Illa J
American rapper
Illa J
Illa J Performing at Hip Hop You Don't Stop in Montreal in September 2015
Birth name John Derek Yancey Born (1986-10-13 ) October 13, 1986 (age 37) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.Genres Hip hop Occupation(s) Rapper , singer, producer, songwriter,Instrument(s) Turntables , MPC3000 , sampler , drum machine , keyboards, synthesizer, drums, vocals, bass[ 1] Years active 2004–present Labels Bastard Jazz Recordings, Delicious Vinyl Records , Yancey Media Group
Musical artist
John Derek Yancey [ 1] (born October 13, 1986),[ 1] better known by his stage name Illa J , is an American rapper, singer, producer and songwriter[ 1] from Detroit, Michigan who has released two albums on Delicious Vinyl Records .[ 1] [ 2] He is the younger brother of the late hip hop producer, and rapper J Dilla , and a former member of hip hop group Slum Village .[ 3] He also released a collaborative album as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt .[ 1] Illa J's second solo album ILLA J came out via the Brooklyn based record label, Bastard Jazz.[ 4]
Early life
Illa J grew up in a musical family. He is the younger brother of J Dilla ,[ 5] and is the son of Maureen Yancey, a former opera singer, and Beverly Dewitt Yancey, a jazz bassist. John Yancey was the youngest of four children including a sister (Martha) and two brothers (Earl and James). The family lived in a house near McDougall and Nevada, on the east side of Detroit.[ 6] According to Slum Village founding member T3, before getting into music Illa J's main focus was basketball.[ 7] In 2006, after the death of his brother, he decided to drop out of Central Michigan University , and continue the family's involvement with music.[ 8]
Career
In 2008, he released his debut album, Yancey Boys on Delicious Vinyl Records .[ 9] It is produced entirely by previously unused beats that were made by J Dilla and were left sitting at the offices of Delicious Vinyl over several years.[ 10] Stones Throw Records released a digital instrumental version of the album in 2009.[ 11] In the following year (2010), he quietly released a second EP entitled, 4 Past Midnite .[ 12] In the year 2013, he followed with the album Evolution as Slum Village along with rapper T3 and producer Young RJ,[ 1] and a collaborative album with Frank Nitt , entitled Sunset Blvd .[ 13] [ 14] In 2015, he released ILLA J on Bastard Jazz Records.
Discography
Studio albums
Collaborative albums
EPs
2007: Illa J EP [ 16]
2010: 4 Past Midnite [ 17]
Mixtapes
Singles
Guest appearances
Bishop Lamont & Black Milk – "Spectacular" from Caltroit (2007)[ 29]
J Dilla – "See That Boy Fly" from Jay Stay Paid (2009)[ 30]
Focus... – "Homage to Dilla" from Pay Homage series (2009)[ 31]
Grynch – "You Know Me (Remix)" from Chemistry 1.5 (2009)[ 32]
Roc C – "Turn It Up" (2010)[ 33]
Slum Village – "The Reunion, Pt. 2" from Villa Manifesto (2010)
Cris Prolific – "Voyage" from Art/Money Vol. 1 (2011)[ 34]
Jonti – "The Days Have Turned" (2011)[ 35]
J Dilla – "Do It for Dilla Dawg" from Rebirth of Detroit (2012)[ 36]
Slum Village – "Greatness", "Nightmares (No Mas)", "Look at Yo Face", "How It Feel", "What You Want", "Un Fuc Witable" from Dirty Slums 2 (2013)[ 37]
Jonti – "Home" (2013)[ 38]
Potatohead People – "Explosives" from Explosives feat. Illa J & Moka Only / Blue Charms (2014)[ 39]
Potatohead People – "Seeds" from Big Luxury (2015)[ 40]
Phife Dawg – "French Kiss Trois" from Forever (2022)
References
^ a b c d e f g "Illa J John Yancey" . Facebook.com . Retrieved November 20, 2013 .
^ "Illa J – Biography & History" . AllMusic . Retrieved December 14, 2016 .
^ "It Takes a Village: The Tragedy and Triumph of Detroit's Slum Village" . Vice.com . Retrieved December 25, 2021 .
^ "Interview with Illa J: Emcee on his new music, Slum Village, and more - AXS" . Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015 .
^ "Illa J Wiki, biography, pictures, Illa J songs & albums" . artistwiki.com .
^ Coombe, Doug. "Let it roll" . Detroit Metro Times . Retrieved December 25, 2021 .
^ "Interview: Slum Village" . Soundofboston.com . March 9, 2015.
^ "Illa J" . Apple Music .
^ "Yancey Boys – Illa J – Songs, Reviews, Credits" . AllMusic . Retrieved December 14, 2016 .
^ "Illa J - Hip Hop Galaxy" . Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Stones Throw Store" . Stonesthrow.com . Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2021 .
^ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ "Carrying on a Family Name: Yancey Boys (Interview) | URB" . Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ Baker, Soren (July 18, 2013). "J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP" . HipHopDX. Retrieved October 28, 2013 .
^ [1] [dead link ]
^ "Illa J – Illa J EP (CDr) at Discogs" . Discogs. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – 4 Past Midnite by Illa J" . iTunes. December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums by Slum Village" . iTunes.com . May 8, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums 2 by Slum Village" . iTunes.com . January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "We Here" by Illa J" . iTunes. August 26, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "Sounds Like Love" – EP by Illa J & Debi Nova" . iTunes. May 26, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "Affair" – Single by Illa J" . iTunes. December 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "The Throwaway" feat. Frank Nitt – EP by Yancey Boys" . iTunes. December 18, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "Quicksand" – EP by Yancey Boys" . iTunes. August 27, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "Strippers" by Illa J" . iTunes. April 13, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015 .
^ "iTunes – Music – "Universe" by Illa J" . iTunes. June 22, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015 .
^ "Bandcamp – Music – "All Good Pt. 2" feat. Moka Only & Ivan Ave by Illa J" . Bastard Jazz. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015 .
^ "Spotify – Enjoy the Ride by Illa J" . Spotify. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Black Milk Presents: Caltroit by Black Milk" . iTunes. January 1, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Jay Stay Paid by J Dilla" . iTunes. June 2, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…)" . 2dopeboyz. February 10, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch" . iTunes. October 6, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up | Blackout Hip Hop" . Blackout Hip Hop. April 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Art/Money by Cris Prolific" . iTunes. February 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Okayafrica Audio: Jonti feat. The Stepkids and Illa J 'The Days Have Turned' « Okayplayer" . Okayplayer. 2011. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Rebirth of Detroit by J Dilla" . iTunes. June 12, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Slum Village – Dirty Slums 2 – Download & Stream" . DJBooth.net. January 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Jonti – Home ft. Illa J | Ego Thieves" . Ego Thieves. February 22, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013 .
^ "Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only | Bandcamp" . Bastard Jazz. December 2, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2015 .
^ "Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J | Bandcamp" . Bastard Jazz. March 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015 .
External links
Studio albums Collaboration albums Related articles