The Diary (J Dilla album)

The Diary
Studio album by
J Dilla
ReleasedApril 15, 2016
RecordedSeptember 16, 2001–April 2, 2002
The Spaceship
(Clinton Township, Michigan)
Studio A
(Dearborn Heights, Michigan)[1]
GenreHip hop
Length36:59 (Standard)
41:52 (iTunes)
Label
Producer
J Dilla chronology
Dillatronic
(2015) 		The Diary
(2016)
Singles from The Diary
  1. "Fuck the Police"
    Released: September 18, 2001
  2. "The Anthem"
    Released: April 15, 2013
  3. "Diamonds"
    Released: August 27, 2013
  4. "Give Them What They Want"
    Released: May 6, 2014
  5. "The Introduction"
    Released: February 18, 2016
  6. "Gangsta Boogie"
    Released: April 2, 2016
  7. "The Sickness"
    Released: April 27, 2016
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Clash7/10[4]
Consequence of SoundB[5]
Drowned in Sound5/10[6]
The Guardian[7]
Mixmag8/10[8]
The New York Times(favorable)[9]
NME4/5[10]
Pitchfork6.9/10[11]
XXL (XL)[12]

The Diary is the sixth and final studio album by American hip hop recording artist J Dilla. It was originally intended for release in 2002 via MCA Records under the title Pay Jay.[13][14] This long-lost album is the final batch of unissued material that J Dilla had assembled for release during his lifetime.[13] It also represents his first rap album released since Ruff Draft (2003) and Champion Sound (2003).[15] Unlike previous full-length releases – from Jay Stay Paid (2009) to Dillatronic (2015) – all edited with unreleased instrumentals, The Diary is a collection of Dilla's vocal performances over his production and that of other producers, such as Madlib, Pete Rock, Nottz, Hi-Tek and Karriem Riggins among others.[16] It also features vocal performances by Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Kokane, Frank n Dank, Nottz, Kenny Wray and Boogie (not to be confused with identically named rapper Boogie).[17] Recording sessions for the album took place from September 16, 2001, to April 2, 2002, at The Spaceship in Clinton Township and Studio A in Detroit, and it was mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters in Los Angeles.[1]

The Diary was released posthumously on April 15, 2016, through Pay Jay Productions, Inc. in conjunction with Nas' record label, Mass Appeal Records. It was supported by the singles "The Anthem", "Diamonds", "Give Them What They Want", "The Introduction", "Gangsta Boogie", and "The Sickness", and also includes the 2001 underground classic "Fuck the Police".

  1. ^ a b The Diary (booklet). J Dilla. Pay Jay Productions, Inc. 2016. MSAP0032.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Reviews for The Diary by J Dilla". Metacritic.com. 14 Apr 2016. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  3. ^ Kellman, Andy (14 Apr 2016). "The Diary of J Dilla - J Dilla". Consequence.net. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  4. ^ Leask, Hugh (16 Apr 2016). "J Dilla - The Diary". Consequence.net. Retrieved 15 Apr 2016.
  5. ^ Henry, Dusty (14 Apr 2016). "J Dilla – The Diary | Album Reviews". Consequence.net. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  6. ^ Miller, Kellan (15 Apr 2016). "Album Review: J Dilla - The Diary". DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 15 Apr 2016.
  7. ^ J MUGGS (14 Apr 2016). "J Dilla: The Diary review – another side of the late hip-hop legend". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  8. ^ MacInnes, Paul (12 Apr 2016). "J Dilla - Reviews". Mixmag.net. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  9. ^ Caramanica, Jon (13 Apr 2016). "Review: A New J Dilla Album Provides Historical Imagination". Mixmag.net. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  10. ^ Pattison, Louis (13 Apr 2016). "NME Reviews - J Dilla - 'The Diary' Review". NME.com. Retrieved 14 Apr 2016.
  11. ^ kris ex (20 Apr 2016). "J Dilla: The Diary Album Review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 21 Apr 2016.
  12. ^ Gibbons, Chris (21 Apr 2016). "J Dilla's Posthumous Album 'The Diary' Breathes New Life Into His Lyrics". XXL.com. Retrieved 23 Apr 2016.
  13. ^ a b "J Dilla – THE DIARY". J-DILLA.com. 19 Feb 2016. Retrieved 22 Feb 2016.
  14. ^ "J Dilla's Lost Vocal Album 'The Diary' Finally Gets It's [sic] Day". NationofBillions.com. 19 Feb 2016. Retrieved 22 Feb 2016.
  15. ^ Sugarman, Michael (11 Feb 2013). "J Dilla's Estate Announces The Diary". adhoc.fm. Retrieved 17 Feb 2013.
  16. ^ J. Horowitz, Steven (11 Feb 2013). "Pay Jay To Release J Dilla's "The Diary" LP This Spring". HipHopDX.com. Retrieved 13 Feb 2013.
  17. ^ "J Dilla's long lost 2002 vocal album THE DIARY to be released April 15". Rappcats.com. 18 Feb 2016. Retrieved 18 Feb 2016.