Lucy Pearl – “Without You”

There were few producers out there worthy of capturing the essence of R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl, but J Dilla was certainly one of them. Raphael Saadiq’s vocals didn’t need much, but Jay Dee’s employment of a rich guitar riff and bopping drums make this an absolutely timeless remix.

Macy Gray – “I Try”

Yes, this is the same beat that was found on Common’s “A Film Called (Pimp)”, but we love the way Dilla re-purposed it for use over Macy Gray’s “I Try”. The massive late-’90s single was in heavy rotation already—seriously, deny it if you want, but this song was everywhere. And this remix gave us yet another reason to get down with the catchy rhythm.

Four Tet – “As Serious As Your Life Is”

Few producers had the courage to take on tracks as beautiful as Four Tet’s “As Serious As Your Life Is”, but Dilla took it in stride. Chopping up the back beat with ease, and throwing in raps from himself and Guilty Simpson, as well as a slew of other vocal samples, this is one of Dilla’s finest remix efforts. And if you’ve heard the original Four Tet composition, you can only sit and wonder how Dilla was able to extract what he did and turn his own version into something completely different.

Innerzone Orchestra – “People Make The World Go ‘Round” (J88 Remix)

For those unaware, Innerzone Orchestra is just one of many aliases used by Detroit techno/house legend Carl Craig. And on “People Make the World Go ‘Round”, he showcased another aspect of his skill set—an apparent ability to make minimalist, strings-driven tunes. And on his remix, J Dilla (then operating under Slum Village’s former name, J88) laced the cut with his signature sound, that being addictive drums and just the right amount of vocal chopping. Get familiar.