I can't explain how monumental a blow we in the hip hop community have just taken. I met James Yancey, or Jay Dee as we affectionately referred to him, in 1994 at Battery Studios, NYC. From that day, he's never ceased to amaze me with his vast knowledge of good music and his knack for manipulating sounds and making them his own. I am an MC. I've been doing what I do for a long time. I've sat in many a basement, studio, tourbus, and livingroom watching and waiting as beats were being conceived for me to rock and I can honestly say, I've never seen anyone with a better understanding of sampling and re-inventing sound. I've never seen anyone with a tighter grip on technology and how to use it to broaden ones perspective without losing site of the original essence...hip hop. Jay Dee was a true hip hop "Artist". The vinyl of the world served as his colors. The sp1200, mpc60, keybords and computer programs were the brushes he used to apply his gift to the canvas that is this world. I've never been a dickrider. I only give credit where credit is due and the genius of James Yancey is most definitely due credit. I can't begin to explain the influence his mind and ear has had on my band, myself, and the careers of so many other artists. The most humble, modest, worthy and gifted beatmaker I've known...and definitely the best producer on a mic. As I write these words, my tears splashing the keyboard, I reminisce on the times I've shared w/ Dilla, never without that signature smile and head bouncing to the beat, and finally understand the true meaning of passion. Jay Dee had a passion for life and music and will never be forgotten. I loved this brother. I love what he's done for us all, and though im happy he's no longer in the pain he had been recently feeling, I'm crushed by the pain of his absence. "The name is Dilla dog and I can only rep the real and the raw."