milo10000's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
Despite a few moments where I felt the writing wasn't perfectly clear, this is a great book about J Dilla's life & musical influence and legacy. It draws on hundreds of interviews conducted by the author with the people involved and manages to be compassionate and informed in equal measure.
hereforthebooksmostly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
ravenclawomanistcyborgwitch's review against another edition
Received ARC! Thanks Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux!
donnerbella's review against another edition
5.0
Extraordinary, in every sense.
This is not a biography, this is an excavation of the life and work of J.Dilla. From the kontext in which he arrived - Detroit in transition from Motown to Eminem - to the ripples his beats still cause in all genres.
J.D. the complicated genius, the generous hard working programmer, the eccentric and at times egoistical producer, the connector between artists and eras. How did he hear more than most, build entire new soundscapes and inspire a generation of musicians to work differently?
Dan Charnas weaves all the small and big things together, like a song that grows with every sample. Absolutelty brillant.
The audio book also was a revelation in it's production of a topic that is just made to be listened to.
If you like music, hip hop, if you're interested in the workings of production and the history of our concept of rhythm, read this, dive deep. And then go listen. To the soulquarians, to the mixtapes, to the interpreations. You will never listen to anything in the same way again.
This is not a biography, this is an excavation of the life and work of J.Dilla. From the kontext in which he arrived - Detroit in transition from Motown to Eminem - to the ripples his beats still cause in all genres.
J.D. the complicated genius, the generous hard working programmer, the eccentric and at times egoistical producer, the connector between artists and eras. How did he hear more than most, build entire new soundscapes and inspire a generation of musicians to work differently?
Dan Charnas weaves all the small and big things together, like a song that grows with every sample. Absolutelty brillant.
The audio book also was a revelation in it's production of a topic that is just made to be listened to.
If you like music, hip hop, if you're interested in the workings of production and the history of our concept of rhythm, read this, dive deep. And then go listen. To the soulquarians, to the mixtapes, to the interpreations. You will never listen to anything in the same way again.
bseyka's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Infertility, Drug abuse, Medical content, Infidelity, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, and Pregnancy
jonathoncw's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
If you like hip hop, it’s a must read
frenandjen's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Drug use, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, and Grief