Description

Slum Village – Fantastic Vol. II: Instrumentals (2LP) [Ne’astra Music Group NMG5780LP]

The contributions of the late Detroit producer James DeWitt Yancey – better known to the world as J Dilla- to the world of hip-hop can’t be overstated, and nowhere is his legacy more apparent than his work as a member of Slum Village. A founding member of the trio, (Alongside rappers T3 and Baatin) Dilla provided the group’s distinctly esoteric, free-wheeling sound, built around winding basslines, quirky drumbeats, subtle low-end frequencies, and classic jazz & soul samples.

After the success of Slum’s 1997 studio debut, ‘Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1’, the group went to work on their follow-up. Though the project was completed in ‘98, label turmoil kept the project on ice until 2000. By the time ‘Fantastic Volume II’ hit, Dilla was well on his way to his status as a hip-hop legend, having produced cuts for Common, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, and many more.

Later works from Slum Village may have had more of an impact sales-wise (in the immediate) but ‘Fantastic Volume II’ had fans and many critics saying that Slum Village, and Dilla in particular, may single-handedly save rap music. Perhaps that statement is hyperbole but many consider ‘Fantastic Volume II’ to be Slum Village’s, and J Dilla’s, finest work ever.

Ne’Astra now presents the complete Dilla instrumentals from this landmark release pressed on randomly mixed colored vinyl.