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1Xtra Talks with Richie Brave

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Richie Brave hosts the biggest group chat of the week.

BBC Radio 1Xtra's Stories: Gone Too Soon

1Xtra Talks with Richie Brave: Gone Too Soon: Episode 5: J Dilla

J Dilla

Episode 5

Episode 5: J Dilla

Gone Too Soon

BBC Radio 1Xtra - 1Xtra Talks with Richie Brave, Gone Too Soon, J Dilla

In the final episode, we celebrate the life of producer J Dilla.

In the final episode of 1Xtra's Gone Too Soon series, we celebrate the life of producer J Dilla, one of hip hop's most influential producers and artists, who died aged just 32.

It's a name you might not recognise - but you'll certainly know his music... James Dewitt Yancey, Jay Dee or more commonly known as J Dilla, is one of  hip hop’s most influential producers and artists, but his genius was cut short at 32 after battling the incurable blood disease, lupus. 

As part of the Gone Too Soon series, Benji B presents this 1Xtra story celebrating the incredible music J Dilla created during his lifetime which includes tracks for Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, The Pharcyde and De La Soul to name but a few. 

Through interviews with Plug 2 from De La Soul, Mos Def, Questlove from The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, J.Rocc, Slum Village members T3 and Wajeed, his brother Illa J and his incredible mum, Ma Dukes, we learn about how he made those beats, what he was like as a person and the legacy he left behind.  Benji also pays his own tribute to the man he knew for almost ten years and is his favourite producer of all time.

1Xtra Talks with Richie Brave: Gone Too Soon

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1Xtra assesses the legacies of artists who left us too soon.

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Episode 5: J Dilla

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