This is I have posted on
Obsidianblue.com
It's been 2 days since I received word that James Yancey aka Jay Dee passed away on February 10th, and I still can't gather into words what I felt when I first read the text message. Distraught? Saddened? Crushed? Devastated? Maybe, but I don't really think so. It's more of a mixture of emotions that I couldn't really put into words until now.
It's truly a shame that a man who is only 4 years older than myself passes away so early. As great and influential as he is to music and will continue to be for many years to come, it's a shame that it will take his death for the rest of the world to realize that fact. But you know, most importantly, many of you mourning his death will not take heed and learn something from his passing. So many hungry producers will still create beats according to Dilla's example, ingredients that include overwork, poor diet, and Lord knows whatever else he was doing that contributed to his liver rupturing. Life is so much more than music, your job, money, sex, popularity, clothes, and so forth. These words come from not only my respect for Jay Dee, but my love for all mankind.
Now, I think that covers about 25% of what I felt when I first read the news. I had a lot of time to think, seeing how I was attending a funeral at the time. Go figure. At the funeral, the minister stressed the importance that we should not grieve. This should be a celebration of life, a time where it is recognized that this man's soul does not have to endure the drudgery of this world anymore.
And then I though to myself, oh the sacrilege of tributes that's soon to come to honor J Dilla. Trust me, I understand how you guys feel, but please be careful. Just look at what Puffy's doing to honor Biggie's memory and do the opposite of that. Personally, I don't want to do one. One tribute, a series of tributes, this message, can't POSSIBLY encompass what his mere influence has meant to me. If anything, my entire catalog would be my tribute. From my first loop I ever made in Goldwave to the last song I'll ever finish, if there wasn't a Jay Dee, there wouldn't be this sound that is Obsidian Blue. Point blank.
The closest I’ve gotten to him was me being added to his myspace friend list, so my heart really goes out to those who REALLY knew him, knew his heart. Peace to family, friends, closest associates, and all others that truly know the caliber of man that we all will be missing from this world.