"In his short lifetime, J Dilla was a musician, producer and visionary who profoundly influenced rap and hip-hop. Given how prolific he was in his 32 years, why didn't his accolades come sooner?"
J Dilla
as Self (archive footage)
Mats Nileskär
as Self (archive audio)
Frank Nitt
as Self - Rapper, Frank n Dank; Friend
Martha Yancey
as Self - Sister
Illa J
as Self - Brother (as John Yancey)
Maureen Yancey
as Self - Mother
DJ Jazzy Jeff
as Self - Producer; Friend
Amp Fiddler
Q-Tip
Edwin Houghton
as Self - Journalist
Ali Shaheed Muhammad
Phat Kat
as Self - Rapper; Collaborator
Black Milk
as Self - Producer, Slum Village
Mike Ross
as Self - Founder, Delicious Vinyl
Raphael Saadiq
as Self - Producer, The Ummah
Robert Glasper
as Self - Jazz Musician
Busta Rhymes
Jonathan Dworkin
as Self - Management Team
Kelley L. Carter
House Shoes
as Self - D.J.; Friend
Common
as Self - Rapper; Friend
Karriem Riggins
as Self - Producer; Collaborator
Lauren Herstik
as Self - Reporter, The New York Times
T3
Baatin
Questlove
Esther Dere
Director
Leah Harari
Co-Producer
Producer
Liz Hodes
Supervising Producer
Nosarieme Garrick
Story Developer
John Tashiro
Director of Photography
Geoff O'Brien
Editor
Rachel Abrams
Kevin Vargas
Executive Producer
Jason Stallman
Liz Day
Sam Dolnick
Stephanie Preiss
Ken Druckerman
Banks Tarver
Christopher Frierson