Busta Rhymes campaigns for posthumous Grammy recognition of J Dilla

Busta Rhymes is campaigning for posthumous recognition of producer J Dilla as the 2027 Grammy Awards approach. The rapper’s collaborative album, Dillagence II, released August 25, 2026, is currently under consideration for the Best Rap Album category. The project marks a 30-year creative partnership that began with Rhymes’ 1996 debut, The Coming.

A Twenty-Year Legacy in Production

J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, passed away in February 2006 following a struggle with lupus. Busta Rhymes views working with the music and production left behind by J Dilla as an emotionally incredible experience. Rhymes describes the experience as working on music that he believes only Dilla could have mastered, noting that the producer left behind a significant catalog of beats during their decades of collaboration.

The album Dillagence II serves as the first official full-length studio collaboration between the two artists. Rhymes told Vibe that the project originated from a November 2025 phone call with Dilla’s mother, known as Ma Dukes, who sought a way to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her son’s passing. The resulting album features a wide array of contributors, including Lauryn Hill, Common, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Anderson .Paak, and a posthumous appearance by D’Angelo.

Other Producers Contribute to the Album

While Dilla is credited as the primary producer, the album incorporates contributions from several contemporary artists and producers. As detailed by Rolling Stone, Karriem Riggins produced two tracks and co-produced a song featuring Busta Rhymes, Common, and Jon Batiste. Other contributors include Kev Brown and Black Milk, who co-produced the single “SPAZZ.”

For tracks involving guests who never worked with Dilla during his lifetime, Rhymes positioned himself as a conduit to ensure the late producer’s work was represented accurately. He emphasized that he remains selective about who contributes to Dilla’s music to prevent any potential misrepresentation of the producer’s artistic footprint.

Rhymes Hopes for a Grammy on Dilla's Birthday

Neither Busta Rhymes nor J Dilla has received a Grammy Award despite numerous nominations throughout their careers. Rhymes highlighted the symbolic timing of the 2027 ceremony, which is scheduled to air on what would have been Dilla’s birthday. He stated that receiving an award would mark a major achievement for their shared legacy.

When asked about the potential for future technology in music, specifically artificial intelligence, Rhymes declined to speculate on how Dilla would have approached the medium. He noted instead that Dilla was historically inclined to adopt new tools as they advanced, transitioning from the SP-1200 sampler to the MPC during his career. Rhymes suggested that if the pattern held, Dilla would likely have continued to evolve his technical workflow.

Cultural Impact and Ongoing Influence

The resonance of Dilla’s work persists across generations of artists. Rhymes pointed to the participation of younger collaborators, such as La Reezy, as evidence of the producer’s enduring influence on the culture. The album also features contributions from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who provided keyboard arrangements for the track “This Woman” shortly before the project’s August release.

Rhymes views the accumulation of these contributions as proof of the weight of Dilla’s creative history.

As the 2027 awards cycle progresses, the focus remains on whether the Recording Academy will acknowledge this latest body of work. For Rhymes, the project represents more than just a potential trophy; it serves as a final, definitive ode to a three-decade professional and personal history.