Illa J

Illa J
Birth name	John Derek Yancey
Born	(1986-10-13) October 13, 1986 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer, producer, songwriter,
Instruments	Turntables, MPC3000, sampler, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, vocals, bass[1]
Years active	2004-present
Labels	Delicious Vinyl Records, Yancey Media Group
Associated acts	J Dilla, Frank Nitt Slum Village

John Derek Yancey^[1] (born October 13, 1986)^[1] better known by his stage name Illa J, is a rapper, singer, producer and songwriter^[1] from Detroit, Michigan who has released several albums on Delicious Vinyl Records.^[1] He is the younger brother of the late Hip-Hop artist J Dilla, and currently an active member of hip hop group Slum Village and is also one half of the hip hop duo Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt.^[1]

Early life

Illa J grew up in a musical family. He is the younger brother of hip hop artist J Dilla,^[2] and is the son of Maureen Yancey, a former Opera singer, and a former 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.^[3] According to Slum Village founding member T3, before getting into music Illa J's main focus was basketball.^[4] In the year of 2006, after the passing of his brother, he decided to drop out of Central Michigan University, and continue the family's involvement with music.^[5]

Career

In the year of 2008, he released his debut album,Yancey Boys on Delicious Vinyl Records. 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.^[6] Stones Throw Records released a digital instrumental version of the album in 2009.^[7] In the following year of 2010, he quietly released a second EP entitled, 4 Past Midnite.^[8] 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.^[9][10]

Discography

Solo albums

• 2008: Yancey Boys

Collaborative albums

• 2013: Evolution (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)
• 2013: Sunset Blvd. (with Frank Nitt as Yancey Boys)

EPs

• 2007: Illa J EP^[11]
• 2010: 4 Past Midnite ^[12]

Mixtapes

• 2012: Dirty Slums^[13] (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)
• 2013: Dirty Slums 2^[14] (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)

Singles

• 2008: "We Here"^[15]

• 2009: "Sound Like Love"^[16] (featuring Debi Nova)

• 2010: "Affair"^[17]

• 2012: "The Throwaway"^[18] (featuring Frank Nitt)

• 2013: "Quicksand" (Yancey Boys featuring Common and Dezi Paige)^[19]

Guest appearances

• Bishop Lamont & Black Milk - "Spectacular" from Caltroit (2007)^[20]

• J Dilla - "See That Boy Fly" from Jay Stay Paid (2009)^[21]

• Focus... - "Homage to Dilla" from Pay Homage series (2009)^[22]

• Grynch – "You Know Me (Remix)" from Chemistry 1.5 (2009)^[23]

• Roc C - "Turn It Up" (2010)^[24]

• Slum Village - "The Reunion, Pt. 2" from Villa Manifesto (2010)

• Cris Prolific - "Voyage" from Art/Money Vol. 1 (2011)^[25]

• Jonti - "The Days Have Turned" (2011)^[26]

• J Dilla - "Do It for Dilla Dawg" from Rebirth of Detroit (2012)^[27]

• Slum Village - "Greatness," "Nightmares (No Mas)," "Look at Yo Face," "How It Feel," "What You Want," "Un Fuc Witable" from Dirty Slums 2 (2013)^[28]

• Jonti - "Home" (2013)^[29]

References

External links

• Illa J's Official Twitter
• Illa J's Official Soundcloud
• Yancey Media Group
• Illa J MTV

Illa J Studio albums Yancey Boys (2008) EPs Illa J EP (2007) 4 Past Midnite (2010) Collaboration albums Sunset Blvd. (2013) Related articles J Dilla Frank Nitt Yancey Boys Slum Village Delicious Vinyl Records Stones Throw Records