Shining

Black Thought, Common, Madlib, Busta Rhymes, and Pharoahe Monch all make appearances on beloved producer J Dilla's (a.k.a. Jay Dee a.k.a. James Yancy) posthumous release, THE SHINING. Don't get it twisted, though: despite the thick guest list, Dilla is the star on every track, with MCs playing hype-man while his production wizardry rocks the party. Every song is a testament to the late Mr. Yancy's extraordinary talents, with hard chunky beats and occasional samples from the titular film blending into softer electro and Nu Jazz. THE SHINING is a triumph but also a bittersweet reminder that not only hip-hop but music as a whole has lost a true artist.