Here’s a backstory for this one.
I’d been meaning to do a mix on Just Blaze way back in February, since I watched his wholly entertaining beat battle with Swizz Beatz. However, I usually designate the entire month as “Listen To Only J Dilla Month,” which prompted an accompanying mix.
Then came DJ Premier‘s birthday, so I did one for that.
Then Kung Fu Kenny dropped “The Heart.” So, I did something for that.
Then I listened to 50 Cent‘s “Big Rich Town” one too many times. So, this mix came from that.
Then came 9th Wonder and Kendrick Lamar on “DUCKWORTH.” So, again, another mix.
Finally, I got around to doing one for Justin Smith. And its inspiration came from the unlikeliest of sources: an Apple Watch commercial. You know, the one that plays Beyoncé’s “Freedom” ad nauseam?
Suffice to say, that song is in there as well as a variety of Just’s discography. I used some of most popular tracks (“Flipside,” “Touch The Sky”), some Jay Electronica cuts (because we’re never getting an album), his times at Roc-A-Fella Records, flipped samples, some of his earliest work, and even a track for a video I’d only see on episodes of BET UnCut. Per usual, I hope that you, the listener, enjoy the mix as much as I did creating it.
Listen to the full mix below.
Hopefully, Just can make that Timbaland and Pharrell beat battle happen, too.
