J Dilla fans rejoice. The late production master’s unreleased album The Diary is set to arrive this week. The Detroit legend’s revived company PayJay teamed with Mass Appeal Records to drop the posthumous musical effort.

The Diary was originally set for release in 2002, but it was shelved by Dilla’s label at the time. The collection allowed the man born James Yancey to use the project to showcase his vocal talents. Madlib, Pete Rock, Hi-Tek, Nottz, House Shoes, Supa Dave West, Bink! and Karriem Riggins provided production for the LP.

The Estate of James Yancey’s Creative Director Eothen Alapatt oversaw the completion of The Diary. Alapatt, the long-term general manager of Stones Throw Records, also served as A&R for Dilla’s Donuts and Jaylib’s Champion Sound.

The process to assemble The Diary took ten years as two-track mixdowns and multi-track masters found in J Dilla’s archives after his death were added to the album’s final version. The Diary will be released on April 15. Pre-order the album on iTunes.

allhiphop.com