Illa J

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][2] He is the younger brother of the late legendary 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 LP will come out via Brooklyn based record label Bastard Jazz.[4]

Illa J
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
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer, producer, songwriter,
InstrumentsTurntables, MPC3000, sampler, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, vocals, bass[1]
Years active2004-present
LabelsBastard Jazz Recordings, Delicious Vinyl Records, Yancey Media Group
Associated actsJ Dilla
Frank Nitt
Slum Village
Moka Only
Potatohead People

Early life

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

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

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

Mixtapes

Singles
  • 2008: "We Here"[20]
  • 2009: "Sound Like Love"[21] (featuring Debi Nova)
  • 2010: "Affair"[22]
  • 2012: "The Throwaway"[23] (featuring Frank Nitt)
  • 2013: "Quicksand" (Yancey Boys featuring Common and Dezi Paige)[24]
  • 2015: "Strippers"[25]
  • 2015: "Universe"[26]
  • 2015: "All Good Pt. 2"[27] (featuring Moka Only & Ivan Ave)
  • 2018: Enjoy the Ride [28]

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]

References
  1. "Illa J John Yancey". Facebook.com. Retrieved 20 Nov 2013.
  2. "Illa J - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  3. https://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/it-takes-a-village-the-long-evolving-saga-of-detroits-slum-village-456
  4. http://www.axs.com/news/interview-with-illa-j-emcee-on-his-new-music-slum-village-and-more-50440
  5. http://artistwiki.com/illa-j
  6. Let it roll (Metro Times Detroit)
  7. http://soundofboston.com/interview-slum-village/
  8. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/illa-j/id286925141#fullText
  9. "Yancey Boys - Illa J - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-11-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. Stones Throw Store
  12. http://hiphopisdream.com/illa-j-4-past-midnight/#.Un0zj1_naM8
  13. http://www.urb.com/2013/11/06/carrying-on-a-legacy-yancey-boys-interview/
  14. Baker, Soren (18 July 2013). "J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP". HipHopDX. Retrieved 28 Oct 2013.
  15. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/illa-j/id1034961898
  16. "Illa J - Illa J EP (CDr) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  17. "iTunes - Music - 4 Past Midnite by Illa J". iTunes. 21 Dec 2010. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  18. "iTunes - Music - Dirty Slums by Slum Village". iTunes.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 20 Nov 2013.
  19. "iTunes - Music - Dirty Slums 2 by Slum Village". iTunes.com. 29 Jan 2013. Retrieved 20 Nov 2013.
  20. "iTunes - Music - "We Here" by Illa J". iTunes. 26 Aug 2008. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  21. "iTunes - Music - "Sounds Like Love" - EP by Illa J & Debi Nova". iTunes. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  22. "iTunes - Music - "Affair" - Single by Illa J". iTunes. 14 Dec 2010. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  23. "iTunes - Music - "The Throwaway" feat. Frank Nitt - EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. 18 Dec 2012. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  24. "iTunes - Music - "Quicksand" - EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. 27 Aug 2013. Retrieved 28 Oct 2013.
  25. "iTunes - Music - "Strippers" by Illa J". iTunes. 13 Apr 2015. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  26. "iTunes - Music - "Universe" by Illa J". iTunes. 22 Jun 2015. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  27. "Bandcamp - Music - "All Good Pt. 2" feat. Moka Only & Ivan Ave by Illa J". Bastard Jazz. 25 Sep 2015. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  28. "Spotify - Enjoy the Ride by Illa J". Spotify. 16 Nov 2018. Retrieved 16 Nov 2018.
  29. "iTunes - Music - Black Milk Presents: Caltroit by Black Milk". iTunes. 1 Jan 2008. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  30. "iTunes - Music - Jay Stay Paid by J Dilla". iTunes. 2 Jun 2009. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  31. Shake (10 Feb 2009). "Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…)". 2dopeboyz. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  32. "iTunes - Music - Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch". iTunes. 6 Oct 2009. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  33. Indy (14 Apr 2010). "Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up | Blackout Hip Hop". Blackout Hip Hop. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  34. "iTunes - Music - Art/Money by Cris Prolific". iTunes. 14 Feb 2011. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  35. Killakam (2011). "Okayafrica Audio: Jonti feat. The Stepkids and Illa J 'The Days Have Turned' « Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  36. "iTunes - Music - Rebirth of Detroit by J Dilla". iTunes. 12 Jun 2012. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  37. "Slum Village - Dirty Slums 2 - Download & Stream". DJBooth.net. Jan 2013. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  38. Ran (22 Feb 2013). "Jonti – Home ft. Illa J | Ego Thieves". Ego Thieves. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 7 Nov 2013.
  39. Ran (2 Dec 2014). "Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
  40. Ran (2 Mar 2015). "Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. Retrieved 1 Oct 2015.
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