The mourning process is putting all of his substantial career accomplishments in context. There’s a lot to celebrate there. But there’s more to it than that, which is why this loss is hitting me harder than I would have anticipated.

It’s not just that he was an icon for me in my youth, although nostalgia does play a major role. What really stands out is how he was universally loved and respected. And how he always extended himself to others, whether professionally or personally. And how in a cutthroat business full of ugliness and people trying to exploit others, he was always a class act who thrived on positivity and optimism. And how he was able to diversify his work to sustain a successful post hip-hop career, always setting and reaching new goals as an artist. Hev was doing everything right, yet he was cut down so prematurely. At least he made the most of his time. That’s the lesson.

I’ve said a lot this week, and others have said even more. Here are a few that deserve attention.

Heavy D (1967-2011) – by yours truly, over at D-Mac’s spot

Heavy D tribute on Decipher hip-hop radio, WPFW 89.3 FM – via my crew, The Soul Controllers.

“Heavy D danced the way big men work the back line in tennis. Not a lot of sweat or hustle, just a few clutch moves that make it look elegant.” – NPR’s Michelle Norris

RIP Heavy D – Cosmo Baker

Things We Can Learn From the Overweight Lover’s Legacy – Afrobella

Grap Luva on the Death of Heavy D – Washington City Paper

I don’t yet have the words but my virtual and real worlds are populated with those who speak for me.

Michael Jackson And The Five Stages of Grief – Thembi

My Hero Ain’t Molest Them Bitch Ass Kids: Phonte’s teary-eyed tribute to The King – Phonte Coleman

For Michael – Bassey Ikpi

In Memoriam Part 2: Michael Jackson – Long Live The King – Scorpeze of Windimoto

MJ R.I.P. – Hua Hsu, The Atlantic

Gone Too Soon – nOva, SoulBounce.com

I Can’t Help It – Harlem, SoulBounce.com

We Love You, Michael, Always. – Ill Mami, SoulBounce.com

All I could do yesterday when I finally broke away from the Twitter wake was head to the designated gathering spot for times when things of black import go down (U Street) and try to process with friends.

Shortly after, the real obsession began. I greeted the sun this morning without sleep, having spent the entire night whipping my Michael Jackson discography into shape. I did the same for James Brown, for Dilla. As we are essentially musical evangelists, it’s a DJ’s sacred duty in times like these to canonize our musical heroes output and feed it back to the faithful in a way that maximizes the boost to the spirit.

We’re going to be ministering to the flock for a long time on this one. Please do it with verve, creativity and an avoidance of cliche. So many of our icons are plagued by personal demons, the way to balance it out is to expose as much of the beauty as possible. And since Michael’s catalog is so deep, there’s epic beauty beyond the obvious hits.

I’ll have to return to this, it’s just too much to absorb now. Download these, then holla at me and the homie Jahsonic at Marvin on Monday.

6/25/09 – Soul Controllers & LSP remember the King of Pop on Decipher
(89.3 FM WPFW, Washington DC)

The Obrigado Dilla vid was my introduction to the brother and it came way too late.

The Sao Paulo hip-hop community was already reeling from one loss before this, and as someone who didn’t know him personally but who admired his style, skill and aesthetic, my heart goes out to our Brazilian fam.

Quite the party-rocker:

And nasty on the cut:

Descanse em paz.

The theory of three is still holding strong among my scarce superstitions. While absorbing the losses of Tim and George, we missed another bright light being extinguished. Cyd Charisse was a baaaaaaad broad!!!

Peep Sammy D. on the croon too:

And from my favorite Janet video of all time (yes, even over Pleasure Principle, and that’s a tough choice.) Check the glamour splash at 3:01.

Just caught the news from Upset the Setup via City Paper.

I was just cranking this this morning too.

Actually, I play it pretty regularly. Boosts my spirits.

Rest In Power.

Rock Steady Crew forever!!!!

I’m going to see this flick tonight.

If you really love hip-hop, you need to own this.

Respect the architects and know the history!

I had to excise certain records from my regular gigging crates, expunge files from my iPod and place his cd’s out of immediate access.

Dilla joints can easily turn into a CRUTCH maaaan! “Think Twice”, “Players” and “Runnin’” NEVER fail, but I’m a dj who doesn’t like to be lazy. It was becoming second nature that I could look into a bag that I’d pack for a gig or to play on the radio show and notice that 50% of the records were Dillmatic. Dilla records for a cat like me are like a kid’s security blanket. As hard as it was to tear away I knew that I had to keep the produce rotated or else I’d be known as that guy who does hour long Jay Dee sets. Thankfully I realized that I was well on the path of addiction before I got predictable.

I could consciously change my DJ’ing habits but Dilla’s influence on how I conceptualized the creation of music has been much harder to shake.

“I can’t program that kick like that, it’s a Dilla bite.”
“I have to stop chopping up samples of electric piano chords.”

It had become a compulsion! For awhile I was raiding Chick Corea and Lonnie Liston Smith records like they held the answers to the universe. I grew out of that though.

Because he was always evolving, whatever Dilla’isms I’d be trying to avoid copying were always 2 or 3 generations behind his most recent material. Now I find myself questioning how I can use vintage synth patches for bass lines without mimicing “Raise It Up” or “Do You.”

WILL ANY OF US EVER BE ABLE TO USE RESONANT FILTERS AGAIN AND STILL BE ORIGINAL??!?

“Hey, it’s Dill Withers so deal widdit”. (I LOVE that line!! best producer on the mic y’all, Black Thought co-signs!)

I take joy in the task before me that is tracking down every piece of Dilla material that I don’t yet own and look forward with excitement to that which is not yet released. Which brings me to another point about his influence. I will be CONSCIOUSLY biting his vocal inflections from now on. I will make it a point to use Dilla ad-libs in daily conversation as much as possible.

“UNGGH!!”
“Turn me up!!”

They’ll come in handy in staff meetings.

Beyond the enormous body of work and records with the particular qualities that make dj’s happy, Dilla’s gift to me is the ability to see possibility. Look at records the way Dilla did and you realize that any possible sound your ear can perceive has the potential to be morphed into the perfect beat. The only limit is your imagination and spending 10 years digesting Dilla’s output has expanded my imagination many times over.

It’s also good to know that this genius was a person who was loved fiercely by people who knew him not just because he was brilliant with music but because he was a great human being. Creativity is a gift that often comes with a price. The dark side of that gift combined with the way the entertainment industry attacks the spirit of creative people can often bring out the ugliest traits in the most gifted artists. I am happy for all those who were able to call themselves friends of Dilla as well as fans. You are so fortunate.

I had a revelation recently about how I’ve structured my life around the pursuit of fleeting moments where the magic happens. The magic is when the party is just right and I’m floating on the turntables and people are jumping and shouting and smiling and my heart soars. I become a conduit for the energy of everyone in the room to combine into this massive jolt of excitement and happiness. The magic happens when I’m holed up at Urban Intalek with people who are not only my peers but my best friends. The hours pass, the chicken is consumed, the brews flow and as the creative process unfolds I find that I’m most at peace. All is well with my soul… until I stumble out at 4am to meet my work day in a few hours.

I was reflecting on the cost/benefit analaysis of the enormous expenditure of resources required to spark these all too brief and infrequent moments of magic. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. Am I just chasing a temporary high? Dilla helped remind me that it’s not just a rush, it is my spirituality. The connection through creativity that I make with other humans and with something that I can’t explain as a tangible phenomenon (some folks might call it ‘God’, I don’t presume myself enlightened enough to define what it is… it just IS) is the fuel that nourishes my inner self. I need it to live, and so did Dilla. Even as his body failed him his spirit still thrived on his music.

Art is sacred. Thank you James Yancey for inspiring me on my journey.