Welcome 2 Detroit


 * This is an article about the J Dilla album. For the Trick-Trick song of the same name, see Welcome 2 Detroit (song).

Welcome 2 Detroit is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist J Dilla, released on February 26, 2001. The album followed his group Slum Village's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2, and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series (producer-driven albums).

Welcome 2 Detroit bears the name "Jay Dee" as well as "J Dilla", and marks the first time Dilla (who until that point was still known as Jay Dee) officially used the name J Dilla.

Overview
Welcome 2 Detroit is a showcase of the talent from J Dilla's hometown, introducing a pre-Slum Village Elzhi on the song "Come Get It", and making room for his longtime 1st Down partner Phat Kat on the appropriately titled "Featuring Phat Kat".

The album's sound ranges from grimy hardcore hip hop ("Pause") to electronic psychedelia ("B.B.E."). The track "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" is inspired by Brazilian music group Azymuth. As Dilla mentions in the extensive liner notes:

I fell in love with Brazilian music the day I listened to a Sérgio Mendes album. We used to have jam sessions in the studio after work was done, (and) one day my mans Karriem Riggins came through. I asked him for "Bossa nova". He gave me exactly what I needed.

J Dilla covers Donald Byrd's "Think Twice," singing the lead vocals.

On "African Rhythms", J Dilla covers the Afro beat group Plunky & the Oneness of Juju's song of the same name, replaying all the instruments as well as mimicking the spoken introduction.

On the album's outro "One," J Dilla takes a moment to thank all who have helped him in the hip-hop industry, including Slum Village, Q-Tip and De La Soul. The Pop band 'N Sync is also mentioned. An instrumental version of the album was released on August 23, 2005.

Track listing
All tracks produced by J Dilla except "The Clapper," which is produced by Karriem Riggins and co-produced by J Dilla.

Welcome 2 Detroit - The 20th Anniversary Edition
 * 1) "Welcome 2 Detroit" – 0:49
 * 2) "Y'all Ain't Ready"  – 1:28
 * 3) "Think Twice" (Feat. Dwele)  – 3:52
 * 4) "The Clapper" (Feat. Blu) – 2:06
 * 5) "Come Get It" (Feat. Elzhi)  – 5:02
 * 6) "Pause" (Feat. Frank N Dank)  – 2:45
 * 7) "B.B.E. (Big Booty Express)"  – 2:12
 * 8) "Beej-N-Dem Pt. 2" (Feat. Beej)  – 2:49
 * 9) "Brazilian Groove" (EWF)  – 1:30
 * 10) "It's Like That" (Feat. Hodge Podge (Big Tone) and Lacks (Ta'Raach) )  – 4:05
 * 11) "Give It Up"  – 3:08
 * 12) "Rico Suave Bossa Nova"  – 1:25
 * 13) "Featuring Phat Kat" (Feat. Phat Kat)  – 3:43
 * 14) "Shake It Down"  – 2:55
 * 15) "African Rhythms"  – 1:36
 * 16) "One"  – 1:30

This edition was released on February 5, 2021 on the BBE label, containing the original 16 tracks, with instrumentals, bonus mixes, beats and alternate takes.



Personnel

 * James Yancey - rap, vocals, instruments, production
 * Karriem Riggins - drums, percussion, production
 * Dwele Gardner - keyboards, trumpet, bass guitar, fender rhodes
 * Antwan Gardner - trombone
 * Frank Bush - rap, claves
 * Derrick Harvey - rap
 * Jason Powers - rap
 * Ronnie Watts - rap
 * Anthony Jackson - rap
 * Terrell McMathis - rap
 * Blu - rap
 * Beej - rap

Recording

 * Recorded at Pay-Jay Studios, Studio A, Dearborn
 * Engineered by James Yancey and Todd Fairall
 * All songs mixed by James Yancey and Todd Fairall at Studio A, Dearborn.
 * Mastered by Shawn Joseph, Optimum Mastering
 * Executive producers: Peter Adarkwah and James Yancey
 * Co-executive producer: Timotheous Entertainment
 * Art Direction and Design: Thomas Mc Callion