How J Dilla Changed Hip-Hop Forever

James Dewitt Yancy, better known as J Dilla, would have been 48-year-old this month. The Detroit king of all beats showed the world in his brief life that the city’s best musical days are not in the past, but still ahead. Dilla died in 2006, and his story is so recent, we haven’t had much scholarship on his life – until now. On today's episode, Stateside executive producer Laura Weber Davis talks to journalist Dan Charnas, whose book about J Dilla's massive influence on American music was published this month.  GUEST:  Dan Charnas, journalist and author of Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way. If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work. Stateside’s theme music is by 14KT. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.