Podge (Big Tone ) and Lacks (Ta'Raach) ) – 4:05
# Give It Up – 3:08
# Rico Suave Bossa Nova – 1:25
# Featuring Phat Kat (Feat.Phat Kat ) – 3:43
# Shake It Down – 2:55
# African Rhythms – 1:36
# One – 1:30Album singles
Credits
Performers
*
James Yancey - rap, vocals, production
*Karriem Riggins - production, drums, percussion
*Dwele Gardner - keyboard, trumpet, bass guitar, fender rhodes
*Antwan Gardner - trombone
*Frank Bush - rap, clavinet
*Derrick Harvey - rap
*Jason Powers - rap
*Ronnie Watts - rap
*Anthony Jackson - rap
*Terrell McMathis - rap
*Blu - rap
*Beej - rapMastering
*Recorded at Pay-Jay Studios, Studio A, Dearborn
*Engineered by James Yancey and Todd Fairall
*All songs mixed by James Yancey and Todd Fairall at Studio A, Dearborn.
*Executively producers: Peter Adarkwah, Lee Bright, and James Yancey
*Co-executive producer: Timotheous EntertainmentNotes
*"Welcome 2 Detroit" bares the name "Jay Dee" as well as "J Dilla", and marks the first time Dilla (who up until that point was still known as Jay Dee) officially used the name J Dilla. This change was apparently due to people often confusing Jay Dee with J.D. (
Jermaine Dupri ), as well as Dilla's love of the soul singerBill Withers .
*Pete Rock has admitted that upon hearing "Welcome 2 Detroit" he went back and added several more tracks to his BBE installment, "PeteStrumentals ".
*NeitherBaatin nor T3 from Slum Village make an appearance on the album.
*Erykah Badu , another member of theSoulquarians , would cover Donald Byrd's "Think Twice" on her album "Worldwide Underground ".
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