Dilla Day Detroit host Ro Spit ignites the crowd on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
Friday evening marked the third annual Dilla Day Detroit: a concert event in honor of the late Detroit-native hip hop producer James “J Dilla” Yancey.
J Dilla, an avid record collector, multi-talented musician, emcee and hip hop producer, was born February 7, 1974, in Detroit, to a former opera-singer mother and jazz-musician father. Dilla began producing hip hop beats using only a cassette recorder/player until he was lent an MPC sampler by fellow Detroit rapper Amp Fiddler. After forming Slum Village with Pershing High School classmates Baatin and T3, Dilla pursued solo endeavors.
Yancey’s catalog now boasts collaborations with some of hip hop’s most legendary musicians, such as: The Roots, Common, Kanye West, Mos Def, Slum Village, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, Janet Jackson, De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock, Madlib, Talib Kweli, The Pharcyde, MF Doom, Proof, Phat Kat, Guilty Simpson, Elzhi and Royce da 5’9″.
Due to complications with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and lupus, Dilla died three days following his 32nd birthday and the release of his final record Donuts, in 2006. His legacy has lived-on through countless unreleased projects and collaborations, a colossal record collection, The J Dilla Foundation (which focuses on funding lupus research) and the family-owned Yancey Media Group.
Dilla ultimately released nine solo albums during his lifetime, but has gifted the hip hop world with more than six posthumous releases since his death in 2006 (2014’s The Diary is still awaiting release). In recent years, new-age artists have used J Dilla beats for various projects, including: Kendrick Lamar, Jay Electronica and Joey Badass.
Friday’s Dilla Day Detroit was one of several worldwide memorial events in February celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dilla. (Other event locations included Sydney, Paris, Bristol, London, Albany, Philadelphia, Miami and Los Angeles.) Hosted by Detroit rapper and co-owner of Burn Rubber sneaker boutique Ro Spit, the evening featured performances by hip hop legends such as: De La Soul, Pete Rock and DJ Premier (DJ battle), Slum Village, Phat Kat, Phife Dawg (of A Tribe Called Quest) and Egyptian Lover.
The four-hour super show also featured appearances from Dilla’s mother – Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, representatives of the J Dilla Foundation and countless musicians from throughout the Detroit hip hop community. February 7 marked what would have been the late musician’s 40th birthday.
See photos of Dilla Day Detroit 2014 below:
Illa J, brother of J Dilla, performs with Slum Village at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
DJ Premier (left) and Pete Rock share an on-stage handshake following their DJ battle performance at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey addresses the crowd at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
Egyptian Lover performs at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
Trugoy performs with De La Soul at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
Phat Kat on stage at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)
Posdnuos performs with De La Soul at Dilla Day Detroit on February 7, 2014 at The Fillmore in Detroit, Michigan.
(Derek Gauci | Detroit Music Magazine)