Re Imagined: Azymuth - Rico Suave Bossa Nova (J Dilla)

Azymuth, the legendary Brazilian group covered a J Dilla song Rico Suave Bossa Nova from his debut solo album, which they helped inspire. The song came on the 20th-anniversary box set edition of Jay album Welcome 2 Detroit (BBE).

J Dilla was heavily inspired by Brazilian music, as his drummer and co-producer Karriem Riggins. Jay Dee explains the genesis of this song in the album liner notes:

“I fell in love with Brazilian music the day I listened to a Sergio Mendes album. We used to have jam sessions in the studio after work was done, (and) one day my mans Karriem Riggins came through. I asked him for “Bossa nova”. He gave me exactly what I needed.”

Azymuth's drummer, Ivan Conti worked together with J Dilla's friend and collaborator, and hip-hop legend on his own, Madlib on a 2008 album Sujinho which they co-signed as Jackson Conti. Sampling and hip-hop way of production wasn't anything for him anymore, and he used that knowledge on his 2019 solo album Poison Fruit on Far Out Recordings. Azymuth released a fantastic album in 2020 on Jazz Is Dead Records.

Azymuth paid respect to a great producer with their version of Rico Suave Boss Nova, using elements of tropical jazz, funk, and their signature "crazy samba".

From our Blog: Hip hop producer Madlib and jazz drummer Karriem Riggins have teamed up as Jahari Massamba Unit with a new album coming

Listen below to Azymuth performing cover of J Dilla Rico Suave Bossa Nova:

Welcome 2 Detroit is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist J Dilla, released on February 26, 2001. The album followed his group Slum Village's critically acclaimed Fantastic, Vol. 2, and kicked off BBE's "Beat Generation" series (producer-driven albums). Welcome 2 Detroit bears the name "Jay Dee" as well as "J Dilla", and marks the first time Dilla (who until that point was still known as Jay Dee) officially used the name J Dilla.

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Watch below a video of Azymuth performing cover of J Dilla Rico Suave Bossa Nova: