Ruff Draft
Encyclopedia
Ruff Draft is an album by the late former Slum Village
member Jay Dee (also known as J Dilla
). It was originally released in February 2003 as an EP, by his then-newly founded label, Mummy Records, and distributed by Groove Attack, a German record label. In 2007, Ruff Draft was remastered and re-released as the third official solo album by Stones Throw Records
. The re-release sold 8,049 copies in its first week, J Dilla's largest first-week sales as a solo artist.
As stated in the introduction of the album, it's a noncommercial sounding lo-fi hip hop album, which sees the producer playfully toying with different styles, such as on "Nothing Like This," where his vocals are distorted and skewered over an equally eccentric production featuring a sample played backwards. The result mirrors the more off-center moments on Common
's Electric Circus
, which Dilla also worked on.
Stones Throw Records
re-issued the album on CD and vinyl on March 20, 2007. The re-release is remastered from the original master tapes, with sound engineers taking steps to maintain the original release's integrity, along with additional songs, as well as an instrumental CD.
Slum Village
Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...
member Jay Dee (also known as J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
). It was originally released in February 2003 as an EP, by his then-newly founded label, Mummy Records, and distributed by Groove Attack, a German record label. In 2007, Ruff Draft was remastered and re-released as the third official solo album by Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records is an independent hip hop record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was started in 1996 by DJ/Producer Peanut Butter Wolf in part to release the music he made with Charizma who was killed at the age of 20....
. The re-release sold 8,049 copies in its first week, J Dilla's largest first-week sales as a solo artist.
Overview
The original vinyl release of Ruff Draft is now out-of-print. Although the album is one of Jay Dee's lesser known works, it includes some of his most abstract and experimental work, all self-produced, and recorded in under a week.As stated in the introduction of the album, it's a noncommercial sounding lo-fi hip hop album, which sees the producer playfully toying with different styles, such as on "Nothing Like This," where his vocals are distorted and skewered over an equally eccentric production featuring a sample played backwards. The result mirrors the more off-center moments on Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
's Electric Circus
Electric Circus (album)
Electric Circus is the fifth studio album by rapper Common, released December 10, 2002 on the now-defunct MCA Records. The album was highly anticipated and praised by many critics for its ambitious vision. However, it was not as commercially successful as his previous album, Like Water for...
, which Dilla also worked on.
Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records
Stones Throw Records is an independent hip hop record label based in Los Angeles, California. It was started in 1996 by DJ/Producer Peanut Butter Wolf in part to release the music he made with Charizma who was killed at the age of 20....
re-issued the album on CD and vinyl on March 20, 2007. The re-release is remastered from the original master tapes, with sound engineers taking steps to maintain the original release's integrity, along with additional songs, as well as an instrumental CD.
Original 2003 EP Release
- "Intro"
- "Let's Take It Back"
- "Reckless Driving"
- "Nothing Like This"
- "The $"
- "Interlude"
- "Make'em NV"
- "Interlude"
- "Crushin' (Yeeeeaah!)"
- "Shouts"
Disc 1
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | 0:17 |
| 2 | "Let's Take It Back" | 2:10 |
| 3 | "Reckless Driving" | 2:41 |
| 4 | "Nothing Like This" | 2:33 |
| 5 | "The $" | 2:43 |
| 6 | "Interlude" | 0:49 |
| 7 | "Make'em NV" | 2:25 |
| 8 | "Interlude" | 0:45 |
| 9 | "Crushin' (Yeeeeaah!)" | 3:43 |
| 10 | "Shouts" | 0:51 |
| 11 | "Intro (Alt.)" | 0:48 |
| 12 | "Wild" | 2:19 |
| 13 | "Take Notice (Feat. Guilty Simpson Guilty Simpson Byron Simpson, better known by his stage name Guilty Simpson is a rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He was previously known as Guilt. Over time, he saw that there were more emcees using the alias. In order to set himself apart from the others, he added his last name to become Guilty Simpson. He is... )" |
4:25 |
| 14 | "Shouts (Alt.)" | 1:47 |
Disc 2
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Let's Take It Back Instrumental" | 2:06 |
| 2 | "Reckless Driving Instrumental" | 2:41 |
| 3 | "Nothing Like This Instrumental" | 2:33 |
| 4 | "The $ Instrumental" | 2:45 |
| 5 | "Make'em NV Instrumental" | 2:24 |
| 6 | "Crushin' Instrumental" | 3:41 |
| 7 | "Intro (Alt.) Instrumental" | 0:46 |
| 8 | "Wild Instrumental" | 2:21 |
| 9 | "Take Notice Instrumental" | 4:26 |
| 10 | "Shouts (Alt.) Instrumental" | 1:47 |
Samples Used
- "Lets Take It Back" contains interpolated lyrics from "Verses From the Abstract" by A Tribe Called QuestA Tribe Called QuestA Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
and samples of "Pause" by Jay DeeJ DillaJames Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
(featuring Frank-N-Dank) - "Reckless Driving" contains interpolated lyrics from "What?" by A Tribe Called Quest and samples of "Pause" by Jay Dee
- "The $" contains interpolated lyrics from "Paid In Full" by Eric B & Rakim and samples of "Dooinit" by CommonCommon (rapper)Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
, "Pause" by Jay Dee and "Escape (I Need A Break)" by Whodini - "Make 'Em NV" contains samples of "La Rotta" by John RenbournJohn RenbournJohn Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
and "Ante Up" by M.O.P.M.O.P.M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up," released on... - "Crushin'" contains samples of "Sweet Stuff" by Sylvia RobinsonSylvia RobinsonSylvia Robinson was an American singer, musician, record producer, and record label executive, most notably known for her work as founder/CEO of the hip hop label Sugar Hill Records. She is credited as the driving force behind two landmark singles in the genre...
- "Wild" contains samples of "Cum On Feel the Noize" by Neil Innes & Son
- "Take Notice" contains samples of "Soul LoveSoul Love"Soul Love" is a song written by David Bowie in for the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars .-Live versions:* A version recorded at the Philadelphia Spectrum, in April 1978, was released on Stage...
" by David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and "Phase By Phase" by Peter BaumannPeter BaumannPeter Baumann formed the core line-up of the German electronic group Tangerine Dream with Edgar Froese and Christopher Franke in 1971. While touring with the band, Baumann composed his first solo album in 1976...