Illa J Explained

Illa J
Birth Name:John Derek Yancey
Birth Date:1986 10, mf=yes
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genre:Hip hop
Occupation:Rapper, singer, producer, songwriter,
Instrument:Turntables, MPC3000, sampler, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, vocals, bass
Years Active:2004–present
Label:Bastard Jazz Recordings, Delicious Vinyl Records, Yancey Media Group
Associated Acts:J Dilla
Frank Nitt
Slum Village
Moka Only
Potatohead People

John Derek Yancey[1] (born October 13, 1986),[1] better known by his stage name Illa J, is an American rapper, singer, producer and songwriter[1] from Detroit, Michigan who has released two albums on Delicious Vinyl Records.[1] [2] He is the younger brother of the late hip hop producer, and rapper J Dilla, and a former member of hip hop group Slum Village.[3] He also released a collaborative album as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt.[1] Illa J's second solo album ILLA J came out via the Brooklyn based record label, Bastard Jazz.[4]

Early life

Illa J grew up in a musical family. He is the younger brother of J Dilla,[5] and is the son of Maureen Yancey, a former opera singer, and Beverly Dewitt Yancey, a jazz bassist. John Yancey was the youngest of four children including a sister (Martha) and two brothers (Earl and James). The family lived in a house near McDougall and Nevada, on the east side of Detroit.[6] According to Slum Village founding member T3, before getting into music Illa J's main focus was basketball.[7] In 2006, after the death of his brother, he decided to drop out of Central Michigan University, and continue the family's involvement with music.[8]

Career

In 2008, he released his debut album, Yancey Boys on Delicious Vinyl Records.[9] It is produced entirely by previously unused beats that were made by J Dilla and were left sitting at the offices of Delicious Vinyl over several years.[10] Stones Throw Records released a digital instrumental version of the album in 2009.[11] In the following year (2010), he quietly released a second EP entitled, 4 Past Midnite.[12] In the year 2013, he followed with the album Evolution as Slum Village along with rapper T3 and producer Young RJ,[1] and a collaborative album with Frank Nitt, entitled Sunset Blvd.[13] [14] In 2015, he released ILLA J on Bastard Jazz Records.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

EPs

Mixtapes

Singles

Guest appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Illa J John Yancey. Facebook.com. November 20, 2013.
  2. Web site: Illa J – Biography & History. AllMusic. December 14, 2016.
  3. Web site: It Takes a Village: The Tragedy and Triumph of Detroit's Slum Village. Vice.com. December 25, 2021.
  4. Web site: Interview with Illa J: Emcee on his new music, Slum Village, and more - AXS . September 28, 2015 . September 29, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150929041844/http://www.axs.com/news/interview-with-illa-j-emcee-on-his-new-music-slum-village-and-more-50440 . dead .
  5. Web site: Illa J Wiki, biography, pictures, Illa J songs & albums. artistwiki.com.
  6. News: Let it roll. Doug. Coombe. Detroit Metro Times. December 25, 2021.
  7. Web site: Interview: Slum Village. Soundofboston.com. March 9, 2015.
  8. Web site: Illa J . Apple Music.
  9. Web site: Yancey Boys – Illa J – Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. December 14, 2016.
  10. Web site: Illa J - Hip Hop Galaxy . November 7, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131219003108/http://www.hiphopgalaxy.com/Illa-J-hip-hop-8107.html . December 19, 2013 . dead .
  11. Web site: Stones Throw Store. Stonesthrow.com. December 25, 2021. June 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135555/http://www.stonesthrow.com/store/album/jdilla/yancey-boys-instrumentals. dead.
  12. Web site: Archived copy . December 25, 2021 . December 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211225203909/http://ww1.hiphopisdream.com/ . dead .
  13. Web site: Carrying on a Family Name: Yancey Boys (Interview) | URB . November 7, 2013 . November 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131118040258/http://www.urb.com/2013/11/06/carrying-on-a-legacy-yancey-boys-interview/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Baker. Soren. J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP. HipHopDX. October 28, 2013. July 18, 2013.
  15. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/illa-j/id1034961898
  16. Web site: Illa J – Illa J EP (CDr) at Discogs. Discogs. November 7, 2013.
  17. Web site: iTunes – Music – 4 Past Midnite by Illa J. iTunes. November 7, 2013. December 21, 2010.
  18. Web site: iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums by Slum Village. iTunes.com. November 20, 2013. May 8, 2012.
  19. Web site: iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums 2 by Slum Village. iTunes.com. November 20, 2013. January 29, 2013.
  20. Web site: iTunes – Music – "We Here" by Illa J. iTunes. November 7, 2013. August 26, 2008.
  21. Web site: iTunes – Music – "Sounds Like Love" – EP by Illa J & Debi Nova. iTunes. November 7, 2013. May 26, 2009.
  22. Web site: iTunes – Music – "Affair" – Single by Illa J. iTunes. November 7, 2013. December 14, 2010.
  23. Web site: iTunes – Music – "The Throwaway" feat. Frank Nitt – EP by Yancey Boys. iTunes. November 7, 2013. December 18, 2012.
  24. Web site: iTunes – Music – "Quicksand" – EP by Yancey Boys. iTunes. October 28, 2013. August 27, 2013.
  25. Web site: iTunes – Music – "Strippers" by Illa J. iTunes. October 1, 2015. April 13, 2015.
  26. Web site: iTunes – Music – "Universe" by Illa J. iTunes. October 1, 2015. June 22, 2015.
  27. Web site: Bandcamp – Music – "All Good Pt. 2" feat. Moka Only & Ivan Ave by Illa J. Bastard Jazz. October 1, 2015. September 25, 2015.
  28. Web site: Spotify – Enjoy the Ride by Illa J. Spotify. November 16, 2018. November 16, 2018.
  29. Web site: iTunes – Music – Black Milk Presents: Caltroit by Black Milk. iTunes. November 7, 2013. January 1, 2008.
  30. Web site: iTunes – Music – Jay Stay Paid by J Dilla. iTunes. November 7, 2013. June 2, 2009.
  31. Web site: Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…). 2dopeboyz. November 7, 2013. February 10, 2009.
  32. Web site: iTunes – Music – Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch. iTunes. November 7, 2013. October 6, 2009.
  33. Web site: Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up Blackout Hip Hop. Blackout Hip Hop. November 7, 2013. April 14, 2010.
  34. Web site: iTunes – Music – Art/Money by Cris Prolific. iTunes. November 7, 2013. February 14, 2011.
  35. Web site: Okayafrica Audio: Jonti feat. The Stepkids and Illa J 'The Days Have Turned' « Okayplayer. Okayplayer. November 7, 2013. 2011. January 15, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130115204804/http://www.okayplayer.com/news/okayafrica-audio-jonti-feat-the-stepkids-and-illa-j-the-days-have-turned.html. dead.
  36. Web site: iTunes – Music – Rebirth of Detroit by J Dilla. iTunes. November 7, 2013. June 12, 2012.
  37. Web site: Slum Village – Dirty Slums 2 – Download & Stream. DJBooth.net. November 7, 2013. January 2013. October 8, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131008203711/http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/slum-village-dirty-slums-2. dead.
  38. Web site: Jonti – Home ft. Illa J Ego Thieves. Ego Thieves. November 7, 2013. February 22, 2013. https://archive.today/20131107135407/http://www.egothieves.com/2013/02/jonti-home-ft-illa-j/. November 7, 2013. dead.
  39. Web site: Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only Bandcamp. Bastard Jazz. October 1, 2015. December 2, 2014.
  40. Web site: Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J Bandcamp. Bastard Jazz. October 1, 2015. March 2, 2015.

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