Even though producer-wunderkind James Yancey aka Jay Dee aka JDilla has passed away, I have a feeling we will be seeing posthumous releases for years. The guy was such a workaholic that even as he was succumbing to lupus he brought his record and beatmaking equipment into his hospital bed. That’s gangsta, and so is this instrumental version of The Shining, his first posthumous release. That means you get Geek Down without Busta Rhymes sounding like Bonecrusher’s hypeman! Only downside is that it’s a scant 30-something minutes long, so if you dont have Donuts (J’s previous release) get that first, then cop this. A portion of the proceeds go to charity by the way.

Well, Stones Throw was too stingy to send us the DVD with our promo CD (not that I blame ‘em) but I got my hands on the retail copy anyway. But first things first, the CD is something probably only Stones Throw could get away with in today’s atmosphere of subgenres and insular music scenes. Basically a compilation of material from all over the Stones throw map, Madvillain, Georgia Anne Muldrow, JDilla, young Jazz Rebels, James Pants, Koushik, Guilty Simpson, Aloe Blacc, Dudley Perkins (with his off-key-singing-ass). And it works, of course, because this is Stones Throw and the rules don’t really apply to them. Standout tracks, you ask? Well, I like that Georgia Ann Muldrow joint, “Simply a Joy”, it’s weird but fresh and airy. “Monkey Suite” proves that Madvillain is a way better combo than DangerDoom, now give us Mavillainy 2 please. Percee P has never been my favorite but he and Lord Quas get busy on “Raw Heat”. If Percee’s album is like this, he may make me eat a lot of my previous words about him (and I will do so gladly because he’s put in mad work). When the beats are right Guilty Simpson and Roc C sound pretty official, and these beats are right. Guilty kicks the album off well over some JDilla thump. Roc C fares even better over a bunch of Oh No drums and keys that come off with a perfect nostalgic air complete with crackling vinyl. I dont even know who James Pants is; but it sounds like Jamie Lidell might be hanging out with Madlib and adopting aliases. The song is real ill, in other words. The DVD is straight icing, a crazy J-Live tribute show at SXSW that features damn near the whole roster, great sound and Madlib stealing the show from DOOM, PB Wolf, Oh No, Percee and everyone else.Then you also get two ill Madlib and Peanut Butter Wolf interviews. Man, reading over what I wrote I’m realizing this is one of the best records I’ve listened to recently, let alone compilations. Hats off to Stones Throw if this shit isn’t crazy expensive, because this is some added-value-next-level-future- banger shit.

Michael Caine