Next February will mark 20 years since J Dilla made his solo debut with Welcome 2 Detroit, and the album is due for a special reissue to mark the occasion.
Welcome 2 Detroit: The 20th Anniversary Edition, arriving in February from BBE Music, splits a remastered version of the album over a dozen 7-inch records, complete with a book chronicling the album's creation authored by British writer and filmmaker John Vanderpuije.
The original set of songs is rounded out a remix of "Think Twice" from Japanese DJ/producer Muro, a cover of "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" from Brazilian outfit Azymuth, alternate versions, work-in-progress recordings and more. You can pore over the expansive list of side splits below.
"I'm real happy that Welcome 2 Detroit was done by BBE," Dilla's mother, Ma Dukes, said in a statement. "I don't think another label would have helped him embrace his full creativity and given him the control to make it a piece of who he was! Because of BBE he was able to pour more of himself into it, into every bit of music on this album. His spirit lives in Welcome 2 Detroit. It's him! Alive and thriving in every song!"
Welcome 2 Detroit: The 20th Anniversary Edition:
Disc 1
Side A:
1. Y'all Ain't Ready
2. Think Twice (faded)
Side B:
1. Y'all Ain't Ready (Instrumental)
2. Think Twice (Instrumental – faded)
Disc 2
Side C:
1. The Clapper feat. Blu
2. Shake It Down
Side D:
1. The Clapper (Instrumental)
2. Shake It Down (Instrumental)
Disc 3
Side E:
1. Come Get It (feat. Elzhi) (edit)
Side F:
1. Come Get It (Instrumental – edit)
Disc 4
Side G:
1. Pause (feat. Frank 'n' Dank)
2. B.B.E. – Big Booty Express
Side H:
1. Pause (Instrumental)
2. B.B.E. – Big Booty Express (Instrumental)
Disc 5
Side I:
1. Beej-N-Dem Pt.2 feat. Beej
Side J:
1. Beej-N-Dem Pt.2 (Instrumental)
Disc 6:
Side K:
1. Brazilian Groove
2. It's Like That (Edit) (feat. Hodge Podge, Lacks)
Side L:
1. Brazilian Groove EWF (Instrumental)
2. It's Like That (Instrumental)
Disc 7:
Side M:
1. Give It Up
Side N:
1. Give It Up (Instrumental)
Disc 8:
Side O:
1. Rico Suave Bossa Nova
Side P:
1. Azymuth – Rico Suave Bossa Nova (Vinyl Edit) – Azymuth
Disc 9:
Side Q:
1. Feat. Phat Kat
Side R:
1. Feat. Phat Kat (Instrumental)
Disc 10:
Side S:
1. African Rhythms
2. One
Side T:
1. African Rhythms (Instrumental)
2. One (Instrumental)
Disc 11:
SIDE U:
1. It's Like That (Alternate Version)
2. Beej-N-Dem (og) feat. Beej
SIDE V:
1. African Rhythms (No Drums)
2. Brazilian Groove EWF (No Drums, No Vocal)
3. Give It Up (Acapella)
Disc 12:
Side W:
1. Think Twice (DJ Muro's KG Mix)
Side X:
1. Think Twice (DJ Muro's KG Mix Instrumental)
Welcome 2 Detroit: The 20th Anniversary Edition, arriving in February from BBE Music, splits a remastered version of the album over a dozen 7-inch records, complete with a book chronicling the album's creation authored by British writer and filmmaker John Vanderpuije.
The original set of songs is rounded out a remix of "Think Twice" from Japanese DJ/producer Muro, a cover of "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" from Brazilian outfit Azymuth, alternate versions, work-in-progress recordings and more. You can pore over the expansive list of side splits below.
"I'm real happy that Welcome 2 Detroit was done by BBE," Dilla's mother, Ma Dukes, said in a statement. "I don't think another label would have helped him embrace his full creativity and given him the control to make it a piece of who he was! Because of BBE he was able to pour more of himself into it, into every bit of music on this album. His spirit lives in Welcome 2 Detroit. It's him! Alive and thriving in every song!"
Welcome 2 Detroit: The 20th Anniversary Edition:
Disc 1
Side A:
1. Y'all Ain't Ready
2. Think Twice (faded)
Side B:
1. Y'all Ain't Ready (Instrumental)
2. Think Twice (Instrumental – faded)
Disc 2
Side C:
1. The Clapper feat. Blu
2. Shake It Down
Side D:
1. The Clapper (Instrumental)
2. Shake It Down (Instrumental)
Disc 3
Side E:
1. Come Get It (feat. Elzhi) (edit)
Side F:
1. Come Get It (Instrumental – edit)
Disc 4
Side G:
1. Pause (feat. Frank 'n' Dank)
2. B.B.E. – Big Booty Express
Side H:
1. Pause (Instrumental)
2. B.B.E. – Big Booty Express (Instrumental)
Disc 5
Side I:
1. Beej-N-Dem Pt.2 feat. Beej
Side J:
1. Beej-N-Dem Pt.2 (Instrumental)
Disc 6:
Side K:
1. Brazilian Groove
2. It's Like That (Edit) (feat. Hodge Podge, Lacks)
Side L:
1. Brazilian Groove EWF (Instrumental)
2. It's Like That (Instrumental)
Disc 7:
Side M:
1. Give It Up
Side N:
1. Give It Up (Instrumental)
Disc 8:
Side O:
1. Rico Suave Bossa Nova
Side P:
1. Azymuth – Rico Suave Bossa Nova (Vinyl Edit) – Azymuth
Disc 9:
Side Q:
1. Feat. Phat Kat
Side R:
1. Feat. Phat Kat (Instrumental)
Disc 10:
Side S:
1. African Rhythms
2. One
Side T:
1. African Rhythms (Instrumental)
2. One (Instrumental)
Disc 11:
SIDE U:
1. It's Like That (Alternate Version)
2. Beej-N-Dem (og) feat. Beej
SIDE V:
1. African Rhythms (No Drums)
2. Brazilian Groove EWF (No Drums, No Vocal)
3. Give It Up (Acapella)
Disc 12:
Side W:
1. Think Twice (DJ Muro's KG Mix)
Side X:
1. Think Twice (DJ Muro's KG Mix Instrumental)