Herman Hayes, uncle of legendary hip-hop producer J Dilla, is launching a new doughnut bakery in Detroit called Dilla’s Delights.
Since his death in February 2006, Dilla has been celebrated with countless posthumous releases, and they don’t look like letting up anytime soon. According to Hayes, a long-time baker [via Detroit News], “I want to honor my nephew in the right way … Not by putting out another album, but putting a sustainable business with his name on it that I plan on being in Detroit long after I’m gone. It’s just what I can give back to him for giving us that music.”
The last album Dilla released while alive, of course, was 2006’s Donuts. Hayes claims that “[Dilla\ was on his deathbed making Donuts, and I felt like that was partly a tribute to me [Hayes used to bring Dilla doughnuts as a child, and eventually got him hooked on the snacks]. I felt I should honor that and respect that and give back to him.”
Dilla’s Delights is set to open in Detroit’s Harmonic Park this Autumn, with the menu sporting Dilla-referencing items such as Fantastic Fritters (Fantastic was an album by Slum Village), McNasty Macaroons (‘McNasty Filth’ is a track by Jaylib) and more. The store will constantly have vinyl spinning, both of Dilla’s productions and records that he sampled.