Real Name: James Dewitt Yancey

Aliases: Jay Dee, Dilla, Dilla Dawg

BORN:

Feb 07, 1974

AGE:

51

NET WORTH:

$10 Million

HEIGHT:

5'4

BIO

J Dilla is regarded as one of the greatest producers of all time. Dilla’s combination of melodic loops, obscure samples, and hard-hitting drums made him one of the most revered boardsmiths. Dilla emerged in the mid-1990s underground Hip Hop scene in Detroit as a member of Slum Village. When Q-Tip heard the demo of the group, he reached out to Dilla and invited him to produce on A Tribe Called Quest’s album Beats, Rhymes and Life. Dilla went on to create classic material for a variety of artists including Busta Rhymes, Common, De La Soul, The Pharcyde, Ghostface Killah, and many more. Although his life and career were short, J Dilla is widely considered to be one of the most influential producers in the Hip Hop genre.

PROPS

J Dilla comes from a musical family. His father Beverly DeWitt Yancey wrote “It’s a Shame,” for The Spinners.
J Dilla played the cello, keyboards, trumpet, and violin, and mastered the drums.
J Dilla was a pioneer of the Detroit Hip Hop scene.
J Dilla was a founder, MC, and producer of Slum Village.
J Dilla was the first outsider producer to work on A Tribe Called Quest album.
J Dilla was a founding member of the Soulquarians collective.

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Top J Dilla Questions

Who was one of J-Dilla’s first managers?

Former Pistons and Bulls NBA player John Salley once managed J-Dilla.

Who was J-Dilla’s first mentor as a producer?

Amp Fiddler showed J-Dilla the ropes of production.

What was one of J-Dilla’s first placements?

J-Dilla produced “Runnin” and “Drop” by The Pharcyde.

Was J-Dilla ever signed as a solo artist?

J-Dilla was signed to a solo deal with MCA Records in 2002.

What was J-Dilla’s favorite piece of production equipment?

J-Dilla used the Moog Minimoog Voyager, Korg MicroKORG Synthesizer/Vocoder, and Akai MPC 3000.

How did J-Dilla die?

J-Dilla passed away due to complications from lupus.

J Dilla

Real name: James Dewitt Yancey

Aliases: Jay Dee, Dilla, Dilla Dawg

J Dilla Meets De La Soul On J.Period’s Incredible New Mashup Mixtape ‘Dilla Soul’

J Dilla Meets De La Soul On J.Period’s Incredible New Mashup Mixtape ‘Dilla Soul’

News | Feb 19, 2025, 1:00 PM PST

Busta Rhymes, Westside Gunn & Karriem Riggins Join Forces For New J Dilla Tribute Song

Busta Rhymes, Westside Gunn & Karriem Riggins Join Forces For New J Dilla Tribute Song

News | Feb 8, 2025, 12:30 PM PST

J Dilla Honored With Street Renaming In Detroit — To Common & Questlove's Delight

J Dilla Honored With Street Renaming In Detroit — To Common & Questlove's Delight

News | Feb 7, 2025, 10:00 AM PST

J Dilla To Be Honored With His Own Day In Detroit Ahead Of Possible New Music

J Dilla To Be Honored With His Own Day In Detroit Ahead Of Possible New Music

News | Feb 5, 2025, 8:30 AM PST

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J Dilla To Be Honored With His Own Street In Detroit

J Dilla To Be Honored With His Own Street In Detroit

News | Oct 23, 2024, 6:45 AM PDT

Big Sean Drops Gunna-Assisted ‘It Is What It Is’ Video As J Dilla Hats Go On Sale

Big Sean Drops Gunna-Assisted ‘It Is What It Is’ Video As J Dilla Hats Go On Sale

News | Oct 16, 2024, 3:45 PM PDT

Common & Pete Rock Pay Tribute To J Dilla & De La Soul's Trugoy In 'Dreamin' Video

Common & Pete Rock Pay Tribute To J Dilla & De La Soul's Trugoy In 'Dreamin'' Video

News | Aug 28, 2024, 1:00 AM PDT

Kanye West Wouldn't Be 'As Big As He Is' If J Dilla Was Still Alive, Illa J Claims

Kanye West Wouldn't Be 'As Big' If J Dilla Was Still Alive, Illa J Claims

News | Jun 4, 2024, 9:00 AM PDT

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Common Salutes Kanye West & J Dilla On Anniversary Of 'Life-Changing' Album 'Be'

Common Salutes Kanye West & J Dilla On Anniversary Of 'Life-Changing' Album 'Be'

News | May 27, 2024, 9:00 AM PDT

Big Sean Tried To Get Eminem On A J Dilla Beat But He Turned It Down

Big Sean Tried To Get Eminem On A J Dilla Beat But He Turned It Down

News | Apr 24, 2024, 4:00 AM PDT