Ruff Draft

Performer: Jay Dee
Producer: J Dilla
Distributor: Caroline Distribution

Notes: Composer: J Yancey. Personnel: Dank, Dank (vocals); J Dilla (rap vocals); Lil-Bit(ch) (unknown instrument). Audio Mixers: Kelly Hibbert; Dave Cooley. Liner Note Author: Ronnie Reese. Recording information: Studio A, Dearborn, MI. Originally released independently in 2003 on vinyl, the late J Dilla's RUFF DRAFT returns in 2007 as an expanded double album (the second disc is instrumentals) on Stones Throw. In hindsight, RUFF DRAFT clearly marks a pivotal point in Dilla's creative evolution, displaying a nascent interest in zooming early-hip-hop synthesizers and a plethora of soul loops and samples. These tendencies would come into full fruition in CHAMPION SOUND, his later collabo with Madlib, and in his 2006 masterpiece, DONUTS. J handles the rhymes (and some crooning) on most tracks, though Guilty Simpson makes an appearance, but it's the production wizardry that makes this album something special.

Spin (p.88) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] platform for the versatility of his eccentric genius." The Wire (p.67) - "[This] recording contains some of his finest and most immediate work....'Nothing Like This' is the winning moment, a beautifully naive love song over a dreamy reversed guitar sample sass." The Wire (p.55) - "Ditching studio sheen for layers of tape hiss and rugged snare hits, the rough hewn arrangements complement the album's lyrical motifs." CMJ (p.6) - "Dilla's fiercely chopped production integrates punk, industrial and techno with ease." CMJ (p.44) - "[The album plays] on Dilla's strengths as a performer..."

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