J Dilla: Donuts (2LP, smile cover) [STONES THROW]

Why you'll love it

Donuts is J Dilla's final album and one of the most influential beat records ever made: 31 tracks in 43 minutes, built from soul, rock and funk samples and designed to loop forever. This 2LP comes in the smile cover.

This edition

• 2LP set, 31 tracks
• Smile cover edition
• Stones Throw pressing

About the album

James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, was the Detroit producer behind Slum Village and some of the best records by A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, Common, Erykah Badu and D'Angelo. Seriously ill with a rare blood disease, he made much of Donuts in hospital with a sampler and a small record player that friends brought in.

It came out on February 7, 2006, his 32nd birthday, and he passed away three days later. What he left behind is extraordinary: short, warm, funny and heartbreaking pieces built from chopped-up samples, flowing into each other and looping from the end back to the start. "Workinonit," "Don't Cry," "Stop!" and "Last Donut of the Night" are just a few of the highlights. Every hip hop and beat-music fan should own a copy.

Also at Kops: more J Dilla on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Stones Throw, first out in 2006.