15 years since his passing, the story of J Dilla is going to be told in a new documentary presented by Hulu and FX. Notably, the hip hop producer was known for his lo-fi style, going on to influence fellow hip hop producers like Kanye West.
In the years following his death, Dilla’s family has been working with The New York Times Presents to tell the story of his life. The Legacy of J Dilla is being produced by Christopher Frierson and Esther Dee and has been described as a portrait of the man’s life and legacy. Famous tracks Dilla produced include Erykah Badu’s ‘Didn’t Cha Know’ and Common’s ‘The Light’.
When discussing the making of the film, Dilla’s mother Maureen Yancey talked about wanting to preserve her son’s legacy, telling TV Insider, “I’m a Detroiter, and I’m a fighter. I will stay in there, and I will fight. I won’t let anybody put my son down, what I do for him down, because I’m here to lift up his music, his legacy”. Dilla passed away in 2006 from complications battle lupus.
Alongside the new documentary, The Roots drummer Questlove is also releasing the show Dilla Time, which serves as an adaptation of the book of the same name breaking down the producer’s legacy and music. The Legacy of J Dilla arrives on Hulu on April 7th.
