Phife from A Tribe Called Quest has just released a video for his J Dilla tribute, "Dear Dilla." The video pays homage to Dilla's final album, Donuts, which was released only three days before his death. The video shows a shadow of Dilla making beats in the hospital. In another scene, Phife is seen almost eating a donut at Dilla's Delights, an actual shop opened by Dilla's uncle. The video also makes parallels to Phife's own struggles as a diabetic, staying in the hospital and stopping himself from eating the donut.
The song is a sample of the Dilla sampled Slum Village track "Hold Tight" featuring Q Tip. On "Dear Dilla," DJ Rasta Root loops Q Tip saying "Jay Dee, flip another beat for me" over a funk sample of KC & The Sunshine Band's "What Makes You Happy." At the beginning of the song, Phife gives a touching message for his late friend over soulful a piano riff. He tells Dilla, "It's 2005. We in the same hospital room. You on one side, I'm on the other. I'm stressed out. But what kept me motivated was you pulling out that MP and banging out bangers as usual." Watch the touching video above, and don't be embarrassed if you shed a tear.
Source: PhifeVEVO
