ABOUT THIS ITEM

LA musicians and virtual production powerhouse Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson have been working together on a wide variety of projects for several years. After their friend J-Dilla's untimely death, Nino and Atwood-Ferguson chose to pay tribute by continuing the musical conversation that they had started with him when collaborating on Dwight Trible & Life force Trio's "Love Is The Answer" LP in 2004, but in the contemporary chamber music style that Atwood-Ferguson had been developing. On what would have been Dilla's 33rd birthday, they sent their strings, brass and reeds-only version of Common's "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac For The World)" to DJs and producers for free via the internet and it caused a big stir among fans and first time listeners alike. Hip hop had never been given the chamber music treatment before and never in such a reverential and rhythmic way. "Suite For Ma Dukes" is the first official release of this music and is hip hop as you have never heard it before. All four lengthy tracks cover James Yancey's magic, giving treatment to Jay Dee classics from Common, A Tribe Called Quest, and Slum Village. In each, the harmonic and melodic beauty of Dilla's music is liberated. Earlier this year, the project received the official blessing from Ma Dukes herself and part of the proceeds from the record will go to Yancey's heirs.