Jay Dee a.k.a. J Dilla 'The King of Beats' (Box Set)

When he died in 2006 at the tragically young age of 32, J. Dilla had already established himself as one of the most forward-thinking and unpredictable producers in hip-hop and R&B. Assembled from his treasure trove of rare and unreleased tracks, King of Beats isn't so much an album as a collection of futuristic, funky instrumental sketches. Some cuts have the laid-back sway of Dilla’s neo-soul work, while others offer the raw and off-kilter rhythms of his underground hip-hop classics. King of Beats is an unadorned showcase for Dilla’s sampling wizardry, his uncanny ability to turn any old record into an unexpected new groove.