J Dilla Back In The Day
On His Later Career
Ma Dukes: As far as music, a year before he passed, when he was in a semi-comatose-like state. He had this dream over and over [for] two days. It started like a fever, but after the fever he was still wasn't himself. He said, "I just want to give my gift back in the world." At the time when he said it, he was in a state where he was on so many monitors and machines and it didn't look good. We didn't know if he was going to make it to tomorrow. So I'm stuck to his bedside. When he said it, he said it more than once. It wasn't back to back, but he [was] in and out of conscious and [would] repeat it. I think that was God's way of letting me know that, despite everything, he wasn't afraid. He was on a mission, and everything in him was for the purpose of giving music for the world.[That] is what moved him; to see people's faces happy when he spins records. He looked at your face, and if he sees smiles from people or people request to hear a song again, that did everything for him. I felt like it was near the end, and he asked [God] to give him more time so he can give his gift back in the world. This is exactly what I felt in my heart. It was what he loved. It was his one love.
This past weekend J Dilla was celebrated at New York first annual NY Loves Dilla at Webster hall. XXL spoke to J Dilla’s Mother to get some of her fondest memories of her son. Now we like to share some of classic throwback of Dilla. Take a look above.
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