I walked into Reckless Records to get my copy of Donuts, the new LP from J Dilla and quite casually the sales assistant says “yeah, Dilla died today. I just heard an hour ago.”

I still can’t believe it. I just read a number of reports that are confirming his unexpected and sudden death. An interview given a few months back in XXL magazine, mentions that a ruptured liver caused him to go to hospital for an extended stay. He apparently worked on the Donuts album while still connected to various tubes, literally making beats from his bed. Rumours of his death sprung up then too. But today, I believe it’s all true. He was only 32.

I saw Dilla perform twice. Once in New York at BB Kings with Madlib and MF DOOM and the second time in Chicago with just Madlib (both times for the Jaylib/Madvillainy tours).

He was a remarkably unpretentious, perfectly cool guy that loved making music. He was genuinely excited that people were out to see him live. After the show in Chicago, I waited to speak to him and mentioned that I really loved his earlier instrumental albums. We talked some and I said that if he was ever in Chicago he should call me and I could show him around (who the fuck am I right? to show Jay Dee around?!) but I said it anyway. He then gave me his cell phone number and said that I should call when I pass through Detroit.

That’s nuts.

Name me a top hip hop artist that gives out their cell phone number to a fan? Crazy.

I’m so sorry to hear that he died today. He was a super talented producer.