The Detroit Pistons have announced a retail collaboration with Detroit-born rapper, songwriter, and producer J. Dilla, celebrating his life and legacy in music and culture. The capsule collection will be available on March 13 exclusively on Pistons313Shop.com, coinciding with what would have been Dilla’s 50th birthday.
Recognized as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, J. Dilla’s influence extends far beyond his hometown. The Pistons, in partnership with Dilla’s Estate and his family, felt compelled to share his story, especially following the recent 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
“Those familiar with Dilla’s musical genius understand his impact on hip-hop but there are still so many who aren’t familiar with his legacy,” said Bilal Saeed, VP of Brand & Marketing Strategy. “The Pistons wanted to tell his story in a creative way while also continuing to shed light on the city’s impact on music around the world.”
“It has honestly been a long time coming,” Dilla’s daughter Ja’Mya Yancey said. “I am just so glad that we were finally able to do something so major through the appropriate channels and highlight my dad in a way that was fun and exciting while respecting his estate at the same time.”
“It means a lot to see the estate and the Pistons collaboration in celebrating and continuing my father’s legacy,” Ty’Monae Whitlow, J. Dilla’s second daughter, said. “Seeing the love Detroit has for him and for us as a family is heartwarming. I can’t wait to be a part of and to see what the collaboration entails.”
Designed in collaboration with Detroit-based rapper Royce 5’9”, who served as the project’s art director, each piece in the collection pays homage to J. Dilla’s unique style and contributions to music. Royce, having worked closely with Dilla before his passing, sees this collaboration as a way to honor his legacy and complete their “unfinished business.”
“Dilla’s enduring legacy is a treasure that must be safeguarded at any expense,” said Royce. “It is a great honor to be responsible for curating his likeness in this exclusive merchandise drop entrusted to me by his estate and the Pistons. This campaign holds major significance not just for myself, but also for the city of Detroit and the hip-hop community as a whole.”
The collection’s unveiling will lead to 313 Day, a significant date for Detroit when the Pistons will host the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena. This collaboration celebrates J. Dilla’s impact and fosters a connection between Detroit’s music and sports culture.
The late J Dilla is being honored with a new merch collection to celebrate Dilla Day 2024. It launched today, on what would have been his 50th birthday, as part of a collaboration between Roland, Roland Lifestyle, and Save The Music Foundation.
Including hats, shirts, hoodies, and more items, the designs come in different colors, with both J Dilla’s name or image, and the Roland logo featured as the graphics. As one specific example, “Michigan” t-shirt is $40 as the rapper‘s “likeness” represents Detroit.
Roland also has plans to drop another J Dilla-themed merch collection this fall.
“Our family comes from a musical house where Roland machines helped us create so much music over the years,” Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, J Dilla’s mother, shared in a statement. “This partnership feels right to me, as both my son and Roland have inspired and influenced many musicians. It is a great way to continue James’s legacy.”
“Growing up, J Dilla changed my approach to creativity, and it is an honor to celebrate his legacy through this partnership,” Nathan Chandra, the creative director at Roland Lifestyle, added. “With proceeds from the collection’s sales benefiting the J Dilla Music Technology Grant and the Save The Music Foundation, J Dilla continues to impact culture and the future of music from the next world.”
In the late ‘90s, Slum Village emerged as a formidable force in Hip Hop. They burst into the scene with poignant lyrics and a commitment to authenticity. Despite the challenges the group and its members faced, Slum Village has endured and managed to stay together. Although their popularity has declined, the essence of the group has endured over the years. However, there have been different lineups in the group since it was first formed. Because of that, some fans may not know past members, depending on when they began listening to the group. Lovers of the group are in luck though, as Slum Village will be releasing a new album, FUN, soon enough. For old fans who lost track of the group, and newer fans, here’s an overview of the state of Slum Village and the whereabouts of its members.
Slum Village: Detroit Kings
In 1996, J Dilla, T3, and Baatin, the founding members of Slum Village, formed the group in Detroit, Michigan. Subsequently, the first album they recorded together, Fantastic, Vol. 1, unofficially dropped as a bootleg release in 1997. It wasn’t until nine years later that the group officially released the album. Nevertheless, Fantastic, Vol. 1 is still regarded as their debut album. As a trio, the original lineup signed their first record deal in 1998 with Barak/A&M Records. After Fantastic Vol. 1 made its way to listeners, the group’s popularity grew. As the group’s star ascended, they released Fantastic, Vol. 2 (2000), their acclaimed sophomore album.
Lineup Changes
While they achieved commercial success and critical acclaim, Slum Village soon faced the harsh realities of the industry, as well as inner turmoil. In 2001, J Dilla left the group to pursue a solo career. Soon after, T3 onboarded Elzhi as a new member, and along with Baatin, the trio released Trinity (Past, Present and Future) in 2002. However, shortly after the album dropped, Baatin had to drop out of Slum Village due to health complications. As a result, T3 and Elzhi were the only members of Slum Village on their fourth album, Detroit Deli (A Taste of Detroit). They remained a duo for their self-titled fifth album as well. Fortunately, in 2008, T3 announced that Baatin would finally rejoin Slum Village. In addition, he also announced that J Dilla’s younger brother Illa J, and producer Young RJ would join as members of Slum Village.
Sadly, Baatin passed away in 2009, but he had already recorded new material with Slum Village. As such, he is a credited performer on the group’s sixth album, Villa Manifesto (2010). Unfortunately, this was also the last album recorded or released with Elzhi in the lineup, as he left the group in July 2010. Subsequently, after their seventh album, Evolution (2013), was released, Illa J left the group as well. Since then, Slum Village has operated as a duo, with the current lineup consisting of T3 and Young RJ.
A founding member of Slum Village, T3 is the only one to have never left the lineup. Besides his work with the group, the rapper and producer never really embarked on any solo musical ventures. He has been the most devoted member of the group since its inception, and he remains committed to the group. Besides music, T3 also works as a radio host for Hot 107.5 Hip Hop Detroit.
While he doesn’t rap, Young RJ significantly contributed to the sound of Slum Village for years before he officially joined the group. He has production credits on Slum Village albums as far back as 2002’s Trinity (Past, Present and Future). In addition, the producer has been releasing solo and collaborative projects since the mid-2000s. On September 23, 2022, he released World Tour, his most recent album. He is one half of the current lineup of Slum Village and tours with T3 for performances.
Before Elzhi left Slum Village in 2010, he released his debut album, The Preface, in 2008. Since then, he has dropped two additional albums, as well as several mixtapes and collaborative albums. In 2020, the rapper released Seven Times Down Eight Times Up. His latest project, Heavy Vibrato (2023), is a collaborative album with rapper and producer Oh No.
As aforementioned, Illa J is the younger brother of former member J Dilla. The rapper’s solo debut album was released in 2008 before joining the group. After joining in the early 2010s, he left the group to re-focus on his solo career. Since then, he has released several music projects, including his most recent album, No Traffic (2023). Although he left Slum Village, he has appeared as a guest artist on a few of their tracks like, “Fantastic/Love Is” and “Expressive.”
J Dilla AKA Jay Dee
Another founding member of Slum Village, J Dilla only stayed for their first two albums. Subsequently, he left to focus on his solo career. Between 2001 and 2006, the producer and rapper released three acclaimed solo albums and three EPs. However, on February 10, 2006, he unfortunately passed away at the age of 32 due to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and lupus. Since his untimely demise, many posthumous projects have been released under his name. These include the iconic Hip Hop classic, The Shining(2006), Dillarronic (2015), and The Diary (2016), among others.
Baatin
The third founding member of Slum Village, Baatin first left the group in 2002 due to health complications. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Yet, he returned in 2008 and contributed to Villa Manifesto. However, the rapper died before the album was officially released in 2010. Baatin sadly passed away on July 31, 2009, due to an accidental overdose of drugs. He was 35 and was succeeded by his two kids, Michael Majesty Ellis and Aura Grace Glover, as well as his sister, Tina.
Iconic producer and beatmaker J Dilla has a legacy that’s honored and known by music lovers worldwide. The late musician died at the age of 32 from health issues. However, his younger brother, Illa J, has taken to social media to express his frustration with individuals in the music industry. These people, in his view, exploit his brother’s name for personal gain. In an Instagram post, Illa J didn’t mince his words. He condemned those he believes are using his brother’s memory for their own benefit. “It’s just gross how, not only do they use my brother … they use me to get to my brother. They do it in such a gross way,” Illa J emphasized.
He captioned the video: “To Whom it May Concern, y’all know who you are! weird a** fake a**, GEEK DOWN!!!” Illa J, himself an accomplished musician with nearly two decades in the industry, used his platform to call out this behavior. Although he did not specify the identities or instances he was addressing, he addressed the industry as a whole. “I’ve been in this industry for almost 20 years now. It just makes me disappointed in this industry, in all these people,” he continued. Illa J highlighted the hypocrisy that he believes is present throughout the music world.
Hip hop artist J Dilla of the group Slum Village photographed at the Key Club in 2000 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images)
He emphasized the stark difference between genuine love for his brother and the pursuit of personal gain. Furthermore, expressed his disappointment with those who claim to be ardent admirers of J Dilla but are primarily motivated by financial interests. “And all these people that ya’ll think that they love my brother so much, they’re just out here to make their name look closer to my brother, but they really don’t care about him, y’know what I mean? It’s kind of annoying.”
In a final statement, Illa J didn’t hold back. “I’m sick of it, I’m sick of these fake-a** muthaf**kas tryin’ to act like they love my brother but they really don’t — they just care about their pockets. All you muthaf**kas are gross,” he concluded. Illa J’s words serve as a reminder that authentic respect for an artist’s legacy should always come from a place of genuine admiration and reverence, rather than exploiting a name for personal gain. J Dilla’s contributions to music continue to be celebrated, and it’s crucial to honor his memory with sincerity and authenticity.
On this day in Hip Hop history, The Source Magazine celebrates the 16th anniversary of the late greatJ Dilla’s first posthumous album The Shining. This relic of the culture is one of Hip Hop’s more cherished albums. In its “unfinished” glory, The Shining serves as the first LP that Jay Dee spits on since his debut Welcome 2 Detroit in 2001.
As J. Dilla’s time on this Earth was coming to a close, he was persistently working on what would become his final masterpiece. Unable to finish on his own, Dilla called upon fellow Detroit artist Karriem Riggins to put the final touches on the project for him. With Riggins acting as if inside Dilla’s head, this style of completion brought about an interestingly unique sound for the album. Although some may call it “disjointed”, the warm and unpolished mastering of this album give it the nostalgic quality of a Golden Age LP.
With features from Common, D’Angelo, and Black Thought this album is a staple of Hip Hop soul. Dilla’s trademark smooth cut production beefed up with live instrumentation created a sound that showed a matured J. Dilla more refined than before. Short and to the point, like the majority of his work, this project is project was the perfect remedy to aid the loss of one of the most loved and respected figures in Hip Hop.
Commercially, the album was met with success as well as critical acclaim. Despite being put out by the independent Barely Breaking Even Records, The Shining peaked at #103 on the Billboard 200 chart and #35 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. Although sales may have not been on par with the hit albums of the time, Dilla’s work still received a momentous amount of praise and admiration on his phantom album.
Erykah Badu is currently on her “Unfollow Me” tour with rapper Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def). During her stop in San Diego, CA, she opened up about her musical relationship with the late J Dilla. Via Detroit rapper Frank Nitt’s Insta feed, she talked about the rap producer at length. “He didn’t really talk a lot,” Erykah said when a fan asked about what it was like to work with him. “He was very quiet… [Communicated] through the music, mostly.”
She also called J Dilla “super organized.” She referenced a detail that all of J Dilla’s Coca-Cola cans in his fridge were aligned so the logo was facing out. Dilla was an engineer through and through, and it showed. Erykah continues by saying he was generous and merciful. He taught people in the music industry, but Erykah Badu also says he would let others get away with stuff. “Like, he let a lot of people get away with, like, biting his sh*t,” Badu says. J Dilla died in 2006 from lupus complications. But his resolve impressed Erykah: “This is the most important thing; he was sick, but nobody knew. That speaks volumes.”
J Dilla was a tremendous hip-hop producer. His career, which started in the ’90s, included collaborating with A Tribe Called Quest and Common. He became a part of the Soulquarians collective, with Erykah Badu also being a member. Mama’s Gun, Badu’s second album from 2000, features the track “Didn’t Cha Know.” Dilla produced that track for his collective teammate, creating a solid friendship built around music. Recently, Logic claimed he had an entire album full of J Dilla beats that he eventually scrapped.
Erykah Badu’s “Unfollow Me” Tour is speaking to the current rampant cancel culture. Breaking down the meaning with VIBE a few weeks back, the Neo Soul artist lets her fans know if they don’t agree with what she says, then they should simply unsubscribe. “Whenever someone says something in the comments, they don’t agree; I don’t care, unfollow me, doesn’t matter.” She says she’s on a journey and that her audience is on their own journey, and that that’s all okay. The tour will conclude in late July in San Antonio, TX.
Earlier this week, the mother of late production great J Dilla opened up her son’s catalovia STEM Player, dropping ten new songs in an exclusive partnership between the Yancey family and STEM.
The new catalog of songs – as well as an exclusive mini from the eyes of Ma Dukes on J DILLA’s legacy, will be available to all subscribers, which will be instantly accessible to all Stem Player customers.
Alex Klein, cofounder and CEO of Stem, said, “Stem is about new forms and formats. J Dilla invented how we produce music today. To distribute these never-before-heard songs from the Jay Dee era is an honor. To do so in clean vocals, drums, bass, and instrumental is something even more special. The amazing Yancey family understands that creative thinking can change everything.”
Dilla’s exclusive, newly released music can be found HERE
J Dilla left an imprint on rap that will never fade away. The crispy drums he used influenced people like Kanye West. Years later, he birthed the new generation of lo-fi producers. The Donutsproducer’s influence continues to be heard in hip-hop nearly 15 years after his tragic passing. His collaborators and friends have shared his story and kept his legacy alive. However, for new fans who’ve yet to fully comprehend his genius, Hulu and FX are releasing a documentary titled, The Legacy Of J Dilla.
The upcoming documentary will make its debut on FX on April 7th at 10 p.m. Afterward, Hulu will upload it to their platform to stream on the same day. The New York Times will present the upcoming doc, which they describe as “an intimate portrait” of Dilla’s life and legacy. The documentary also includes exclusive access to his family. The Legacy Of J Dilla will certainly become a must-watch for hip-hop heads. It’s no doubt that it’ll explore his life and legacy in a way that hasn’t been done before.
The Legacy Of J Dilla Drops On April 7th
‘The Legacy of J Dilla’ original documentary is coming to FX / Hulu on April 7th, courtesy of the New York Times.
The documentary, which has been directed and produced by Christopher Frierson and Esther Dere, will include contributions from Dilla’s family and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his estate and legacy following his 2006 death. “I’m a Detroiter, and I’m a fighter,” his mother, Maureen Yancey, says. “I will stay in there, and I will fight. I won’t let anybody put my son down, what I do for him down, because I’m here to lift up his music, his legacy.”
In addition to his forthcoming documentary, Questlove also has a documentary in the works based on the Welcome To Detroitartist. Dilla Time is described as “part biography, part musicology, and part musical meditation,” based on the 2022 biography, Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas. “J Dilla was our teacher. And what he taught us was how to feel rhythm in a way we had never felt before,” Quest said. “I’m so honored to be a part of bringing his story to the world through this documentary.”
On this date in 2001, Slum Village producer Jay Dee changed his name to J Dilla and released his debut solo album entitled Welcome 2 Detroit. The 16 track BBE distributed LP featured otherwise unknown artists from Dilla’s hometown such as Elzhi and Phat Kat among others.
Although it is a solo album, on several cuts, such as the first single “Pause”, Dilla takes a backseat and lets others command the mic. Dilla also sings the lead vocals on his cover of Donald Byrd’s “Think Twice”, which also has Motown crooner Dwele playing the keyboard and singing background vocals.
Salute to the late beat making icon J Dilla and the rest of his BBE family for bringing Hip Hop such an unforgettable classic!
On this date in 2006, James Dewitt Yancey better known as J Dilla lost his battle with Lupus and died from cardiac arrest in his home in Los Angeles. The Detroit beatmaker extraordinaire was only 32 years old.
He passed away just three days after his 32nd born day, but managed to release his final album, Donuts, to the public, which received its name because of Dilla’s love for the sugar-saturated pastries.
Dilla has produced classic tracks for several Hip Hop legends including A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Common, MF Doom and a host of others.
J Dilla will forever be etched in the history of Hip Hop, with the unofficial “Dilla Day” holiday that is celebrated on his birthday every year in his honor for his contributions to Hip Hop.
