Dilla Time

The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm

By: Dan Charnas, Jeff Peretz - contributor

Narrated by: Dan Charnas

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

This program contains examples of J Dilla's music performed in the story by drummer Nate Smith and is accompanied by a bonus PDF of maps, photos, guides, and more.

"This book is a must for everyone interested in illuminating the idea of unexplainable genius.” (QUESTLOVE)

Equal parts biography, musicology, and cultural history, Dilla Time chronicles the life and legacy of J Dilla, a musical genius who transformed the sound of popular music for the 21st century.

He wasn’t known to mainstream audiences, even though he worked with renowned acts like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu and influenced the music of superstars like Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. He died at the age of 32, and in his lifetime he never had a pop hit. Yet since his death, J Dilla has become a demigod: revered by jazz musicians and rap icons from Robert Glasper to Kendrick Lamar; memorialized in symphonies and taught at universities. And at the core of this adulation is innovation: a new kind of musical time-feel that he created on a drum machine, but one that changed the way “traditional” musicians play.

In Dilla Time, Dan Charnas chronicles the life of James DeWitt Yancey, from his gifted childhood in Detroit, to his rise as a Grammy-nominated hip-hop producer, to the rare blood disease that caused his premature death; and follows the people who kept him and his ideas alive. He also rewinds the histories of American rhythms: from the birth of soul in Dilla’s own “Motown,” to funk, techno, and disco. Here, music is a story of Black culture in America and of what happens when human and machine times are synthesized into something new. Dilla Time is a different kind of book about music, a visual experience with graphics that build those concepts step by step for fans and novices alike, teaching us to “see” and feel rhythm in a unique and enjoyable way.

Dilla’s beats, startling some people with their seeming “sloppiness,” were actually the work of a perfectionist almost spiritually devoted to his music. This is the story of the man and his machines, his family, friends, partners, and celebrity collaborators. Culled from more than 150 interviews about one of the most important and influential musical figures of the past hundred years, Dilla Time is a book as delightfully detail-oriented and unique as J Dilla’s music itself.

©2022 Dan Charnas and Jeff Peretz (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2022, New York Magazine Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2023, PEN Literary Award - Winne, Winner

2022, Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

"[Dilla Time] do[es] what good music books should: send you back to the source material . . . Dilla Time is an important piece of music writing, affording its African-American subject the respect that the rock establishment has long accorded its white heroes."—The Economist

“Educational without being overbearing, emotional without turning saccharine, Dilla Time is a must-read not only for fans of Yancey, but anyone with a deep love for hip-hop or Black music, full stop.”—The Ringer

“It’s no ordinary book. . . equal parts biography, musical analysis and cultural history delving deep not only into Dilla’s history and music but also into the histories of rhythm and his hometown of Detroit.”—Variety

Only a few chapters in <3

This is the book we’ve needed. Loving the history being told here. As a person with a small record collection, drum machines, eurorack beep boops lol I am floored 😎.

This book is a must, Quest love’s “Creative Quest” book is a must, and David Byrne’s book “How Music Works” is a must. Now I need a Brian Eno Book which I will search for after I submit this review. Much Love, thanx jD

Jay Dee Forever!

I was stoked when I saw this on Audible, I ordered the physical book but when I realized it was a longer one I knew I would never get through with a two year old running around the house. I have been a big fan Dilla since the late 90’s and his work just has that feel good, when he passed away I cried and found myself crying a few times during this audio book. The writer did a great job at uncovering a lot of things I didn’t know about Dilla, and I have research Dilla for years so I was very happy with o find out I did not know everything. The only thing I wish this book had was the samples of music when they are talked about but I know that is hard to do with copyright issues. If you have loved Dilla for years or are just getting in to him, it is a great book for you! Highly recommend giving it a read or listen. TURN IT UP!

Amazing..

It answered all of the unanswered questions I’ve ever had about Jay.. This is an American tragedy but his music being celebrated throughout world and his influence are a Triumph at the same time.

I needed this!

I'll be listening to this over and over! So much has been confirmed with my own research and so much new information was revealed. Thank you for this.

The Yoda Of Music

Dan, thank you, Dan!!! I’m jealous of my older brother because he got to meet Dilla, My brother was the one who introduced Dilla’s artwork to me, till this day we still reminisce about beats he did while dissecting every element like children finding a rare Pokémon. Dilla is the reason I picked up an MPC, he, and DJ Quik are the reasons why I fell in love with making beats.

This book gave me more insight on the man Dilla was and was becoming. Dan’s semi-Gonzo style of writing feels like I’m watching a documentary, the way he captures emotion, you can picture every scene. He captures this story in the same way Coodie captures Kanye in “Jeen-yuhs.” It’s a beautifully crafted look inside the life and thought process of The Greatest Producer Of All Time(all genres)

Incredible

I can’t say enough and i can’t find the words. this is a stunning piece of work.

Mind Blown

Dan Charnas masterfully depicts our beloved J. Dilla. Many of the things that I knew and a lot of what I didn’t know sent me on an emotional roller that I would gladly purchase another ticket and stand in Disney World length lines to revisit.

Superb and long overdue.

Props to Dan Charnas for an incredible book. So many questions answered and dots connected. Dilla is truly our Genius in Hip Hop. Long Live James Dewitt Yancey!!!!

Beautiful… straight up BEAUTIFUL…

This story was enthralling. It did for me what all great books or stories are supposed to do: make me forget what’s going on in my life and make me care, just for a few moments, about something else. This book damn sure did that. Thank you… “What up though!?” 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾❤️

required reading for any J dilla fan

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.... the detail used to tell Dilla's evolution as a beat creator was insightful and connected many historical dots. 5 out of 5.