Which Detroit producer-rapper released the 2006 album Donuts? J Dilla released Donuts.
Donuts is the second studio album by Detroit producer and rapper James Yancey, better known as J Dilla. Stones Throw Records released it on February 7, 2006—his 32nd birthday—and it became the final album issued during his lifetime. J Dilla died three days later, on February 10, at age 32.
The album is instrumental hip hop rather than a conventional rap record. It contains 31 short tracks built from chopped and rearranged samples drawn from soul, jazz and rock recordings. Its abrupt transitions and looping design make it feel like a continuous collage, and the final track, “Last Donut of the Night,” flows conceptually back toward the beginning.
Donuts is often called J Dilla’s magnum opus and is widely regarded as one of the most influential instrumental hip-hop albums. Stories about whether much of it was made in hospital or developed from an earlier beat tape differ, so that part of its origin should not be oversimplified. Madlib, Pete Rock and 9th Wonder were influential producers, but they did not release this album.