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 | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | J Dilla |
| Cover: | Welcome 2 Detroit (album art).jpg |
| Released: | February 26, 2001[1] |
| Recorded: | 1999–2001 |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Length: | 41:04 |
| Label: | BBE |
| Producer: |
|
| Next Year: | 2002 |
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
| 1. | "Welcome 2 Detroit" | 0:49 | |
| 2. | "Y’all Ain’t Ready" | 1:28 | |
| 3. | "Think Twice" | 3:52 | |
| 4. | "The Clapper" | 2:06 | |
| 5. | "Come Get It" | 5:02 | |
| 6. | "Pause" | 2:45 | |
| 7. | "B.B.E. - Big Booty Express" | 2:12 | |
| 8. | "Beej-n-Dem Pt. 2" | 2:49 | |
| 9. | "Brazilian Groove (EWF)" | 1:30 | |
| 10. | "It’s Like That" | 4:05 | |
| 11. | "Give It Up" | 3:08 | |
| 12. | "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" | 1:25 | |
| 13. | "Feat. Phat Kat" | 3:43 | |
| 14. | "Shake It Down" | 2:55 | |
| 15. | "African Rhythms" | 1:36 | |
| 16. | "One" | 1:31 | |
| 17. | "Welcome 2 Detroit (Instrumental)" | 0:46 | |
| 18. | "Y’all Ain’t Ready (Instrumental)" | 1:29 | |
| 19. | "Think Twice (Instrumental)" | 3:36 | |
| 20. | "The Clapper (Instrumental)" | 1:57 | |
| 21. | "Come Get It (Instrumental)" | 4:25 | |
| 22. | "Pause (Instrumental)" | 2:46 | |
| 23. | "B.B.E. - Big Booty Express (Instrumental)" | 2:09 | |
| 24. | "Beej-N-Dem Pt. 2 (Instrumental)" | 3:07 | |
| 25. | "Brazilian Groove EWF (Instrumental)" | 1:30 | |
| 26. | "It’s Like That (Instrumental)" | 4:08 | |
| 27. | "Give It Up (Instrumental)" | 3:11 | |
| 28. | "Feat. Phat Kat (Instrumental)" | 2:46 | |
| 29. | "Shake It Down (Instrumental)" | 2;54 | |
| 30. | "African Rhythms (Instrumental)" | 1:35 | |
| 31. | "One (Instrumental)" | 1:35 | |
| 32. | "Think Twice (DJ Muro’s KG Mix)" | 3:51 | |
| 33. | "Think Twice (DJ Muro’s KG Mix Instrumental)" | 3:51 | |
| 34. | "Rico Suave Bossa Nova" | 5:53 | |
| 35. | "Beej-n-Dem (OG)" | 0:51 | |
| 36. | "Brazilian Groove EWF (No Drums, No Vocal)" | 1:25 | |
| 37. | "It’s Like That (Alternate Version)" | 3:06 | |
| 38. | "Give It Up (Acapella)" | 1:31 | |
| 39. | "African Rhythms (No Drums)" | 0:44 | |
| 40. | "Think Twice (Alternate Take)" | 3:33 | |
| 41. | "It’s Like That (Original Beat)" | 0:42 | |
| 42. | "Y’all Ain’t Ready (Cassette Demo)" | 1:30 | |
| 43. | "Think Twice (Cassette Demo)" | 3:44 | |
| 44. | "Come Get It (Cassette Demo)" | 4:05 | |
| 45. | "Come Get It (Alt Beat)" | 1:26 | |
| 46. | "Beej-n-Dem Pt. 2 (Alt Beat)" | 3:01 |