Video director Andrew Gura explains how the iconic Donuts cover shot came to be. Above is the raw footage.

one completely unexpected outcome of the project was as follows: months later when stones throw art director jeff jank was designing the cover for dilla’s 2006 ‘donuts,’ he realized that he had no unseen photos of dilla and that dilla’s failing health made taking a new photo impossible. so he asked me if there were any stills from the shoot that might work for a record cover.

i picked about three out and sent them to him, and the rest, as they say, is history:

ps: i almost forgot. probably the coolest thing that came out of this whole situation was something that egon told me. apparently dilla’s mom said that she thought this photo perfectly captured her son’s spirit.