# Dilla Time > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dilla_Time > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dilla_Time.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilla_Time > Source revision: 1332410860 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Book by Dan Charnas}} {{Infobox book | name = ''Dilla Time'' | author = [Dan Charnas](/source/Dan_Charnas) | language = English | country = United States | genre = [Biography](/source/Biography) | publisher = [MCD](/source/Farrar%2C_Straus_%26_Giroux) | isbn = 978-0374139940 | title_orig = | translator = | image = Dilla Time cover.jpg | size = | caption = | illustrator = | cover_artist = [Rodrigo Corral](/source/Rodrigo_Corral) | series = | subject = | pub_date = {{start date|2022|02|01}} | english_pub_date = | media_type = | pages = 480 pp. | dewey = | congress = | oclc = | preceded_by = | followed_by = }} '''''Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm''''' is a 2022 biography of [hip hop](/source/hip_hop) producer [J Dilla](/source/J_Dilla) written by [Dan Charnas](/source/Dan_Charnas).{{cite book |last1=Charnas |first1=Dan |title=Dilla time : the life and afterlife of J Dilla, the hip-hop producer who reinvented rhythm |date=2022 |publisher=MCD, Farrar, Straus and Giroux |location=New York |url=https://worldcat.org/en/title/1266205623 |access-date=7 September 2023}} It chronicles the life of J Dilla until his death in 2006, as well as his posthumous influence on the music industry. Described as "equal parts biography, [musicology](/source/musicology), and cultural history," the book emphasizes J Dilla's signature rhythmic time-feel, which Charnas termed "Dilla time," and its wide-reaching impact on modern music.{{cite web |last1=Madrigal |first1=Alexis |title=The Genius of Hip-Hop Producer J Dilla Shines in New Book 'Dilla Time' by Dan Charna |url=https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101887686/the-genius-of-hip-hop-producer-j-dilla-shines-in-new-book-dilla-time-by-dan-charna |website=KQED |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=4 February 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Randall |title=Studio fights, ghost stories and more revelations in bestselling new bio on producer J Dilla |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-02-25/j-dilla-bio-wu-tang-clan-ol-dirty-bastard-ghost |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=25 February 2022}} The book debuted on ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' Best Sellers list, receiving widespread acclaim from critics and musicians. == Background == In 1999, writer [Dan Charnas](/source/Dan_Charnas) met [J Dilla](/source/J_Dilla) and [Common](/source/Common_(rapper)) while the two musicians were working on Common's album ''[Like Water for Chocolate](/source/Like_Water_for_Chocolate_(album))'' at J Dilla's home studio in [Conant Gardens](/source/Conant_Gardens), [Detroit](/source/Detroit).{{cite web |last1=Ducker |first1=Eric |title=J Dilla Was a Revered Rap Producer. A New Book Deepens His Legacy. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/arts/music/j-dilla-time-book.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=1 February 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Sanfiorenzo |first1=Dimas |title='Dilla Time' Author Dan Charnas on Why J Dilla Is In A League Of His Own - Okayplayer |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/culture/j-dilla-time-book-dan-charnas-interview.html |website=www.okayplayer.com |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=1 February 2022}} Charnas cites this meeting as "the real origin of the book". As an associate professor at the [Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music](/source/Clive_Davis_Institute_of_Recorded_Music) at [New York University](/source/New_York_University), Charnas taught a course called "Topics in Recorded Music: J Dilla" that discussed J Dilla's musical techniques and influence.{{cite web |last1=Schwartz |first1=Daniel |title=A Professor's Journey to Discover the Greatness of J Dilla With His Students |url=https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2017/08/j-dilla-professor-dilla-time-class |website=Complex |access-date=9 March 2023 |language=en |date=24 August 2017}} He began work researching and reporting for the book in 2017. Charnas interviewed over 200 friends, family members, and collaborators of J Dilla throughout the research process. In the book, Charnas aims to dispel several myths about J Dilla. For one, according to Charnas, many musicians reduce J Dilla's time-feel as simply "loose" and "not [quantizing](/source/Quantization_(music))", but the book describes this as an oversimplification, detailing the nuances that defined J Dilla's technique. The book also debunks the misconception that J Dilla produced his 2006 album ''[Donuts](/source/Donuts_(album))'' in the hospital, instead explaining that the album was born from an earlier beat tape and edited by Jeff Jank of [Stones Throw Records](/source/Stones_Throw_Records) while J Dilla was in the hospital. == Cover artwork == ''Dilla Time'''s cover artwork was designed by [Rodrigo Corral](/source/Rodrigo_Corral). ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' listed it as one of the best book covers of 2022, calling it "an image that signals the zones of [J Dilla's] many talents while nodding to the relationship between that talent and work ethic (and beats)," also noting the exclusion of Charnas' name from the cover.{{cite web |last1=Dorfman |first1=Matt |title=The Best Book Covers of 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/09/books/review/best-book-covers-2022.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=9 December 2022}} == Reception == ''Dilla Time'' was released to widespread critical acclaim, debuting at number four on ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' Hardcover Nonfiction Best Sellers list.{{cite web |title=MCD {{!}} DILLA TIME Becomes an Instant Best-Seller |url=https://www.mcdbooks.com/news/dilla-news |website=MCD |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=11 February 2022}} ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))'' called ''Dilla Time'' "easily the best rap book of the year," describing the book as "not only a love letter to Dilla, but also a riveting immersion into the music of Detroit and the art of beatmaking."{{cite web |last1=Pierre |first1=Alphonse |title=A Chaotic List of the Best Rap Stars, Scenes, Trends, Freestyles, and Mixtapes of 2022 |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/a-chaotic-list-of-the-best-rap-stars-scenes-trends-freestyles-and-mixtapes-of-2022/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=16 December 2022}} ''[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)'' listed the book as one of the best music books of 2022, describing it as "elegantly written and deeply sourced."{{cite magazine |last1=Reeves |first1=Mosi |title=The Best Music Books of 2022 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-best-music-books-of-2022-1234648573/dan-charnas-dilla-time-the-life-and-afterlife-of-j-dilla-the-hip-hop-producer-who-reinvented-rhythm-1234648868/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=23 December 2022}} Writing for ''[Spin](/source/Spin_(magazine))'', Liza Lentini praised the book, calling it "a portrait of a complex genius taken too young, as well as a glorious study of the music and culture he created."{{cite web |last1=Lentini |first1=Liza |title=Dan Charnas's Dilla Time: The Life And Afterlife Of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm |url=https://www.spin.com/2022/02/dan-charnas-j-dilla-book/ |website=Spin |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=1 February 2022}} At the 2023 PEN Awards, ''Dilla Time'' won the [PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography](/source/PEN%2FJacqueline_Bograd_Weld_Award_for_Biography).{{cite web |title=PEN America Honors Tina Fey, Vinod Kumar Shukla, Erika Dickerson-Despenza, and 11 Authors and Translators at 2023 Literary Awards Hosted by Kal Penn |url=https://pen.org/press-release/comedy-legend-tina-fey-honored-by-pen-america-at-2023-literary-awards-for-performance-writing-with-11-authors-and-translators-also-receiving-prizes-at-ceremony-hosted-by-kal-penn/ |website=PEN America |access-date=5 March 2023 |language=en |date=3 March 2023}} == Film adaptation == On September 22, 2022, it was announced that [Questlove](/source/Questlove) would executive produce a feature [documentary](/source/documentary) titled ''Dilla Time'', adapted from the book. The film will be co-directed by [Joseph Patel](/source/Joseph_Patel), who produced ''[Summer of Soul](/source/Summer_of_Soul)'' with Questlove, and Darby Wheeler.{{cite web |last1=Monroe |first1=Jazz |title=Questlove Is Making a J Dilla Feature Documentary |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/questlove-is-making-a-j-dilla-feature-documentary/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=22 September 2022}} The film will be produced in cooperation with J Dilla's estate, with Dan Charnas also serving as producer.{{cite web |last1=Galuppo |first1=Mia |title=J Dilla Doc in the Works from Questlove, 'Summer of Soul' Producer Joseph Patel (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/j-dilla-doc-dilla-time-in-the-works-questlove-1235225447/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=22 September 2022}} The film has been described as "part biography, part [musicology](/source/musicology), and part musical meditation, featuring insight from some of the most influential and innovative voices of modern music." == References == {{reflist}} {{J Dilla}}{{Authority control}} Category:2022 non-fiction books Category:American history books Category:American biographies Category:Biographies about musicians Category:Biographies about African-American people Category:Hip-hop books --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dilla Time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilla_Time) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilla_Time?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.