Datum: 07-01-08 14:04
Heres what the label have to say on the album and the bootlegs...
Everything was set, Dilla was excited, we we're all excited. Then the unbelievable happened, we all lost a beloved hero. Shortly after, a now ex-employee (which will go unnamed, those who know, know) began exploiting the situation and confusion surrounding his death. We'll even go as far as saying that this person was anticipating this situation. We're NOT saying that he wanted it to happen, but he certainly was being an opportunist (like other people surrounding Dilla) planning around the reality of the situation. He had spent much of his time with Dilla toward the end of his life. Those involved could see it coming. It all begin there.
This person has a knack of positioning himself with some of the most talented people in the game, but it always showed to unravel when it counted. This person has put other labels into this same situation (which will also go unnamed). He began spending a lot of time getting close with J's family, and the rest of the label's priorities were being ignored. Other artists on our label began seeing an attitude change in this person, and suspected the scheming. He was even confronted and warned before all of this went down. Make no mistake, this person was responsible for most of the initial business with J Dilla. He organized most of the photoshoots which everyone uses for J Dilla's press today, IE: BBE's The Shining album pictures / World's Fair J Dilla page, MTV pictures, etc.. we paid for all of this. Much of the material that exists, including the signing of the album to the Operation Unknown label, was because of this person. Greed is like crack though, and something snapped. This person was obsessed with Dilla, and it all shifted to high gear months after his death.
Shortly after, this person began recruiting unsupsecting upcoming artists and pitching the idea to them that he, and only he, had access to J Dilla beats, and they would be fortunate enough to be featured on the album (which the album was already completed at the time). This person started recording other artists verses over Jay Love Japan beats. Even the track featuring the Jack Davey rap (of J Davey) was done over a beat that was already used for Phat Kat's 12", "Nasty Aint It". There were even demos with the artist "Truth Hurts" singing over the track "In The Streets". Most of this sounded better on paper than it did coming out of the speakers. The only artists commisioned for their work on Jay Love Japan, were those featured on the official album shortly released before it was pulled..
On top of the Jay Love Japan situation, he was also caught acting fraudulently in regards to other business matters involving Operation Unknown such as skimming advance money from other artists. All bad. After all of the allegations were confirmed, he was quickly released from the company. Upon his release, he leaked the unofficial demos he had recorded to spite the label and to garnish reputation from the unsuspecting artists and businesses to help him solidify new employment with the unknowing companies. We sent out an email blast to everyone we knew to make this as public as possible. We knew that he'd still be swindling people and telling his lies.
After the leak of the project, we were set on releasing the album. This was a sensitive time, and this person had direct contacts to Dilla's closest associates. These people also smelled the fakeness from this person, and this obviously made others feel that the people behind the OX label, were supporting his activity. We are music lovers first and foremost, and we were caught puttng our label into the hands of a schemer. At this point, we decided to cut our loses, and just get the music out to the people, that's all it's about. Most of the people who help us with the label, are musicians themselves.
This is a TRUE music label, and our musicians are ridiculously raw and haven't garnished the deserved credits yet. It's actually quite poetic, because our newest artists on our label, are in the same position Dilla was in 4 years ago, trailblazing without the massive accolades. It's all so fitting really. For those who don't know, the only reason J Dilla wanted to work with our label was because he heard the other music we had on our label. Music from the group "POLY", and solo music from that duo. He worked with our label for very little money, this was because J was about the music. An aquarius, a genius, and only wanted to mess with that future sound. Detroit techno, motorcity soul, listen to the samples he worked with, he liked that bugged out sound, no doubt.
In June 2007, we were set on releasing this project. We couldn't take the delay anymore, we had to just put it out. So we hustled, raised enough money to put it out, and moved forward with it through Fat Beats. About 2 weeks later, we get a call from J Dilla's estate threatening a legal nightmare. The estate was looking to cease and desist the album. So now, all of the hardwork, all of the advertising, and most importantly, the FANS of DILLA's music all had to wait, because we were being accused of doing shady business. It seems that this one person's shady reputation had reached to high places, because we were even asked if "this person" was still working with us. It seems that certain people had made sure that our label had gotten a shake down, all because of the dislike of this one person.
These negotiations have lasted for the greater part of 2007, and has delayed other groundbreaking releases such as BAATIN's CLASSIC album "TITUS", analog electro outfit "POLY" , and the crossover group "The Teeter Totters". This has delayed these great albums from being released properly. The problem is, while we're dealing with this delay, under scrutiny, other people are TRULY bootlegging crappy versions on vinyl, the artwork, and the pictures we paid for and designed! There's been a lot of haters in this situation acting like we don't know what's going on, it's cut throat. If it weren't for Dj Houseshoes and the few other people who were seeing behind the scenes of this, this album might not of never seen the light of day.
We're glad to say that we've resolved this situation and Jay Love Japan will be available worldwide in early 2008 on all formats. The digital release is already available on ITUNES , and for the real hip hop heads, we all know it's not real until it hits WAX, the new LP/CD will feature the brand new OFFICIAL artwork. Yes, we made BRAND NEW ARTWORK for the OFFICIAL RELEASE, and to debunk the bootlegs. We think it's some of the best artwork we've seen. Thank Justin Abbink for the artwork and apparel.
