Illa J

Illa J
Illa J Performing at Hip Hop You Don't Stop in Montreal in September 2015
Illa J Performing at Hip Hop You Don't Stop in Montreal in September 2015
Background information
Birth nameJohn Derek Yancey
Born (1986-10-13) October 13, 1986 (age 38)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • producer
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active2004–present
Labels
Formerly of

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

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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

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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

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Studio albums

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Collaborative albums

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EPs

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  • 2007: Illa J EP[16]
  • 2010: 4 Past Midnite[17]

Mixtapes

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Singles

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Guest appearances

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  • 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]
  • Debi Nova – Este Amores (2017)[41]
  • Phife Dawg – "French Kiss Trois" from Forever (2022)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Illa J John Yancey". Facebook.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "Illa J – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  3. ^ "It Takes a Village: The Tragedy and Triumph of Detroit's Slum Village". Vice.com. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Illa J Wiki, biography, pictures, Illa J songs & albums". artistwiki.com.
  6. ^ Coombe, Doug. "Let it roll". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Interview: Slum Village". Soundofboston.com. March 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "Illa J". Apple Music.
  9. ^ "Yancey Boys – Illa J – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  10. ^ "Illa J - Hip Hop Galaxy". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Stones Throw Store". Stonesthrow.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Carrying on a Family Name: Yancey Boys (Interview) | URB". Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  14. ^ Baker, Soren (July 18, 2013). "J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  15. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Illa J – Illa J EP (CDr) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  17. ^ "iTunes – Music – 4 Past Midnite by Illa J". iTunes. December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  18. ^ "iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums by Slum Village". iTunes.com. May 8, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  19. ^ "iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums 2 by Slum Village". iTunes.com. January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  20. ^ "iTunes – Music – "We Here" by Illa J". iTunes. August 26, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  21. ^ "iTunes – Music – "Sounds Like Love" – EP by Illa J & Debi Nova". iTunes. May 26, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  22. ^ "iTunes – Music – "Affair" – Single by Illa J". iTunes. December 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  23. ^ "iTunes – Music – "The Throwaway" feat. Frank Nitt – EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. December 18, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  24. ^ "iTunes – Music – "Quicksand" – EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. August 27, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  25. ^ "iTunes – Music – "Strippers" by Illa J". iTunes. April 13, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  26. ^ "iTunes – Music – "Universe" by Illa J". iTunes. June 22, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  27. ^ "Bandcamp – Music – "All Good Pt. 2" feat. Moka Only & Ivan Ave by Illa J". Bastard Jazz. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  28. ^ "Spotify – Enjoy the Ride by Illa J". Spotify. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  29. ^ "iTunes – Music – Black Milk Presents: Caltroit by Black Milk". iTunes. January 1, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  30. ^ "iTunes – Music – Jay Stay Paid by J Dilla". iTunes. June 2, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  31. ^ "Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…)". 2dopeboyz. February 10, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  32. ^ "iTunes – Music – Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch". iTunes. October 6, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  33. ^ "Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up | Blackout Hip Hop". Blackout Hip Hop. April 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  34. ^ "iTunes – Music – Art/Money by Cris Prolific". iTunes. February 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ "iTunes – Music – Rebirth of Detroit by J Dilla". iTunes. June 12, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  37. ^ "Slum Village – Dirty Slums 2 – Download & Stream". DJBooth.net. January 2013. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  38. ^ "Jonti – Home ft. Illa J | Ego Thieves". Ego Thieves. February 22, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  39. ^ "Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. December 2, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  40. ^ "Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. March 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  41. ^ "Debi Nova narra su ascenso en la música en 'Gran Ciudad'". La Nación (in Spanish). April 2, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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