Sample breakdown of J Dilla’s “Don’t Cry”

A playlist i created of all the original samples used by Dilla on Donuts.

Great!

The fact he re-used the drums from the original sample made it even more incredible.

The Escorts recorded the original track "I Can't Stand (To See You Cry)" literally behind bars. The group formed in Rahway State Prison, New Jersey, and producer George Kerr had to bring a mobile recording unit into the jail in 1973 to capture their vocals while members were still serving time. ⛓️ 🤔 Fun Fact: J Dilla didn't just pick this song for the message to his mom; he used a method called the "Eighth Note Technique." Instead of time-stretching the sample to fit the beat, he chopped tiny eighth-note fragments (including the drum hits attached to the vocals) and rearranged them manually. What you hear is Dilla "re-writing" the original score note by note from his hospital bed. Did you know? 🤯

it’s crazy he made this track in his hospital bed for his mom basically telling her, as the title says, “don’t cry”. so beautiful man.

Thank you!!!

@crooklynn_dgrs Dilla's sample selection was always immaculate. The way he flipped records taught a generation how to hear music differently. True legend 🎛️