Finding this channel was my best accident

As someone who’s currently in the hospital for stoma surgery recovery and have dealt with severe autoimmune since age 18, I really appreciate the all too rare compassion you demonstrated to those suffering from horrible conditions like Lupus. RIP Dilla

49:52 “The whole album is people saying ‘Everyone get ready for something to happen’ and then by the time the album’s over that’s what you’ve been listening to” You might’ve already been making this point, but this observation goes so well with the existential themeing, if Donuts represent the death/life cycle. You spend your whole life waiting for the next thing, and then life passes you by. Reminds me of the John Lennon lyric “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”

My son was born in July 2006 and in February I was immersed in everything Stones Throw and so excited for the new life getting ready to be born. I had to pull over and really question what any of this all means and if it was even worth it when I heard the announcement of Dilla’s passing on the radio. Just got home from a funeral and this video was the first recommendation when I opened KZfaq. Your grave reads a date, a dash, and another date. Love and live the best damn dash you can!! 🙏🏽

This might be one of the best KZfaq videos ever made

AVAA. 11 minutes in, these are some of the best words I've heard in my life so far. Thank you for sharing your experience in such a way that can make other people think deeply about what matters, really cements you as a legend in my eyes, again thank you

AVAA, Dilla, Madlib, Flying Lotus, DOOM KNX, are my heroes.

AVAA! Since you’re delving into older albums now, I think you should give Nujabes a shot. He was a Japanese artist who was born the same day as Dilla and also tragically passed away too soon. Both Dilla and Nujabes were huge influences for the Lofi hip hop movement. Also Blonde by Frank Ocean is a must listen if you ever get around to it.

AVAA, I’d love to see you cover Manger on McNichols by Boldy James and Sterling Toles. It truly has some of the best, seamless sampling in recent time. And in my opinion is the best “cocaine rap” album I’ve heard.

I want to say AVAA, but this one is a cut above in my opinion. There’s so many little rabbit holes to dive into and get lost in and that’s my favorite way to learn about anything, but most notably music. So many connections. So much to learn. And when you include the correspondence story with Robin, “why do we do anything”, Artist must create art, etc. Very thought provoking. Then I went through a few Dilla tracks with my newborn son and it just sealed the deal. Thanks again prof!

AVAA you’re channel is best thing to emerge out of this Drake Kendrick beef 😂

AVAA, if you haven’t already checked out music by The Books, I’d seriously Recommend their last album “the way out.” it’s not hip-hop, but if we’re talking about obscure sample recontextualization, this is some of the best stuff ever made.

AVAA. Thank you for not only taking the time to educate the masses, but doing it better than most! Really enjoyed this analysis

Returning to the comment section here to say: after watching this video, I went and listened to donuts with a fresh perspective, and today I thought about what you said regarding the countless introductory samples and applause throughout. To expand on the themes of infinity therein, I also wanted to add that these samples feel like a case of “every day is worth celebrating”.

AVAA, this is my favorite hip hop album tied with Liquid Swords. Both albums have music that comes straight from the heart but is also very complex. Long Live J Dilla. 🫡 👏❤

AVAA. Jadakiss has a song called "Why" from 2004 that contains the samples (Kiss' notorious laugh/tag + the line in question) Dilla flipped on "Stop!". Seems like Kiss is saying "s'dat real" as in "this that real shit". In keeping with your points from earlier about the musical conversation and Dilla being a lil cheeky and playful with his samples, he samples Dionne Warwick's "You're Gonna Need Me" from 1973 as the base of the beat, which is the same sample Just Blaze flipped for another 2004 record, "Throwback", from Usher's Confessions; coincidentally, Jadakiss appeared on the "Throwback (Remix)" with a verse, also in 2004. All that said, to me, this kinda feels like a musical game of oneupsmanship from Dilla. "I see you Just Blaze, and I raise you." It almost feels like "that was cool, but my shit more John Blaze than that". To put Kiss' laugh and dis dat real from another track at the top of 'Stop!", and use more of the Warwick sample to build the beautiful crescendo outro into "People" - a part Just Blaze didn't touch for what was mostly a VERY well produced, mid album era-standard throwaway R&B song -... it's otherworldly good. Maybe i'm reaching with the friendly competition read; maybe he's just reimagining. Either way. Thanks for your channel and analysis. even if i dont always agree, I've really enjoyed checking out your stuff the past couple months.

Avaa! Proud of myself for having seen most of the videos referenced in this video already lol. Real excited to see more classics reviewed on this channel!

AVAA I found J Dilla through ATCQ, Pharcyde and his work with Soulquarians. I just was enamored by his sound and started copping anything he was involved with ❤

your videos are very relaxing yet stimulating, sir

AVAA I plan on leaving a longer comment on another video of yours sometime in the future, but you have become an inspiration to me lately and I cannot thank you enough for what you do

AVAA we love you Professor Skye! Thank you for being you!

weird detail i noticed, the bite from the donut on the vinyl is shaped a lot like dillas face from the side

avaa. In the beginning, you almost had me crying and by the end, I was thoroughly intrigued. Great video Skye

Yo man. Been enjoying this video as I work from home today. Just offering my own opinion on One For Ghost - the track you said was a skip for you. I didn't even know it was produced for Ghostface actually so thanks. I understand your points but that song is one of my absolute highlights in the tape, *because* of my experiences with the themes in it. I think admist an album of immense showmanship and bravado, that song really cuts through, for me, as being deeply bittersweet and infused with great pain. What it does with that though, is put that deep sense of pain on a pretty ass mantlepiece or in a display cabinet. This for me, creates this masterful loop back to the rest of donuts, where it's like he's saying "you see this painful shit right here? look what I can do to it; look how I can dress it up". That even that sample, with its quite harrowing themes, can be presented to the world in the same vein as the commercial samples he's laced through the tape. With the same kind of comedic brazenness, and confident announcement. Amongst a project that constantly feels like a grand introduction to something, despite being made on Dilla's deathbed, I can't think of a song that epitomises Donuts' crude humour more than this. I've always found that I could only deal with and express my experiences of beatings/abuse, through crude humour and feigned confidence (I mean, either that or silently internalising it right). And thus this song scratches a deep itch in my soul, and I will never not hold it dear to my heart. I understand that you have your opinion of the Ghostface song/lyrics shaping your perception of this track, and your own views and experiences of the mentioned themes. I even understand that you might treat this as a skip for personal reasons. But I think in completely skipping discussing this song (or seemingly even really thinking about this song), you might have missed a deeper through line in this project and done a disservice to the song. Sorry it's long and heavy, and I'm not critiquing you (in fact I've just subscribed). I'm just offering my take on your take. That joint is crazy RIP James Yancey

I was the previous owner of Bandstand before selling it. Being a huge fan of you, hearing you mention my video really took me out lol. Kinda embarrassed because that video is terribly outdated now 😅

Please please cover some more Dean Blunt. There is so much to unfold, I swear!

One of my favorite albums ever :0 so glad you’re covering this

Please analyze Welcome 2 Detroit as well professor! Also a technical masterpiece where he doesn't sample in most of the tracks, but makes this hiphop sound that's still super authentic. This was made in 2001 and I truly believe this is either one of his best if not his best including donuts.

You should check out Jaylib - Champion Sound! It’s a J Dilla X Madlib collab that I think you’d really enjoy! AVAA

AVAA my favorite KZfaq French professor who makes the best music analysis on the internet, as far as I know ❤

Great lecture 👏 33 1/3 came out with a very cool book about Donuts as well. Worth a read.

Nice! This pairs well with Fantano’s Classics Week

42:40 10cc are pretty well known, I'm Not in Love is absolutely a classic. 58:37 Hip-hop was my first favourite genre and listening to the original songs being sampled from genius producers/crate diggers like Dilla and Nujabes (born on the same day, both died unfortunately young) really helped me shift my focus from hip-hop into other genres.

AVAA! Loved the beautiful, sad anecdote at the beginning contrasted with your energy and excitement while going through the album track by track!

I didn't get this album at first but I still recommended it to a friend to look cool. It took falling madly in love with Madvillainy for me to return and appreciate it. I dubbed my own cassette of Donuts because it just felt like the right thing to do.

Avaa and after watching your videos for a year or so I just joined your patreon. Really appreciate all the work you put in to making these reviews!

When it comes to crate digging and sampling there is no way around Madlib. Dilla and Madlib were buddies. Donuts is also heavily influenced by Madlib.

23:21 in terms of create digging for samples I would say J Dilla and Madlib were similar. They go beyond the usual old soul and funk, into rock, Brazilian, and in Madlib case bollywood. .

AVAA!! Thank you for making this, it really inspired me!

Fantastic job. Thoroughly enjoyed the commentary!

Love this album so much not only because I’m a producer but also on an emotional level it hits different

AVAA, thanks again for a dive into an album I enjoy. I started watching with your spirit world field guide video and really appreciate your insight. Keep it up!

AVAA thank you thank you, happy new year professor skye

AVAA beautiful video man i love this channel so much ur a treasure

As a fellow Gaucho this video made my day. Thank you Professor

The best album to smoke a joint to with nice headphones hones while on a walk.

AVAA Prof!!! I also always heard “Is death real” on the song ‘Stop’ and I love you connection to Discovery by Daft Punk I also hear it

that donut looks mighty tasty 😋

AVAA Amazing video, cant believe the internet makes these things accessable for free. Since you are looking at older things maybe you can stumble by some old lupe stuff

I downloaded Donuts into my iTunes and had the songs in backward order, unknowingly. Under the influence of DXM syrup, I listened to it backwards for the first time, and when it was over, I realized my mistake and then listened to it forwards then and there because I was so blown away by it.

Skye, if you haven’t heard Cities Aviv’s “Man Plays The Horn” I highly recommend you listen. It proves sampling is not dead (at least in the underground) and it’s one of the best rap albums of the decade AAVA

This might be my favorite album of all time.

AVAA! I discovered Dilla fairly recently, all because of hearing Danny Brown talk about his experience with his music. Apparently he listened to donuts so much in 06, that when he went to jail, he could practically replay the whole album in his head His second mixtape, Detroit state of mind 2, was mostly written in jail, and he has a ton of songs that were written to those imaginary beats. It's not important, I just think it's kind of cool.

BEAUTIFUL ALBUM

AVAA continuing to explore hip hop!

Learning French may have manifested as a form of defense mechanism, for many people when they are in pain they seek distractions to alleviate the anxieties. I've not found a lot of love for Dilla's Lp over the years from Musos, it's 'status' seems laced with sympathy. The Crate Diggers video about him was interesting, seemed to be fond of E Weber!

This album is special in a way no other record is

If you’re looking for more music with off kilter rhythms, Burial is similarly viewed as a major influence in this aspect, but for electronic music instead of hip hop

Avaa! I never comment, but thank you for your thoughtful analysis

Ok, you've made me want to listen to this album. And speaking of our death, This day comes for everyone.

Thank you ❤❤

I would really like if Mark Fisher had written about donuts

Exactly. What is he doing to the drums?

Fucking love this album

AVAA, i need to create because im horrified by the prospect that people cant see the world the way i do

46:56 someone probably already said it but Jadakiss is saying “it’s that real!”

AVAA! all time classic record, infinite in more ways than one

Dilla time was all over 60s/70s Soul music.

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing.... That album is similar in the way he manipulates the samples.

"Dilla Cooked Donuts despite dying so I cant afford to waste the Luxory of time." I dont know why people argue he wasn't passing during production his MPC was being repaired but he was having records brought to hospital bed to dig and was using his laptop.

16:20 Grant Morrison in general is one of the best comic book writers, he always has an interesting perspective and that brutal Scottish wit.

The siren sound is so bittersweet. I feel that this album completely recontextualized it to be an auditory representation of J Dilla’s illness and impending death.

AVAA in advance Sir Skye. Hope he got some anecdote about Raymond Scott, ads from 70s-80s, just in reference to WorkinonIt.

Paused it. Gonna guess side D as your favorite because be it that it's split in to quarters, some of my favorite tracks personally are towards the end of the discography. AVAA.

AVAA, the J Dilla to Grant Morrison comparison felt like it was made specifically for me

AVAA. Inspiring, really.

AAVA!!!! 1:09:00 and its all about the claps … wait until you track back to welcome to detroit .. stepson of the clapper is a continuation on the clapper series from dilla to me

I personally think that oneohtrix point never is the only artist comparable to how talented j dilla is with sampling

Donut shops in Cali are owned by Cambodians!

Listen to "Mash's Revenge"! You are welcome keep crushing Prof

AVAA. Have you read Grant Morrison’s run of Doom Patrol?

AVAA, I also sort of avoided this album because of the KZfaq "[insert arbitrary descriptor] Reacts to J Dilla!" reaction industrial complex. There's like 25 or so albums that KZfaq music reactors have probably nuked any appeal from, someone should do a video essay on them. They seem to be the modern rap canon, it's odd how they all seem to converge on these 25ish records, almost naturally. But the album is great, I will say however, no regrets on putting off as long as I did.

We make art bc we are creative beings and our purpose is in line with the soul and it supersedes all the other stuff. If you understand the soul and spirit or believe. Side 4

31:02 How do you spell “predorition” bc I still can’t find the word online

AVAA indeed

AVAA from user telephone_junkie's famous rym review "This isn't for us. We can have a little taste of it, a glimpse through a crack, a whiff of the dank smoke and the loving laughter and the foggy green-and-soft-yellow Manhattan predawns that we'll never experience elsewhere, but no matter how much it moves us (and sometimes it's everything to me), this isn't for us. It's too late for us- and in a way, it's also too early. You know those shrieking toddlers and bratty five-year-olds that keep you and everyone else on edge in restaurants and busses and movie theaters and parks? Check this page in 2026 (if RYM still exists then) and see what this album did for them in 2023."

Avaa

Is this in 360p because Donuts is an older project?

AVAA!

Last Quick Comment. Quantizing ruins beats. The best do not quantize.

I didnt think I could eat and cry at the same time, not a pretty sight. Don't attempt.

AVAA I care about your props

I care about the props 👍

AVAA

Day 236 of Asking you to Review Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youth

would you join me please, in welcomining avaa

avaa. i made a new years resolution to listen to more sample-based instrumental hip hop like J Dilla and Madlib. This video helps a ton thanks :) Discovery was also my favourite album last year so it's cool you brought it up here to compare