Real Name: James Dewitt Yancey

Aliases: Jay Dee, Dilla, Dilla Dawg

BORN:

Feb 07, 1974

AGE:

50

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's Daughters Reflect On His Legacy In First Interview Together

J Dilla's Daughters Reflect On His Legacy In First Interview Together

News | Feb 6, 2024, 2:00 AM PST

Common Recalls Kanye West & J Dilla 'Bonding' At His House: 'They Had Love For Each Other'

Common Recalls Kanye West & J Dilla 'Bonding' At His House: 'They Had Love For Each Other'

News | Jan 25, 2024, 10:00 AM PST

Big Sean Raps Over J Dilla Classic On New Bryson Tiller 'Slum Tiller' EP: Listen

Big Sean Raps Over J Dilla Classic On New Bryson Tiller 'Slum Tiller' EP: Listen

News | Jan 23, 2024, 1:30 PM PST

j dilla rakim to be honored with special kennedy center performances

J Dilla & Rakim To Be Honored With Special Kennedy Center Performances

News | Jan 18, 2024, 8:30 AM PST

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Amp Fiddler Has Died: Hip Hop Pays Tribute To J Dilla Mentor & Parliament-Funkadelic Member

Amp Fiddler Has Died: Hip Hop Pays Tribute To J Dilla Mentor & Parliament-Funkadelic Member

News | Dec 18, 2023, 2:10 AM PST

ex-bad boy producer deric d dot angelettie angers j dilla fans with catalog claim

Ex-Bad Boy Producer Deric 'D-Dot' Angelettie Angers J Dilla Fans With Catalog Claim

News | Dec 7, 2023, 10:00 AM PST

Black Sheep's Dres Shares 'Amazing' Story Behind New Album With J Dilla: 'I Was Blown Away'

Black Sheep's Dres Shares 'Amazing' Story Behind New Album With J Dilla: 'I Was Blown Away'

News | Nov 21, 2023, 11:30 AM PST

Black Sheep’s Dres Battles With Creating New J Dilla Album In Upcoming Doc

Black Sheep’s Dres Battles With Creating New J Dilla Album In Upcoming Doc

News | Nov 6, 2023, 2:15 PM PST

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J Dilla’s Brother Illa J Calls Out Fake Love For Late Producer: ‘All Y’all Gross As F-ck’

J Dilla’s Brother Illa J Calls Out Fake Love For Late Producer: ‘All Y’all Gross As F-ck’

News | Oct 11, 2023, 4:30 PM PDT

Erykah Badu On The Mercy Of J-Dilla: ‘He Let People Get Away With Bitin His Sh-t’

Erykah Badu On J Dilla: ‘He Let People Get Away With Biting His Sh-t’

News | Jun 27, 2023, 2:30 PM PDT