When I used to live in Long Beach, Krispy Kreme had the ingenious idea of opening a location adjacent to the East Division station of the LBPD. It’s been a minute since I’ve called Long Beach home, but I’ll bet good money that this Donut Shop has weathered the recent economic storm.

The most visible Donut Shop in the LA area is clearly Randy’s Donuts, off the 405.  However, it’s Donut Man, a little shop quite a few miles outside the city proper (Glendora…just Google it) that inspires my actual Donut cravings.  Kelis’ Milkshake got nothing on a limited edition, (ie. seasonal) Strawberry Donut from Donut Man.

Speaking of limited edition releases, this six-pack of unreleased & re-mastered tracks from the Dilla archives was pressed & packaged into the first J Dilla Serato release back in May.  As a big thank you for everyone that supported this project, Stones Throw let them loose today.  You can download it here.

Other other day I was checking out what was new on Mint Collective’s site and ran across The Roots – Dilla Joints.  The Roots is one of my favorite band and J Dilla tracks, I can play all day.  Put them together and you got The Roots – Dilla Joints.  To top it off it’s FREE.  Are you kidding me?!  I would have bought this. There is also the track Antiquity with The Miguel Atwood-Ferguson Dillchestra. There is this Dilla track called Hall & Oats that ended up on Dynas’ album called The Apartment (also album title).  Download The Roots – Dilla Joints here.  BIG thanks to Jacqueline at Mint Collective for posting that.

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The Roots – Hall & Oats

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The Roots – Make Em NV

Take the time and enjoy a Dilla track or 2. We’ve all been blessed to witness a movement in music history with this man’s gift. Be inspired, create, and leave your mark on the world. I hope to have an impact as J Dilla’s music did on me.  Please check out the J Dilla Foundation.

Thank you James Yancey aka J Dilla.

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J Dilla – Think Twice (Welcome To Detroit)

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The Pharcyde – Runnin’ (Labcabincalifornia)

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J Dilla – Make’em NV (Ruff Draft)

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J Dilla – Dilla Says Go (Donuts)

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Jaylib – Starz (Champion Sound)

14KT’s Nowalataz is one of the reasons I don’t sleep. Dope stuff comes out any time of the day. I got an email from the fam at A-Side Worldwide about 9pm, but I went jogging…and didn’t read it until 11pm. If I slept on this a little longer I would have missed the boat.

I read the title Nowalataz, and it gave me flashbacks of that hard ass candy that could take your tooth out if you chewed it wrong. Nowalataz is nothing like that. 14KT drops some sweet tracks on your ears. Now these are Donut inspired tracks from 2006, and you know how sweet that was. Just like Donuts, Nowalataz is going straight into heavy rotation on the ipod. Take the time to read how these beats came about. It will inspire you. Download 14KT – NOWALATAZ (2nd option link here) while you still can. It will only be up for a week! Check out what 14KT is up to on MySpace or Twitter. BIG thanks to Stephanie for the heads up.

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14KT – The Name Game

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14KT – Black N Gold

These 2 cats outta east London tackled a big task of remixing an already bangin album and as they say “Re-Fixed” it. Common teamed up with Kanye (and a few other producers including J Dilla) to bring you Be. So you ask yourself, “what’s there to fix?! That album’s hot.” My thoughts exactly, until I got an ear full of Be…Re-Fixed. They moved a few things around, added a lil stutter-step remixing it, and still keeping that Ye & Common sound. Be…Re-Fixed is all instrument, but from what I’ve read Amede is the man with the blows. Hopefully we can check more of that that when they drop their next EP Flat17 in august! Stay tuned because I think they’ll come with the heat. Check Amede & Soundsmith on their site and download Be…Re-Fixed here. Also check out Distant at thier MySpace page. BIG thanks Amede & Soundsmith for tweetin. “We just want to make good music, whether it’s short raw beats, vocal based, down-tempo, hip hop soul or whatever it sounds like to you, to us this is Electric Soul made for you to feel and fuse with.” –Amede & Soundsmith

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Ademe & Soundsmith – Faithful

This is Beats+Crates 100th post and it’s only fitting that it is for a special event, Jay $tay Paid. Please take the time to read about Ma Dukes battle with Dilla’s legacy and her health. If you still haven’t discovered the genius of J Dilla, think of your favorite artist, and Dilla has most likely done a track for/with them. Come out and show your support to Dilla (G.O.A.T.). All proceeds go to Ma Dukes Yancey! Jay $tay Paid in stores June 2nd on Nature Sounds Records. BIG thanks for Fusicology for keeping the party going.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
open: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM, age: 21+
cover: $5.00 & $5 before 11PM & $10 after 11PM

Grand Star
943 Sun Mun Way (N. Broadway), Los Angeles, tel: 213-626-2285

For more info email Break Atoms or head to Grand Star site.
Check out: Stones Throw, Nature Sounds, and Fusicology

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J Dilla – Reality Check (ft. Black Thought)

Digging around on Okayplayer I found a post about Mos Def’s new LP coming out. I did a search and got a little more… a lot more. Mos has got a West Coast connect with Madlib and Oh No producing some tracks. Not just that, but has Chad Hugo, Mr. Port, and the late great J Dilla. If I get a sneak peek I’ll post it. BIG thanks to Okayplayer for the post.

Tracks:

Life in Marvelous Times (prod. Mr. Flash)

Auditorium (prod. Madlib)

Super Magic (prod. Oh No)

Twilight Speedball (prod. Chad Hugo & Mos Def)

Pretty Dancer (prod. Mr. Porter & Hemmy)

History (prod. J Dilla)

Pistola (prod. Madlib)

Casa Bey (prod. Madlib)

Wahid

Quiet Dog

Track list from Wikipedia. BIG thanks.

You can’t ever get enough of Jay Dilla. J. Rocc brings another installment to “Thank You Jay Dee.” I’m telling you, when J. Rocc did the first one I burned up my ipod playing it.

If you have been sleeping under a rock or just don’t know how far Dilla has reached, check out Thank You Jay Dee v. 1-4. You’ll do like I did when I heard the first one…”I didn’t know Dilla did that one too!” BIG thanks to J. Rocc and Stones Throw for bring it.

check it out here.