By J Dilla, 2006

After serving quietly as a member of A Tribe Called Quest's production team and scoring hits for Busta Rhymes, De La Soul and Pharcyde, Detroit producer Jay Dee became known as a major hip-hop prospect by the end of the 90s. The hip-hop community took notice of his no-frills, breakbeat heavy hip-hop style as he helped craft albums for Common, Q Tip and the debut for his own group Slum Village. By the time of his major-label debut with Slum Village's Fantastic, Vol.

2 in 2000, Jay Dee was recognized as one of hip hop's most admired and desired producers. Jay Dee's debut as a solo artist came in 2001 with the release of "Welcome to Detroit" on BBE. Assuming the name J DILLA, he joined the Stones Throw roster in 2003, formed Jaylib with fellow producer/MC MADLIB, and released the album "Champion Sound".

Tragically, Donuts was released just three days before J Dilla (aka Jay Dee) passed away from complications arising from lupus--he was only 32. As one of his last projects, though, Donuts is a fitting reflection of Dilla's creativity and an apt tribute (however unintentional) to a career spent as the quintissential producer's producer. Unlike some of Dilla's previous instrumental albums, such as Welcome To Detroit, the songs here are less finished and polished pieces and more caught up in mid-creative motion.

Unlike the soft, filtered sound he was known for in the mid-1990s, for Donuts he leaves a variety of soul and jazz loops in plain view but splices and reworks them as a set of sonic jigsaw puzzles. Spontaneous but not sloppy, the capture the late producer at his best--in the throes of his own imagination, each song poised with endless possibilities. --Oliver Wang

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