Various

In the years since the death of J. Dilla in 2006, countless tributes and dedications to the influential Detroit producer, particularly in February - the month of his death - have surfaced. However, many of these tributes have existed in a somewhat ephemeral and elusive state, given they have been largely produced in the blogosphere. Rapster has taken on the unenviable task of compiling tracks from Dilla's varied styles and countless collaborations under the auspices of a tangible and official release. Wisely, they've attached 1 to the title of this compilation, to ward off any charges it's not definitive by Dilla dilettantes. It isn't by any stretch of the imagination, and Dillanthology clearly doesn't aspire to be the last word. While most of the tracks here, from De La Soul, the Pharcyde , Common and the Roots, will be immediately familiar to anyone with even a passing knowledge of J. Dilla's work, there are a couple of ear-pleasing nuggets featuring some of Dilla's rarely heard, unheralded and underrated production. These include the dirty Detroit techno bounce of A.G. and Aloe Blacc's "Hip Hop Quotable," Busta Rhymes' buried album track "Show Me What You Got" and the elastic funk of "I Believe In You" by Amp Fiddler, the ex-Parliament keyboardist who was a vital figure in Dilla's early musical career. It's selections like these, and the celestial "Dolla" featuring Steve Spacek's aching falsetto, that will prove to be the sonic revelations that will rope in those who've heard about Dilla's production genius but have yet to properly experience it.