Illa J featuring Debi Nova - Sounds Like Love [Single]

Delicious Vinyl

The second single from Illa J’s acclaimed debut album “Yancey Boys” hits the UK complete with production from Illa J’s older brother, the late great James Yancey aka Jay Dee aka J-Dilla.

Coming in at a mere three minutes and twenty seven seconds, one blink and the main track is over, but having listened to this probably over twenty times or so in the last week, it just gets better with every play. Dilla has never produced a bad beat in his life as far as I’m concerned and this is no exception, in fact I probably prefer the instrumental version – but that’s me. The silky tones of Debi Nova lend the tune a classic soul flow and, in line with thetrack, she keeps things simple throughout.

Illa’s rhymes are exactly what you might expect from Dilla’s brother, spoken word raps never missing a beat ,almost Common-esque in parts but not to take anything away from this MC – he holds his own without any problem whatsoever!

The Nobody’s Unicorn Dub Remix doesn’t really seem to warrant it's place on the B-Side of this single but it would have been difficult to rival the laid back production that Dilla provides. That said, Carlos Nino and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson’s In Space remix is something the late producer would have been proud to have been responsible for himself. This remix strips away all the vocals and has some of the most soulful strings and piano you're likely to hear on any hip hop remix. It almost resembles a tribute to Dilla in terms of it’s style. The only thing bad I could say about this particular remix is it feels too short even at just under four minutes.

Its all good though, “Yancey Boys” looks like it could be a pretty fine LP on this evidence. ‘Sounds Like Love’ should definitely be checked out.