J Dilla lives on in his hometown Detroit. This morning Dilla’s Delights doughnuts shop opened in downtown Detroit and they’ve already sold out.
The beloved Hip-Hop producer and artist passed away in 2006, just days after the release of his solo album, Donuts. Since then, his name has forever been connected to the baked good. Now, Detroiters [and travelers if it’s that serious] can savor the late producers favorite treat in remembrance of him at Dilla’s Delights.
Founded by Dilla‘s uncle, Herman Hayes aka “Uncle Herm,” the shop opened on Tuesday morning [May 3] at 5 a.m. Unfortunately, the demand was bigger than the supply as Dilla’s Delights sold out of donuts by 9 a.m.
“Not a bad problem, but we wish he had enough to last until the afternoon,” said Glenn, one of the workers at the shop to Detroit’s Fox 2 News. “But we kept bringing batches in and they kept going just like that.”
“Uncle Herm,” who is a veteran doughnut baker, makes the doughnuts himself using 100% organic flour. Since the ingredients are all natural, they don’t have long shelf lives, so selling out may be a good thing. There are currently 10-15 different flavors available.
Dilla’s Delights was originally set to open in 2013 but experienced delays. In the meanwhile, the doughnuts were sold at various Detroit stores and businesses.
Dilla was introduced to the Hip-Hop audience at large as a member of Slum Village. He would later leave the group and gain recognition as a producer for Hip-Hop acts like The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. He also worked with Erykah Badu and Janet Jackson.
He released two solo albums as a rapper/producer, 2001’s Welcome To Detroit and 2003’s Champion Sound with Madlib. On February 7, 2006 he released Donuts, an album featuring a collection of his instrumentals. He died three days later after battling the rare blood disease thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Dilla’s Delights will be open Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. until sellout.
photo: Johnny Tergo
