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

When you gonna make a movie

I really enjoyed this book. It was like a cross between the blindside (the book, not the movie) and the autobiography of… it was poignant and sad. I’m glad James D. Yancey lives on and will live forever as long as good music is made. I never realized how much J Dilla influenced my tastes and proclivities in music. I can literally point to any record from the 90’s and my favorite song(s) we’re produced or performed by J Dilla. And I was not aware. Even now, I gravitate to the music that was influenced by him. J Dilla will live forever. Make a movie about this book. Or… a series. So we get the whole picture.

An amazing book

Dan Charnas did an incredible job in telling the life, times, and influence of James J Dilla Yancey and the city of Detroit. A beautiful, educational, funny, heartbreaking, thoroughly researched, and life affirming piece of writing. I would love to see Mr. Charnas apply what he did with Dilla Time to a jazz label like Tribe Records, Strata East, or Black Jazz Records. Incredible work. 👍🏾🤙🏾🙌🏾🔥🔥🔥

Amazing‼️

Right on time I finished listening to the audio book 10p on JDilla’s Birthday and it made the experience “Fantastic “

superb book

loved the book ,great detail.The story line delve deep into detriot history African ryhtms compared to western European time signatures. it was definitely more than just a producer's story.

a musician's must

what a breakdown... great detail and timeline. thank you so much three words remaining

Aww man

Must read… For all hip hop heads, emcees, producers/DJs, music lovers, musicians, artists, and all people alike, should read this book… Best book on J Dilla, his life, his legacy, and sound. 5 stars all out tonight!!

Essential hip hop history

Essential listening for any hip hop fan. I suggest pairing it with a physical or kindle edition of the book to follow along with the MPC graphs, especially if you make or are interested in making music.

To be human in a mechanical world

Part historical document and part music theory lesson. All carefully curated into a cohesive story that gives you insight on what made Dilla, Dilla; and what it means to be human.

Great read

This book hit me on so many levels. I feel like I️ learned a lot about the history and connections as well as the music theory. I️ was surprised by how much this got me emotionally. A really good story that is well told.

Excellent book

I just finished the audio book and wept. A beautiful tribute to J. Dilla, his family, friends and collaborators. Thanks to the author. Inspiring. I have a hard copy too. I’ll return to this book again and again.