Ma Dukes

For those of you who have never had the privilege of meeting Ma Dukes and who may not know how incredibly amazing she really is I thought I'd post one of Dilla's videos that she appears in. The video was shot only a few months before Dilla passed and just a few days after he was released from the hospital. Ma Dukes was never far from Dilla's side and at the time this video was created he was in rough shape. She was sitting on the bench keeping him company until his part was to be filmed and when it came time to shoot he told her to stay put...

The J Dilla Foundation

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As many know, Ma Dukes has withstood a long, frustrating legal battle with the Dilla Estate, administrated by a Los Angeles law firm, fighting since the Fall of 2006 for rights to her own son’s name and likeness, even for non-profit projects (the original incarnation of the J Dilla Foundation was forced into hiatus just months after its inception in 2006, the same year as his death). Finally, more than 3 years later, the Yancey family is pleased to report the re-structuring of the Dilla Estate with a new legal consult head in Los Angeles, and full cooperation of the Estate with the Foundation. In addition to suffering the stresses of the Estate and Foundation battles, Ma Dukes herself has been struggling physically with the same disease, Lupus, from which her son fell to, so this victory for her and the entire family is twice a relief.

The J Dilla Foundation will be comprised of a qualified and diverse team executing a range of both community and youth music programs, mentorships, partnerships with accredited music curricula with focus on Hip Hop, as well as a scholarship program. Parker states that there will be an annual university music scholarship awarded to one or more students attending schools with progressive music programs such as Berklee College of Music, Columbia University and the University of Michigan, among others.

The J Dilla Foundation also has an amazing Sound Board consisting of the cadre of musicians, producers, MCs and DJs that worked closely with Jay Dee over the course of his shortened, yet prolific, career. Not only will this crew provide insightful and inspiring sound bites about the music of J Dilla, but they will also serve as the other half of the committee that will judge J Dilla Foundation music scholarship submissions from applicants. This aspect of the Foundation indeed makes for a truly interactive operation, bridging the gap between the “real” or “street” sector and academia in music development. Notable members of the J Dilla Foundation Sound Board include acclaimed artists such as ?uestlove of The Roots, Erykah Badu, Q-Tip & Phifedawg of A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Pete Rock, Dwele, T3 of Slum Village, Big Tone, Madlib, DJ HouseShoes, J Rocc & Rhettmatic of The Beat Junkies, Peanutbutter Wolf of Stones Throw Records, the Mochilla crew, and more.

A Full Service Production Company

As many of you know I am in the process of launching a new full service production company with my partners Michael Jacoby and Michael Hudson. What makes us unique is that we produce all aspects of each project in house with our own equipment, including a full recording studio. We have over ten years experience working in film and can create any type of media our clients may need and the best part is we do it all ourselves. Michael Jacoby and I are in charge of all aspects of video production including directing, producing, editing, shooting and writing. Our films have won many awards at various film festivals and gone on to air on the Sundance Channel, the Documentary Channel and PBS. We have also produced television commercials, short films, podcasts and web video content for dozens of clients. While Michael Hudson is the company's Art Director and computer genius handling all aspects of web design, animation and graphic design.

At the moment we are building our website and given that we all have so many portfolio pieces and great press it will take some time to get the website to where we want it to be. For now you can check out Michael Jacoby's work at LookOUt Films and at www.MichaelJacobyOnline.com or check out his latest documentary at http://www.10moregoodyears.com My documentary film work is still available at my personal site DanaBartle.com and my corporate film reel can be viewed at my Vimeo page . You can also keep up to date on my forthcoming feature, Raise it Up, at the film's website. Michael Hudson is creating some great graphics for the site that should be up sometime next week and look for some great merchandise available soon on the website as well. I begin production this week and will be updating my blog with news about the film. Oh yeah, one last thing, The Atlantic City Press has contacted me about doing another feature article on me and I will keep you posted as to when that will be published.

Here is our company's latest project. A short film about famed architect Robert AM Stern, Dean of the Yale School of Architecture and the designer of many famous buildings including the Dakota, 15 Central Park West and The George Bush Library. This film was created for the launch of a new residential project he is designing outside of Monticello.

A Very Personal Way to Make a Difference...

As we all know a very serious earthquake struck Haiti last week causing utter devastation. For some of us that devastation was very personal. One of our most beloved staff members at Il Buco, our Sous Chef Harding, is Haitian and he has many family members in Haiti who are hurt and who lost everything in the aftermath. Harding has worked at IlBuco for ten years and anyone who has ever had the pleasure of knowing him can attest he is quite simply one of the best human beings you will ever meet. He is kind beyond explanation and his generosity knows nobounds. As we all struggled to find a way to help Harding and his family we decided to create this page to reach out to anyone who has ever enjoyed a meal at Il Buco to make a very personal donation. Harding's mother and aunt had their houses leveled as a result of the earthquake and they, like all Haitians, are struggling to survive at this very moment. We are trying to raise as much money as possible in the next 30 days so we can send this money to Harding's family so that they can rebuild their lives. Please find it in your hearts to help a man who never asks for anything and who gives all of us so much.

MAKE A DONATION HERE
100% of the proceeds will go directly to Harding's family in Haiti

Donuts are Forever....

On February 6th 2010 the third annual Donuts are Forever benefit concert is being held at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY to raise money for the J Dilla Foundation. Both the Bell House and the event's promoter Rare Form NYC have agreed to let me film the event for my forthcoming feature documentary Raise it Up For Ma Dukes. I just want to say thank you to the Bell House and to Rare Form, particularly Eric Raphael, for being so incredibly helpful in coordinating what is going to be a dope event.

J Dilla Changed My Life