Illa J

Illa J

Illa J Performing at Hip Hop You Don't Stop in Montreal in September 2015
Background information
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 Bastard Jazz Recordings, Delicious Vinyl Records, Yancey Media Group
Associated acts J Dilla
Frank Nitt
Slum Village
Moka Only
Potatohead People

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 two albums on Delicious Vinyl Records.[1] He is the younger brother of the late Hip-Hop artist J Dilla, and a former member of hip hop group Slum Village. [2] He also released a collaborative album as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt.[1] Illa J's second solo album ILLA J LP will come out via Brooklyn based record label Bastard Jazz. [3]

Early life

Illa J grew up in a musical family. He is the younger brother of hip hop legend J Dilla,[4] 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.[5] According to Slum Village founding member T3, before getting into music Illa J's main focus was basketball.[6] 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.[7]

Career

In 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.[8] Stones Throw Records released a digital instrumental version of the album in 2009.[9] In the following year (2010), he quietly released a second EP entitled, 4 Past Midnite.[10] 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.[11][12] In 2015 he released ILLA J LP on Bastard Jazz Records.

Discography

Solo albums

Collaborative albums

EPs

Mixtapes

Singles

Guest appearances

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Illa J John Yancey". Facebook.com. Retrieved 20 Nov 2013.
  2. http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/it-takes-a-village-the-long-evolving-saga-of-detroits-slum-village-456
  3. http://www.axs.com/news/interview-with-illa-j-emcee-on-his-new-music-slum-village-and-more-50440
  4. http://artistwiki.com/illa-j
  5. Let it roll (Metro Times Detroit)
  6. http://soundofboston.com/interview-slum-village/
  7. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/illa-j/id286925141#fullText
  8. http://www.hiphopgalaxy.com/Illa-J-hip-hop-8107.html
  9. Stones Throw Store
  10. http://hiphopisdream.com/illa-j-4-past-midnight/#.Un0zj1_naM8
  11. http://www.urb.com/2013/11/06/carrying-on-a-legacy-yancey-boys-interview/
  12. Baker, Soren (18 July 2013). "J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP". HipHopDX. Retrieved 28 Oct 2013.
  13. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/illa-j/id1034961898
  14. "Illa J - Illa J EP (CDr) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  15. "iTunes - Music - 4 Past Midnite by Illa J". iTunes. 21 Dec 2010. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  16. "iTunes - Music - Dirty Slums by Slum Village". iTunes.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 20 Nov 2013.
  17. "iTunes - Music - Dirty Slums 2 by Slum Village". iTunes.com. 29 Jan 2013. Retrieved 20 Nov 2013.
  18. "iTunes - Music - "We Here" by Illa J". iTunes. 26 Aug 2008. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  19. "iTunes - Music - "Sounds Like Love" - EP by Illa J & Debi Nova". iTunes. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  20. "iTunes - Music - "Affair" - Single by Illa J". iTunes. 14 Dec 2010. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  21. "iTunes - Music - "The Throwaway" feat. Frank Nitt - EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. 18 Dec 2012. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  22. "iTunes - Music - "Quicksand" - EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. 27 Aug 2013. Retrieved 28 Oct 2013.
  23. "iTunes - Music - "Strippers" by Illa J". iTunes. 13 Apr 2015. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  24. "iTunes - Music - "Universe" by Illa J". iTunes. 22 Jun 2015. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  25. "Bandcamp - Music - "All Good Pt. 2" feat. Moka Only & Ivan Ave by Illa J". Bastard Jazz. 25 Sep 2015. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  26. "iTunes - Music - Black Milk Presents: Caltroit by Black Milk". iTunes. 1 Jan 2008. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  27. "iTunes - Music - Jay Stay Paid by J Dilla". iTunes. 2 Jun 2009. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  28. Shake (10 Feb 2009). "Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…)". 2dopeboyz. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  29. "iTunes - Music - Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch". iTunes. 6 Oct 2009. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  30. Indy (14 Apr 2010). "Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up | Blackout Hip Hop". Blackout Hip Hop. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  31. "iTunes - Music - Art/Money by Cris Prolific". iTunes. 14 Feb 2011. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  32. Killakam (2011). "Okayafrica Audio: Jonti feat. The Stepkids and Illa J 'The Days Have Turned' « Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  33. "iTunes - Music - Rebirth of Detroit by J Dilla". iTunes. 12 Jun 2012. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  34. "Slum Village - Dirty Slums 2 - Download & Stream". DJBooth.net. Jan 2013. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  35. Ran (22 Feb 2013). "Jonti – Home ft. Illa J | Ego Thieves". Ego Thieves. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  36. Ran (2 Dec 2014). "Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  37. Ran (2 Mar 2015). "Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.

External links

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