Back in 2013, it was announced that “The Diary”, a lost J Dilla vocal album made at the turn of the millennium, was being reassembled for a posthumous release. (The announcement was accompanied by a 12″ featuring the previously-unheard “Anthem” b/w “Trucks.”) now, the LP was given an official release date.
Constructed over the past decade from mixes and masters culled from J Dilla’s personal archive, The Diary features rapping from Dilla, Snoop Dogg, Kenny Wray, Bilal, Frank and Dank, Boogie, Kokane, and Nottz. The production was handled by Dilla, Madlib, Pete Rock, Supa Dave West, Hi-tek, Nottz, House Shoes, and Bink!, among others.
The Diary will be out April 15 via his own label Mass Appeal and Dilla’s PayJay imprint, thanks to the support of Dilla’s estate.
Read the interview with J Dilla estate creative director Eothen Alapatt via Rollingstone.com.