J Dilla’s Mother “Ma Dukes” Yancey Finally Details House Shoes Beef

    J Dilla’s Mother “Ma Dukes” Yancey Finally Details House Shoes Beef

    It seems Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey has been in one battle after the other since her son, J. Dilla passed away from Lupus-related complications in 2006. The birth of the J. Dilla Foundation—which serves to develop and enhance urban music programs in inner-city academia—endured a contentious squabble over the legal rights to use Dilla’s name and likeness. The circus subsided in 2010 when Arthur Erik was replaced by Alex Borden as administrator in charge.

    Simultaneously while mourning her son and fighting for control of his estate, Ma Dukes also battled her own Lupus-related health issues. With all of that in the background, Mrs. Yancey felt verbally disrespected by one of Dilla’s friends and collaborators, House Shoes. Shoes targeted Yancey Media Group CEO Jonathan Taylor and Ma Dukes for posthumous release, Rebirth of Detroit in an interview with HipHopDX.

    “Basically the cat that put that shit together, Jonathan Taylor, is a joker,” he told DX in 2012. “My mother knows I make music, but she don’t know a damn thing else besides that. If I leave this earth tomorrow, I don’t want her in charge of any of that shit, I want all my boys who I fucked with on a regular basis and my core circle to be in charge, because they have a strong knowledge of the music that I have on deck. They know how I would like that shit to be presented to the world.” He also disparaged Mrs. Yancey in a series of tweets over the years, most of which have since been deleted (though some of the reactionary tweets are included in this article). After what she describes as three years of disrespect, for the first time, Ma Dukes tells the complete story of her fallout with House Shoes.

    House Shoes’ Friendship With J. Dilla

    “The rockiness began around 2011. It was before my first release from the record label I started in Detroit. I was working on [Rebirth of Detroit] with different artists from the city, trying to get those that maybe had worked with Dilla. Some of them never made it out the gate and never got a chance to record or tour. Knowing my son and who he was when he wasn’t pressured, he would’ve wanted them to get a chance to get out the gate. He never took time to work with anybody at all if he thought you had no potential. Even people that might’ve been in our church family, he didn’t care if you were the pastor, if he didn’t feel like you had potential he didn’t have the time of day for you. [Laughs] That’s how he was as an individual. He didn’t bite his tongue. He just told it like it was. I had to respect him because he never changed. That’s simply how he was. When it came to his music and his time, he didn’t waste any.

    House Shoes was supposed to be a part of the Rebirth of Detroit project initially. He was in California. I was working with Jonathan Taylor. He was a friend of House Shoes. They had history that I wasn’t aware of going back some years. Dilla had made acquaintance with him during the time that House Shoes resided at Mr. Taylor’s home at some point prior to Dilla’s passing. He was going to be the [Rebirth of Detroit] tour representative. The plan was to do this collaboration then get the artists ready to tour. Some of the artists that were on the collaboration still travel and never stopped traveling. House Shoes was supposed to be the tour director. I had no problem with Shoes at that time. It was all good to me.

    “He started off helping the J Dilla Foundation when it was first organized. When I was in Los Angeles, Karriem Riggins’ manager Jae Barber helped me to establish the Foundation in 2006. The same month that Dilla passed away we filed for the rights to do that and we had attorneys set it up California. When I came back to Detroit, I was very ill. I really didn’t do anything for the first year. I had neglected my health when I was in California taking care of Dilla. House Shoes came by the home to see about me just like everyone in the community. My first year meeting House Shoes was the last year of Dilla’s life. I had never met him before. I had never made acquaintance with him. I knew it was some guy at a record shop that they would see and exchange records with, but I had never met him face-to-face and had only heard his name a couple times. That’s neither here nor there because parents don’t always know everything. [Laughs] I had no qualms with him.

    Control Over J. Dilla’s Legacy

    House Shoes Dilla's Draws

    Dilla signed with Stones Throw when he came to California. His collaboration with Madlib was long distance except when he came to California for the video shoot. But he was still in Detroit when Champion Sound was laid down. When he moved to California in late 2004, he was quite ill. I think he was there maybe a month before he had another setback and I had to rush to California overnight to see about him. I got there and he was already hospitalized. It happened really fast and took a long period of time. Shoes had gave the impression that he was Dilla’s best friend. That’s not harmful to anyone. The problem came about when, if you’re someone’s best friend, the first question is if your mom’s never met him and she’s who you lived with and handled your business even when traveling. I was his personal assistant by his request because he didn’t trust anyone else but his mom. That’s one thing.

    “I met him at Dilla’s hospital bed side that last year. It was the week of his birthday. Shoes showed up at the hospital. He came in the room with a bunch of balloons blown up. I was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ Karriem asked the question, ‘What is he doing here?’ He was talking with other people in the room. Dave New York was there. The room was always filled with people, either [people from] Stones Throw or guys from Cali or anyone who came to town. It was like that everyday. I had no questions at that time. My concern was whether my son would make it another day. All the trivial things didn’t matter anyway. I think on the backside of Shoes moving to Cali and me being there with Dilla and Common for the two years, people made an assumption. Then when Illa J called me right after Dilla passed and said he wanted to talk. He wanted to talk about moving to Cali. He had finished two years of college and wanted to move to Cali to pursue music. Before Dilla had passed I would’ve told him to stay for his third year. But after Dilla passed I thought ‘No one’s promised tomorrow’ so I told him if that’s what he really wants to do, of course.

    “Shoes befriended Illa J and they got close. They spent lots of time together. They were closer than Shoes and Dilla ever were. Dilla didn’t spend that kind of time with no one. If you weren’t cutting a record or picking up something, your time was limited with him anyway. The only person he had time for without question was Questlove. Frank-N-Dank were by far the only best friends that he’d ever had. That’s how it was. The descension came not because he fashioned himself as Dilla’s best friend. Stones Throw didn’t know any better because they were new to Dilla. He came to Cali because Common wanted to find a different view of living for him because he was so ill and back-and-forth in the hospital in Detroit and becoming more depressed and his production was dwindling. More people were coming for work but deadlines had to be pushed back a couple of times. He wasn’t taking any new requests from anybody. He was so sick that he couldn’t take a request that Eminem had for some production. He wanted to do something with Dilla and begged for it. That drove a wedge between their relationship. Eminem had no knowledge that Dilla was that ill because Dilla didn’t want anyone to know.

    “House Shoes, as tour manager, it was cool for him to be in charge of the calendar. But then he wanted to be in charge of who made the cut for the Rebirth of Detroit project and the tour. I was like, ‘No, it’s not happening.’ I didn’t want just anyone to take over. I was coming into who I was and I totally wanted control. My son had prepared me while he was sick, even though I wouldn’t listen. My desire was to beat this. He had an idea of how he wanted things to run [after he passed]. During the Rebirth, I’m trying to grow into what I needed to. I’m trying to grow up as an adult black woman who’s carrying this thing for his son. I had a lot of people try to tell me they were going to do this or that and not to worry about it. When people say ‘They got you,’ they usually do. If you’re not wise enough and you don’t pay enough attention, you’ll find yourself on the outside looking in. I was trying to keep hold of this legacy moving forward. Shoes wanted control of Rebirth. Mr. Taylor and Shoes, I don’t know how the relationship was with them, but I guess it was rocky. Neither seemed to respect the other too much even though they had been friends at one time. I wasn’t giving up control to anyone especially someone of a different culture. There were no blacks controlling anything so I felt it was time for me to step up and do what I needed to do and to come into my own.

    Online Slander

    House Shoes Dave New York Ma dukes Beef

    “What upset me was for three years, there was a lot of language going on online that I wasn’t aware of. The dissension between Mr. Taylor and Shoes [played out on Twitter]. The only time I went on Twitter was to greet my people every morning and give them advice or something beautiful about the day or something positive to look forward to from the universe. That was all I did. I didn’t go on there otherwise unless it was to Direct Message someone. Other than that you don’t see me on Twitter. So I’d heard about the back-and-forth, but I’d never check because that was something I didn’t indulge in. I’d been Christian for over 60 years. I’m at peace. I’m doing what I have to do within the emotional space right now. That’s not to try to stir up anything negative. That seems be the only direction [House Shoes] would go. There were lewd remarks about me and even remarks and suggestions about me with my own son that he would say. A few people did keep the texts because they wondered when I was going to say something. But I had no knowledge up until 2014 of the language and what was said. Even though Mr. Taylor doesn’t work for me anymore and I had let him go because I felt he was not a bright enough man to represent my son and his legacy because of how he carried himself and the way that he spoke to women in general. Sometimes his language was disrespectful to others. He could not represent my son because that’s not the kind of people that we are. He did not comply with that. He wanted to be who he was so I did not need him on my team anymore. I was beginning to be the subject of the language that he and [House Shoes] used and saying horrible things that I can’t repeat. This went on for three years.

    “When I was asked finally to say something, I went on Facebook and made a statement that I don’t wish him any ill. I just prayed that he’d be a better person because he has children. I hoped no one would disrespect his children’s mother in a manner that I have been disrespected. That was how I had to leave it because I can’t have people thinking that I’m changing who I am. I’m not going to stoop to his level to communicate. He texted me after a lot of people jumped on him offended by what he said. How can you call yourself a friend of someone or care about someone and their legacy and speak such rottenness about another human being—unfounded and total lies. It’s the kind of thing that shouldn’t come from any human at all. I still have the text where he said he was sorry and that he didn’t know why he said those things. He asked what he could do to make it better, but, after three years, I wanted nothing to do with it. My husband could not believe that I had not addressed it.

    The Final Straw

    https://twitter.com/HouseShoes/status/496712459743277056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

    “I moved last year to ask people that had hired him to represent my son overseas and different places to not use him for Dilla events. They’d text me and say, ‘We’re gonna do another Dilla event. We’re trying to get x-y-and-z to perform, do you have any suggestions?’ My only request was that they not retain [House Shoes] for any tributes to my son because of his disrespect. With that understanding, I didn’t have problems in Australia. He did the event for Spin Doctors who’d been strong supporters of the foundation each year. He’d already acquired his services a year earlier. I understood but I told them that I would not support the event online and I would not attend the UK event.

    “[House Shoes disrespected me publicly] totally because of control. That’s what men do. I wasn’t willing to relinquish my authority to anyone. It didn’t matter if it was him or anyone else. It was me simply trying to move to where Dilla wanted me. It was not about him. I hadn’t spoken to him about it. If I had wanted a deejay, J. Rocc would’ve been the first one because he was closer to Dilla and at the home everyday. I knew him well. I don’t like putting negatives out and if I can avoid it, I’ll just let it slide. Now it’s reached a point that I have said if it happens again, I’m going to walk down the street to the courthouse and file suit against him. It takes a hardened heart to do that kind of thing. I just felt like he would stop the ridiculousness when he saw that a couple of jobs were rescinded. He has children and I’d never wish to take things out of his children’s mouth. But I could not continue to have him run rampant in my son’s name.

    “The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I found out about the event that they had at the BET Awards. I was in LA that week because I had to speak with the estate about the upcoming 2015/2016 expectations. We try to stay on one accord and work side-by-side until we get this thing ironed out. I called a meeting and flew out there. There was no mention of the BET Awards. No one said anything. We were not contacted. What hurt was the deejay that was representing my son was House Shoes. It was enough that we were not invited, but to hire the one person that totally disrespected our family was another thing. I represent my family in everything that I do. That’s what I live for. But to have someone abuse me in any manner possible publicly and say such horrible things about me to the public [is inexcusable]. If someone wants to pay homage to my son, they shouldn’t use the person that tried to hurt the family. That’s how I felt. For House Shoes to fashion himself as my son’s friend and to talk about his mom, you’re definitely not a friend in any context and you’re definitely my enemy. That’s where that stands.”

    House Shoes declined to comment for this story.

    40 thoughts on “J Dilla’s Mother “Ma Dukes” Yancey Finally Details House Shoes Beef

      1. So the catalog being in someones hands that is completely unqualified makes more sense than someone that is qualified. Retreat to making it a racial issue is pathetic and i’m as black as they come. All sides to this argument miserably failed Dilla. ALL SIDES.

    1. I am the ‘Spin Doctor’ referred to in the article. An article which in my opinion is woefully short on information and badly put together.

      I have been responsible for UK Dilla tribute events and for a time was European rep for the foundation. While it always appeared to me that the intentions were good the foundation was not always as professionally run as it could have been.

      To clarify the statement in the article, over the years we have discussed with House Shoes him playing a part in the fundraising events we put on but we have not ever got as far as confirming a booking. He has DJ’d for me in the past but never on a Dilla related event.

      I would ask people let the music speak for itself. Remember Dilla through the impact he made on your life through his music and leave any BS to one side. There is no need to add fuel to the fire!

    2. When you do an interview it should not consist of long quotes and rambling. This was horribly done.
      All sides of this argument failed Dilla.
      Ma Dukes for making it obvious that she needed control, even with being unqualified for such a position she got people involved without vetting them that she later had to let go.
      Jonathan Taylor being a huge setback that practically ruined any possibility of the foundation being taken seriously.
      Shoes for the disparaging remarks that are borderline unforgivable and not putting that drink down and letting cooler heads prevail.
      Dave for not trying to play peace maker, nobody is god nor a saint and what Ma Dukes did was reprehensible, it did not deserve what Shoes said but the lack of quality in the releases speaks for itself, and you definitely know that Dave, everyone gets checked no one is above each other.
      Stones Throw for… I won’t even say it publicly, those who know KNOW.
      Hip Hop DX for the click bait.
      Justin for allowing this rookie looking article to be here.
      The fans for not fully appreciating the man when he was alive.
      Janet Jackson for… those who know know!
      The list goes on…
      What a sad day do celebrate the mans life with more controversy. Ya’ll are pathetic.

    3. Rebirth of Detroit was a wack album and a wack name that Dilla woulda never approved. Shoes effed up by disrespecting her.. I wish she’d stop sellin all his drum machines and record collection and such tho.. She’s really monetizing everything Dilla. As she should in a way cuz others have tried it. I’m ramblin now, but there’s 2 sides to every story, and being from the D, shoes has always rose hard for Dilla from the jump. I can’t believe they weren’t close like that.

    4. I’m glad someone else brought up the invalidity of the “foundation.” If you’re thinking that giving to the foundation or any of these events/projects she co-signs is helping anyone else but her (or the immediate family), you’re largely mistaken. The organization hasn’t had 501(c)(3) status since March 2013. I’ve heard from people who’ve participated in the Dilla shows that she’s supporting a gambling habit. Honestly, it would be bad if it was just flat-out admitted that these shows are just a means to support her/the family. It doesn’t seem like Jay’s estate was planned out well so the need to help those close to him would be understandable, especially if he was supporting them during his life. I really dislike the veneer of of do-goodness that she’s put up and, as a result, do patronize any Dilla-related events or merchandise anymore. That’s hard for someone who spent years listening to him (hearing the remix to Keith Murray’s “The Rhyme” in cemented Jay’s supreme status for me back in ’96) and spent my college years in Michigan trying to convince Detroiters they needed to support their hometown artist.

    5. in 05 or so bee hi, who managed Dilla at the time sent me several
      Dilla beat cd’s along with other producers he represented at the time. I used a few because bee-hi said it was ok. I caught some flack for it because Dilla had no idea
      Who I was using his beats. I reached out to shoes & the first thing he told me to do was to “send the beats to Ma Dukes.”
      Those of us who know shoes KNOW his love for James, his legacy & family. Period.
      Peace & love y’all. Let’s not get caught up in the negative speculation.

    6. I don’t really agree with ma dukes 100%. in the D Houseshoes was repping the scene in the D wether or not it was packed. When Dilla died it was shoes on the 1’s and 2’s. Sware to God tho Houseshoes asked for a moment of silence and Ma dukes started praying. Shoes then told everyone to shut the fuck before noticing it was ma dukes and profusely apologised. 😛

    7. So years of gigs, stories and photos equate to a friendship that never existed? Or is underplayed? Ok, Moving on, no matter how close my mother and I are, I can’t say she has my best musical interests or intentions at heart. Out of touch? For sure. The fact that the OGs that Dilla fucked with weren’t on Rebirth should be an indicator. It was a joke. Let the man rest. Both sides have been extremely wrong but continuing this dialogue is just a mess. One sided rambling interviews is not solving anything. You’re part of the problem here. Also JT was an unprofessional joke and the fact that he lead the “foundation” for so many years speaks volumes. New York has done more for his name by way of a scholarship fund and had to do that with no mention of Dilla/his foundation because of the lack of organization. I’ll be happy when I see instruments and music programs in Detroit’s schools in the name of Dilla. Until then, celebrate as you will but leave the fucking bullshit mud slinging petty fest to TMZ ….#JayDee4Life #EssVee

    8. Very poorly written DX.! Come on, there’s decent writers out there. I wanted to understand what happened here but there are several “Who the hell said this” moments in this article. Step it up.

    9. I feel like a lot of these comments are coming from house shoes himself. no one believes you, devil. stay outta our culture and go do Polka music or somethin. u never knew Dilla.

        1. Cut the shit. its called “cultural appropriation” and it’s foul. u also
          dnt dis ur friend mom if u respect him.

    10. Sorry, but first Ma’dukes STOP to release the bullshit album like Dillatronic, it’s NOT NECESSARY !
      DILLA socks, it’s NOT NECESSARY !.. STOP IT !
      The dilla’s fans are tired about what you do with the music of your son !
      Speak a little bit more of the releases, and projects of your son’s Illa J !

      With my all respect of Dilla !

      Just a Dilla’s fan tired about the situation.
      (every year is the same!)

    11. “I wasn’t giving up control to anyone especially someone of a different culture”. I rock so hard with Ma Dukes!

      1. Making this a racial issue shows how week of an argument is had. It has nothing to do with race… it has to do with qualifications. If you think otherwise you are just as misguided as mommy dearest. Great women but this is not a game of affirmative action. There are poignant reasons why DIlla operated the way he did and to say that what has transpired is in complement of him asides from what often looks as a desperate money grab is lying to ones self. Peace be with you.

      2. what’s wrong with her wanting to protect her culture economically? what’s wrong with OP riding with Ma Dukes because of it? Pathetic

    12. This is all so unfortunate.

      Fact: shoes played dilla when nobody else played dilla. drews, mahogany, buddha lounge, you didn’t hear dilla on the radio, him wajeed, dez andres, head and a select few were the first the spread the gospel of dilla when people in Detroit weren’t even really knowing…questlove and them in philly and tip and them were also ahead of the curve in acknowledging his genius.

      respect that fact.

      Fact: the way the catalog post dillas passing had been handled in a lackluster manner that does not honor his legacy. but strikes me much like the way Hendrix bootlegs came from all over after his passing and to this day continues. it amounts to graverobbing and its tasteless. his estate owes his legacy respect. releasing anything and everything with little regards to quality tarnished the legacy of best that ever did it.

      Fact: this article stirs the pot. that ain’t helping a thing.

      Fact: this speaks to the lack of opportunities in the city we live in. so many people want a piece of the legacy. which is fine but there’s a way to do this tastefully that honors him his output his family associates and the city he called home.

      What a mess.

      I’d rather remember him pulling up in the dillalade with a huge smile chain swinging.

      hip hop dx you should be ashamed of yourselves.

    13. I think both are in the wrong. House shoes is a lame. Hes been through Chicago a bunch I know people who know him, wouldn’t be surprised if what she said about him was true. On the other hand. Ma Dukes really has just pissed on her sons legacy. Its really sad to see. At this point they are putting out not even tracks he did but just samples he cut. They are tracks i’m sure he never wanted to drop.

    14. MADukes did something right cause now her son is one of the most loved deceased celebs in music! He’s filling up venues to day! They don’t even do that for pac and b.i.g. and Shoes getting mad about her releasing unreleased material that he claims Jay didn’t want people to hear, all Shoes does is play unreleased jay. Who’s to say jay wanted that stuff heard either. Huge mess

    15. Something is not right about this article. I always thought House Shoes was highly praised within the Dilla clique. I always thought he was the one to go to in the D that could tell you all sorts of stories. The read that Shoes has no business even mentioning Dilla’s name orso reminds me when Guru passed away and his so-called manager didn’t want Premier to be involved what so ever nor Guru’s family. I think this article is very one sided and I would love to hear the opinion of Questlove, J Roc, Frank N Dank, Ill J and House Shoes himself. The guy been trying to better himself every day. He quit smoking so he can be good role model to his children. To read also the race card being pulled supposedly by Ma Dukes doesn’t sound like her words or even something she would have said based on the fact she is a die hard Christian. All this article does is continues to steer things up for no good reason. Can’t we all just have peace and admire Dilla’s legacy as fans. Let it all rest. Shame it always comes down to money. Because we all know that money is the devil.

      1. Bruh, this is mostly the words of Dilla’s Mom. I believe her lol. anyone who consider’s house shoe’s perspective is buggin’. period. If Dilla’s mom wasn’t apart of his life that would be one thing. but they had a close relationship. I think she would know what he would want in most situations. and I think she is right to feel disrespected and her resulting actions are justified.

    16. Last time I saw Dilla he was record shopping with his mom. I swear I have been so depressed since Dilla’s passing. It is a shame all this drama. I miss Dilla so much.

    17. I can understand the frustration of people having different visions and the reoccurring conflict that arises over creative control. It’s not just here, but many artist, groups, friends, etc run into this type of thing.
      .. But if it was me, I wouldn’t want my mother disrespected period. Especially in public, online no less.. involving the opinion of a bunch of who the fuck cares anyway wannabes.. that act stands alone as some bitch shit. If you had a disagreement you could go to my mom and speak in person, and be respectful. I don’t care who you think you are..

      On the strength of that alone, it says plenty

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