One Of The Best Producers in the game passed today


"Hip-Hop producer J-Dilla passed away today (Feb. 10) due to an unspecified ailment. Early reports suggest he succumbed to kidney failure, a medical problem which arose in 2004.

J-Dilla, born James Yancy, was a member of Slum Village and worked with various Hip-Hop artists including Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and Common's Grammy-nominated album, BE.

In 2005, rumors spread that the rapper/producer had died suddenly. Those rumors were debunked by J-Dilla's label, Stones Throw, but verified the producer did spend considerable time in the hospital. Stones Throw wasnt at liberty to confirm the death of the rapper, but Slum Village group member T-3 confirmed the unfortunate event on his MySpace web page.

Im f**ked up, my n***a just passed away, T3 posted on the website. Friends and fans posted their condolences on T3s site.

One poster said, Yo 3, hold ya head up man. I know how it is to lose someone you consider blood not just in the game, but also in just life period. I didn't even know DILLA personally, but he influenced me as producer and changed my whole life and aspect as a musician. Duke, keep your head up! His life was a blessing to many including myself. You, Elzhi, and Batin are in my prayers. We love you Dilla

In a 2004 interview with Urb magazine, J-Dilla disclosed that he had kidney problems as a result of malnutrition.

"What happened was that the doctor told me that I'd ruptured my kidney from being too busy and being stressed out and not eating right," J-Dilla told Urb. "He told me that if I'd waited another day, I might not have made it."

"Sometimes that fixation can be a good thing and sometimes it can be bad. There'd be days when I wouldn't eat at all because I'd be in the basement working all day," said Jay Dee. "This is definitely my second chance, my wakeup call. I still love the music, but I wouldn't put it first in my life. It's family first - and then everything else."

Representatives for Stones Throw Records confirmed hearing of the death, but could not offer a confirmation.

After being the in-house producer for Slum Village, J-Dilla left the group after their first national album, Fantastic Vol. 2., which was released on the Barak label.

The rapper debuted with his solo offering, Welcome To Detroit on BBE.

After joining Stones Throw in 2003, he formed the critically acclaimed group Jaylib with producer/rapper Madlib and released the album Champion Sound.

The rapper recorded the foundation for the 45-minute instrumental album Donuts while hospitalized and in his home studio. Donuts hit stores on Feb. 7 on Stones Throw.

According to Stones Throw's website, the producer was finishing a tour, which included appearances in Melbourne, Australia tomorrow as well as dates in Montreal, Canada and San Francisco.

"for those that really know HIP HOP.......this goes out to Jay Dee who we know as J Dilla formerly of the group Slum Village who left this earth this morning in California.......Although he was from Detroit, he was very sicc lately and just finished touring the world under the circumstances...........True Warrrior and on of the hottest producers in the world of Hip Hop..........Rest In Peace My Dude.....You aint sicc no more.....DJ Premier "

and if you dont know him heres a rundown

After quietly serving as a member of A Tribe Called Quest's production team, the Ummah, and scoring hits for Busta Rhymes, De La Soul and Pharcyde, Detroit producer Jay Dee became known as a major hip-hop prospect by the late 90s. The hip-hop community took notice of his no-frills, breakbeat-heavy hip-hop style as he helped craft albums for Common (Like Water for Chocolate), Q Tip (Amplified), and the debut for his own group Slum Village (Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1).

By the time of his major-label debut with Slum Village's Fantastic, Vol. 2 in 2000, Jay Dee was recognized as one of hip-hop's most admired and desired producers. Jay Dee's debut as a solo artist came in 2001 with the single Fuck the Police and the album "Welcome to Detroit" on BBE.

After assuming the name J Dilla, he joined the Stones Throw roster in 2003, forming Jaylib with fellow producer/MC Madlib, and relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles. The duo released the The Red b/w The Official in 2003, followed by the album "Champion Sound" and a tour the following spring.

When Pharrell Williams was asked about his favorite hip-hop producer during a BET interview in 2004 he replied, You may not know his name, but J Dilla, Jay Dee from Detroit. Indeed, the interviewer didn't know J Dilla has eluded the spotlight, preferring the studio to the stage or video. His work is mostly released by independents, for different groups, and under different names, but his core audience and cult status has grown. His pirated beat tapes (instrumentals, raw working material for rappers) have become something of urban legend, as their circulation from hand to hand and over the internet have led to a black market of Dilla beat tape collectors.

Despite contributing two tracks to Common's career-resurrecting "Be" this year, it's been a quiet time for Dilla. So where has he been? A cover story in URB (Mar 2004) made public his recent, sudden struggle with illness, and recently rumors began circulating again about health emergencies and hospitalization. Asked about this in XXL (June 2005), Dilla himself partially confirmed these stories. The rumors were like, Jay Dee is dead and all that, but I was just in the hospital. I was in ICU, with all types of tubes. It was crazy.

Working both from his home studio and while hospitalized from a portable sound system including turntable, samplers, and small boxes of vinyl brought in and out from visitors ; Dilla continued making music at his usual non-stop pace, circulating beats to MCs, and coming up with the foundation of what would become "Donuts".

Begun simply enough as a production beat tape, "Donuts" evolved into a project as unusual as the environment in which it was created. It's a hip-hop album without MC's. An album of electronic music that at times sounds like a 70s soul mixtape. Its abrupt transitions and numerous interludes might make you think you're rapidly turning the radio dial in some strange city where every station is programmed by a certain Detroit hip-hop producer. "Donuts" is J Dilla doing what he does best ; crafting hip-hop, soul and electronic music into his own sound.

And a few have asked, What's up with the title? Easy explanation. Dilla likes donuts.





rest in peace.

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hmmm that pretty much says it all... I didn't ven like Slum Villege but always pa respects when another emcee falls... R.I.P.

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