My Dilemma Over Dilla: Detroit’s Angel
by be.
Due to legalities and the possibility of legal action being taken against me by those in charge of merchandise related to or pertaining to the name or likeness of James “J Dilla” Yancey, I will not be releasing the tee I had planned to drop commemorating the 5 Year Anniversary of his death, today – February 10, 2011.
I spent much of yesterday promoting the fact that I had a goal set to raise $10K in his name, but unfortunately I’ve been advised against the idea from a number of parties suggesting I gracefully make due with having good intentions rather than pushing good product and helping to provide monetary aide to either lupus research or the promotion of the arts for those who are not in the position to express their crafts due to financial restraints through the JDilla Foundation.
As many of you already know, having legal action taken against me is something that I’m used to, and adversity is something that I thrive heavily off of, but the sensitivity of dealing with a dedication piece for a man who can only watch while those who try to help benefit his cause and legacy are shut down again and again was too much for me to move forward with. Though I did my best to stand my ground respectively, plead my case thoroughly and be honest in my intentions with the people I was in touch with, I got the sense that this wasn’t a realm to be playing in. And while I am the type to stand up to a giant for the sake of proving you don’t always have to win to be the victor, the fact that Dilla himself is not present to speak on this subject put me in a position to step away.
The feeling I have over this matter is bitter. I am an artist and a designer, and often my medium is graphics on shirts. That’s my creative voice and that’s my way of living semi-eternally with those who support my opinions, creations and passions. I’m forced in this situation to suppress my true motivations to create and also to help those in need because of legalities, contracts, laws, hoopla and hoop jumping. It’s bullshit. And I’m not thrilled about this at all.
In my own gestures to try to go about this in the best way possible, I was met with warning signs from a number of sources. Some were friends, others acquaintances, others a little closer to the powers that be. And from all angles, my mind was slightly boggled.
In one email, I replied:
“I have a goal to raise $10k whether it’s for Lupus or the promotion of the arts for those who are not in the position to express their crafts due to financial restraints, and I will get there. If I hold that money until it’s time to sort out where it rightfully needs to be, I will. But what I won’t do is cut my passion for this short due to fear of what an attorney is going to pick apart about the design, knowing damn well that the law aside, you, me, Ma Dukes and Dilla himself would not be talking legalities when it came down to wanting to do good to benefit the creative and ill positioned.”
I was given the opportunity to give the funds directly to Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, and even in exploring this I was hit with more skepticism about whether my acts would be taken bitterly or not. Again, I was shocked, thinking that there are so many boundaries implemented when your intentions are solely to help those who need it. On the phone I referenced how people fleeing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were turned back by soldiers with guns. In a time of desperate need, it seems we will go in reverse toward embarrassingly desperate measures to refuse aide where it’s been terribly absent.
I’m still in shock over this all.
Tonight, during the emails and phone conversations, contemplations and decision making, I designed another tee. It’s not the shirt I was going to release today to commemorate the 5 year death anniversary of a man who’s work ethic I so strongly have tried to model my own after. It’s an entirely different one. It’s a design fueled from the frustration and anger with the way some of our passions are turned to pits of coal gone cold. It’s a reminder to me and for me that this whole ordeal is being overseen by those above us. It’s a piece that brings me back to the times when I sat at home in a tiny apartment with no heat or air conditioning, designing because I thought that my passions might be able to light a spark in the heart of someone else one day; during a time when all I had was my girl and an idea, and even while I was broke, I created because I knew I was born to continue to create as my grandfather did.
They can’t stop me from putting this one out. This isn’t between me and them really. This is bigger than us all.
Take it in.. and let me know your thoughts on this whole situation.
Detroit’s Angel by Bryan Espiritu for TheLegendsLeague
Inspired by Big Sean’s line: “Detroit’s Angel, I even got Red Wings”.
Rest in Peace J Dilla. Your work inspires my life.
Love&Above,
Bryan
- Bryan 'be.' Espiritu
Wow, shirt is lookin sick. I admire your work and plight. keep goin.
Damn. I still don’t really understand what kind of backlash you recieved, and what possible basis there’d be for them. I’m sitting here shaking my head.
The drive and passion by you is inspiring though, be.
Life, Love, Music and Rants indeed.
Respect.
i love how you took an idea and ran with it until you couldn’t anymore. i was disappointed to find out that you couldn’t help them out. it’s a shame though, great cause.
Easily shut the game down with this tee, pure genius design.
” and if they hate, then let them hate and watch the money pile up ”
#fuckem
i hope your next design concept is on the “red tape” that always seems to stifle creative expression and honest intentions.
if all else fails, i would pick a cause that Dilla stood for and make a donation in his name.
they can’t stop the hustle and they sure as hell can’t stop the heart.
J dilla saved my life. Love your cause and ambiton.. Inspiring
Straight bs the man always tryna keep a brotha down! The design is straight fire tho. Hit me up for one them shirts on the low tho.
Very clever design my dude! As u know, corporate will only worry about one line… the bottom line. You must’ve learned a lot from this experience, and it is clear Dilla continues to inspire and motivate u. Has his mother discusssed with u any possible ways to bypass all the frustrating red tape? Keep us posted!
-Sik
Its Incredible what can be created from a ‘calamitous’ situation. You stay winning with this piece.
amazing.
great work.
beautiful piece.
despite any setbacks/curveballs that ever get thrown your way, your greater love for art never fails your vision to continue creating. keep at it!
This is amazing Bryan. J Dilla is a major influence on my life too so I can’t tell you how cool this is to see.
Fuck what everyone else says, let them serve their papers. And then even after they have, send them their paper with $10k written on it. “With a whole labour of love and a little hate, Bryan”
#POW
Being a DJ all I do is spin dilla and 9th beats. Only ones worth the effort
Show off the original plz
Such a rare thing it is in life to have pure, good intentions. And how sad it is that they aren’t accepted, no matter how pure and how good.
I came across the exact same dilemma when a friend/fellow co-worker passed away untimely last year. He and I worked for IBM and I wanted to set up a charity fundraiser for one of the charities he was actively involved with. I was planning on running a half marathon in his honour in and get pledges for the charity with the help of IBM but they would have nothing to do with it. They didn’t see it as a legit cause but rather me trying to use them to make money for a charity. So in the end I started my own fundraiser and did it all myself. So, well done man, forget all those people who don’t believe in your pure intentions. Do your thing your own way. When there’s a will, there’s a way.
in every organization I’ve worked with we’ve had to turn down many ideas for some amazing fund raising initiatives and all due to the politics and legalities behind it. its bullshit but every time i had to deal with these people personally and was able to see the sweat and effort but most importantly the heart that went into their projects i would tell them to go ahead and raise their money and send in their funds as a third party donation. they can’t turn that down. a lot of times these foundations are concerned also with balancing their books come end of year and having to look back at charitable receipts.
now I’m not familiar with trademarks and copyrights and all that but its a fucken shame to have your artistic outlet asphyxiated by corporate bullshit. I say you go ahead and raise those $10K and slam it in their faces.
“How you like them apples?”
I’m not gonna repeat the same angry rant from the Gucci Mane b-shit; you know how I feel about these situations.
What I will do is support you, the new concept, as a firm reminder, and a building block to the greater, and more important, argument.
May Dilla rest in piece and all those with terminal blood illnesses find their way back to health.
Godspeed.
D
He who will one day teach men to fly will have moved all boundary stones, all boundary stones themselves will fly into the air to him, he shall baptize the earth anew as the weightless
power and love to you
keep your finger on that pulse
M
Big ups to brian and all the hard work and effort attributed to his project. As a student and aspiring entrepreneur, your work serves as both inspiration AND motivation. You’ve designed some dope pieces and I am very fond of the brand image you’ve created for your business. Great work! Thank you for serving as an inspiration to our community and all others. 1 Love T.O!
Regards,
Tiggz