J Dilla & De La Soul Collide: J.Period Drops ‘Dilla Soul’ Mixtape in Epic Tribute
J.Period just gave hip-hop heads the ultimate gift—a mashup mixtape blending J Dilla’s legendary beats with classic De La Soul tracks. Released on what would have been Dilla’s 51st birthday, Dilla Soul reimagines De La’s catalog over Dilla’s signature sound, featuring appearances from A Tribe Called Quest, MF DOOM, Common, Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, and more.
The seven-track EP, available on J.Period’s Bandcamp, breathes new life into timeless records. One standout, “Stop! CoKane Flow,” seamlessly fuses Dilla’s “Stop” with De La and MF DOOM’s “Rock Co.Kane Flow,” proving just how effortlessly their styles complement each other.
But that wasn’t the only way Dilla’s legacy was honored this month. His hometown of Detroit officially declared February 7 as “J Dilla Day,” marking the first time the city has formally recognized his impact. At a special city council meeting, Dilla’s daughter, Ja’Mya Yancey, expressed her gratitude for the tribute, calling it a “monumental step” in preserving her father’s legacy.
Adding to the celebration, a street sign was unveiled on February 6 in the Conant Gardens neighborhood, near the home where Dilla created some of his most iconic work. “This is long overdue,” Yancey said at the event. “He left it up to us, his family, to make sure his genius wasn’t forgotten—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
From a citywide honor to a next-level remix project, J Dilla’s influence continues to inspire new generations, proving that true legends never fade.