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J Dilla’s Rhymes Shine Posthumously on ‘Diamonds’

J Dilla 'Diamonds' Stream the Diary Ice EP

Though J Dilla passed away in 2006, the revered rap producer and occasional MC only seems to catch more shine as the days roll on. Most recently, his beats have popped up on tracks by Disclosure and Jonwayne, while his influence looms large over young studio buffs like Toro y Moi. What’s more, the label set up by the late James Yancy’s estate has been steadily dropping lost gems of late, first with the unearthed club banger “Anthem,” and then via that gangsterfied Gary Numan tribute, “Trucks.” 

The reason for the season is a forthcoming album dubbed The Diary, due out later this year on PayJay, which collects a handful of Dilla vocal tracks that never saw the light of day. Next in the line of fresh leaks: “Diamonds (The Shining Pt. 1),” a Nottz-produced soul bubbler in which our hero has a little fun with the titular rock’s “girl’s best friend” designation. Stream that below, and look forward to a handsome vinyl release on August 27. The Diamonds & Ice 12-inch will come backed with “The Ice (The Shining Pt. 2)” and “The D,” a Madlib instrumental that Jay Dee never had the chance to spit over.