J Dilla

Released back in 2003 as a vinyl-only gem in limited quantities, Ruff Draft has been one of the more difficult collections to track down from the late Dilla’s collection. This much-needed re-release from Stones Throw comes correct with an additional four unreleased cuts and still clocks in under half-an-hour, but the majority of the joints are absolute fire. Cuts like the MOP-hooked "Make ’Em NV” further proves how even some of Dilla’s simplest beats had so much volume, and numbers like the now-infamous "Crushin’” sees Dilla drop vocal hooks that help carry his compositions even further. Of the four additional tracks tacked onto this re-release two are merely a new intro and outro but jams like "Wild” will have people bugging out over the sounds of a child chanting Slade lyrics over a demented rhythm. Ruff Draft isn’t the best example of what Dilla was capable of on the boards or the mic but since his passing it’s important to document his career and this EP definitely deserves to be placed on the mantle during this period of remembrance and retrospection of a legend’s career. Turn it up!