Welcome 2 Detroit
Encyclopedia
Welcome 2 Detroit is the 2001 debut solo album from Slum Village
producer
J Dilla
(aka Jay Dee). The album followed the group's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2
, and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series (producer-driven albums). Welcome 2 Detroit was preceded by the 12" single "Fuck the Police
", a cut which didn't make the final album although it is considered to be among his best material. The album cemented J Dilla
's reputation amongst those in the know as a virtuoso beatmaker.
on the song "Come Get It", and making room for his longtime 1st Down
partner Phat Kat
on the appropriately titled "Featuring Phat Kat".
Although it is a solo album, on several cuts, such as the first single "Pause
", Dilla takes a backseat and lets others command the mic. He also covers Donald Byrd
's "Think Twice", singing the lead vocals (which many may assume to be Dwele
, who actually plays bass on the track).
The influential sound for which he's received praises from Questlove (of The Roots
) to Pharrell alike, is on full display here. J Dilla
provides various moods for his listeners, ranging from grimy hardcore hip hop
("Pause") to electronic
psychedelia
("B.B.E."). The track "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is inspired by Brazilian music legend Sérgio Mendes
. As Dilla mentions in the extensive liner notes:
On "African Rhythms", J Dilla covers the Afro beat group Oneness Of Juju's song of the same name, replaying all the instruments as well as mimicking the spoken introduction.
On the albums outro "One", J Dilla takes a moment to thank all who have helped him in the Hip-Hop industry, including Slum Village, Q-Tip and De La. The Pop
band 'N Sync
, among many others is also mentioned, indicating to a point around the album's release where Dilla was slated to do a few beats for the act. (This collaboration never materialized.) Both the intro and outro were recorded on a hand-held microphone the night before the turn-in date. An instrumental version of the album was released on August 23, 2005.
except "The Clapper" which is produced by Karriem Riggins
and co-produced by J Dilla
.
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
(aka Jay Dee). The album followed the group's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2
Fantastic, Vol. 2
Fantastic, Vol. 2 is the second album from Detroit's Slum Village, released in 2000. During the time of its release the group was still composed of its earliest members T3, Baatin and Jay Dee....
, and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series (producer-driven albums). Welcome 2 Detroit was preceded by the 12" single "Fuck the Police
Fuck The Police (J Dilla song)
"Fuck The Police" is a single by the rapper/producer, Jay Dee. In the song, Jay Dee chastises corrupt policemen who conduct illegal searches and plant evidence on blacks. The 12" sleeve cover includes pictures of Mumia Abu-Jamal and Rodney King. Both men are known for their run-ins with the law. ...
", a cut which didn't make the final album although it is considered to be among his best material. The album cemented J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
's reputation amongst those in the know as a virtuoso beatmaker.
Overview
As the title suggests Welcome 2 Detroit is a showcase of the talent from J Dilla's hometown, introducing a pre-Slum Village ElzhiElzhi
Jason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
on the song "Come Get It", and making room for his longtime 1st Down
1st Down
1st Down was a Detroit hip-hop group consisting of Jay Dee and Phat Kat.The duo signed to Payday Records in 1995, and released one 12", "A Day Wit' The Homies", before disbanding as a group, due to label trouble. They once again reunited for Phat Kat's Dedication to the Suckers EP, in 1999, which...
partner Phat Kat
Phat Kat
Phat Kat , is a rapper from the east side of Detroit, Michigan. His career began in the mid 90's as part of 1st Down, which consisted of Phat Kat on vocals and Jay Dee on production...
on the appropriately titled "Featuring Phat Kat".
Although it is a solo album, on several cuts, such as the first single "Pause
Pause (song)
"Pause" is a single by Jay Dee that was chosen to lead his 2001 album, Welcome 2 Detroit. Besides a grunt and an ad-lib, , Jay Dee himself doesn't perform on the song, but instead features his friends Frank-N-Dank, who brace the horn-laced track with suitably over-the-top braggadocio...
", Dilla takes a backseat and lets others command the mic. He also covers Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
's "Think Twice", singing the lead vocals (which many may assume to be Dwele
Dwele
Andwele Gardner , better known by his stage name Dwele is a soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:...
, who actually plays bass on the track).
The influential sound for which he's received praises from Questlove (of The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
) to Pharrell alike, is on full display here. J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
provides various moods for his listeners, ranging from grimy hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and...
("Pause") to electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
psychedelia
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
("B.B.E."). The track "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is inspired by Brazilian music legend Sérgio Mendes
Sergio Mendes
Sérgio Santos Mendes is a Brazilian musician. He has released over thirty-five albums, and plays bossa nova heavily crossed with jazz and funk....
. As Dilla mentions in the extensive liner notes:
On "African Rhythms", J Dilla covers the Afro beat group Oneness Of Juju's song of the same name, replaying all the instruments as well as mimicking the spoken introduction.
On the albums outro "One", J Dilla takes a moment to thank all who have helped him in the Hip-Hop industry, including Slum Village, Q-Tip and De La. The Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band 'N Sync
'N Sync
N Sync was an American boy band formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich, *NSYNC consisted of JC Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick...
, among many others is also mentioned, indicating to a point around the album's release where Dilla was slated to do a few beats for the act. (This collaboration never materialized.) Both the intro and outro were recorded on a hand-held microphone the night before the turn-in date. An instrumental version of the album was released on August 23, 2005.
Track listing
All tracks produced by J DillaJ Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
except "The Clapper" which is produced by Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is a jazz drummer, hip hop producer, dj, and sometime rapper. He is a former member of the Ray Brown Trio and Mulgrew Miller trio and currently appears in the Diana Krall quartet....
and co-produced by J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
.
- Welcome 2 Detroit – 0:49
- Y'all Ain't Ready – 1:28
- Think Twice (Feat. DweleDweleAndwele Gardner , better known by his stage name Dwele is a soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:...
) – 3:52 - The Clapper – 2:06
- Come Get It (Feat. ElzhiElzhiJason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
) – 5:02 - PausePause (song)"Pause" is a single by Jay Dee that was chosen to lead his 2001 album, Welcome 2 Detroit. Besides a grunt and an ad-lib, , Jay Dee himself doesn't perform on the song, but instead features his friends Frank-N-Dank, who brace the horn-laced track with suitably over-the-top braggadocio...
(Feat. Frank-N-Dank) – 2:45 - B.B.E. (Big Booty Express) – 2:12
- Beej-N-Dem Pt. 2 (Feat. Beej) – 2:49
- Brazilian Groove (EWF) – 1:30
- It's Like That (Feat. Hodge Podge (Big Tone) and Lacks (Ta'Raach) ) – 4:05
- Give It Up – 3:08
- Rico Suave Bossa Nova – 1:25
- Track (Feat. Phat KatPhat KatPhat Kat , is a rapper from the east side of Detroit, Michigan. His career began in the mid 90's as part of 1st Down, which consisted of Phat Kat on vocals and Jay Dee on production...
) – 3:43 - Shake It Down – 2:55
- African Rhythms – 1:36
- One – 1:30
Album singles
| Single information |
|---|
| "Pause Pause (song) "Pause" is a single by Jay Dee that was chosen to lead his 2001 album, Welcome 2 Detroit. Besides a grunt and an ad-lib, , Jay Dee himself doesn't perform on the song, but instead features his friends Frank-N-Dank, who brace the horn-laced track with suitably over-the-top braggadocio... "
|
Performers
- James Yancey - rap, vocals, production
- Karriem RigginsKarriem RigginsKarriem Riggins is a jazz drummer, hip hop producer, dj, and sometime rapper. He is a former member of the Ray Brown Trio and Mulgrew Miller trio and currently appears in the Diana Krall quartet....
- production, drums, percussion - Dwele GardnerDweleAndwele Gardner , better known by his stage name Dwele is a soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:...
- keyboard, trumpet, bass guitar, fender rhodes - Antwan Gardner - trombone
- Frank Bush - rap, clavinet
- Derrick Harvey - rap
- Jason PowersElzhiJason Powers is a hip-hop artist from Detroit, Michigan. Many Underground fans know him as "Detroit's Best Kept Secret". As a former member of Slum Village he now records as a solo artist...
- rap - Ronnie WattsPhat KatPhat Kat , is a rapper from the east side of Detroit, Michigan. His career began in the mid 90's as part of 1st Down, which consisted of Phat Kat on vocals and Jay Dee on production...
- rap - Anthony Jackson - rap
- Terrell McMathis - rap
- Blu - rap
- Beej - rap
Recording
- Recorded at Pay-Jay Studios, Studio A, Dearborn
- Engineered by James Yancey and Todd Fairall
- All songs mixed by James Yancey and Todd Fairall at Studio A, Dearborn.
- Mastered by Shawn Joseph, Optimum Mastering
- Executive producers: Peter Adarkwah, Lee Bright, and James Yancey
- Co-executive producer: Timotheous Entertainment
External links
- Welcome 2 Detroit at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...