Review: Various Artists - Dillanthology Vol 1

Various Artists
Dillanthology Vol 1

Is this a money grab?
That's the only thing I could think of when I saw this Dillanthology CD arrive in my mailbox. Unlike most Dilla projects, which focus on rare and unreleased material, this latest Dilla compilation deals with tracks we already know, in a sort of "greatest hits" fashion. With all the controversy surrounding Jay Dee's estate, especially with Ma Dukes who now has lupus, the same deadly disease that claimed her son.
Of course, any Dilla is better than no Dilla at all, and the tracks here are more than familiar to any hip-hop head. Tracks like the Pharcydes' "Runnin'," and "Drop," are already in my collection multiple times, as well as Erykah Badu's "Didn't ya Know, and De La's "Stakes Is High." Even if I througly enjoyed hearing these songs again for the umpteenth time, and there are is one new (to me) track -- the A.G./Aloe Blacc joint "Hip-Hop Quoatable," there just isn't enough here for me to justify a purchace.
But I have a feeling that ultimately this CD isn't for me. It's for people like my sister, who is familliar with most of the songs on the disc, but still asks me, "who's Dilla?" It's for people like my brother, who during a streak of sanity puts down his Soulja Boy CD and wants to listen to classic hip-hop. My only thought is with this CD, people will listen, realize that this is some of the finest hip-hop ever produced, google Dilla, and eventially donate to help Ma Dukes.
Tracklisting
1. The Pharcyde-Runnin’
2. Slum Village-Fall In Love
3. Common-The Light
4. Erykah Badu-Didn’t Cha Know
5. De La Soul-Stakes Is High
6. Busta Rhymes-Show Me What You Got
7. The Roots-Dynamite
8. A.G. feat. Aloe Blacc-Hip Hop Quotable
9. The Pharcyde-Drop
10. Amp Fiddler-I Believe In You
11. Steve Spacek-Dollar