Illa J

John Derek Yancey[1] (born October 13, 1986),[1] better known by his stage name Illa J, is a 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 legendary 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 LP will come out via Brooklyn based record label Bastard Jazz.[4]

Illa J
Illa J Performing at Hip Hop You Don't Stop in Montreal in September 2015
Background information
Birth nameJohn Derek Yancey
Born (1986-10-13) October 13, 1986
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer, producer, songwriter,
InstrumentsTurntables, MPC3000, sampler, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, vocals, bass[1]
Years active2004–present
LabelsBastard Jazz Recordings, Delicious Vinyl Records, Yancey Media Group
Associated actsJ Dilla
Frank Nitt
Slum Village
Moka Only
Potatohead People

Early life

Illa J grew up in a musical family. He is the younger brother of hip hop legend J Dilla,[5] and is the son of Maureen Yancey, a former Opera singer, and a former 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 the year of 2006, after the passing 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 LP on Bastard Jazz Records.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

EPs
  • 2007: Illa J EP[16]
  • 2010: 4 Past Midnite[17]

Mixtapes

Singles

Guest appearances
  • Bishop Lamont & Black Milk – "Spectacular" from Caltroit (2007)[29]
  • J Dilla – "See That Boy Fly" from Jay Stay Paid (2009)[30]
  • Focus... – "Homage to Dilla" from Pay Homage series (2009)[31]
  • Grynch – "You Know Me (Remix)" from Chemistry 1.5 (2009)[32]
  • Roc C – "Turn It Up" (2010)[33]
  • Slum Village – "The Reunion, Pt. 2" from Villa Manifesto (2010)
  • Cris Prolific – "Voyage" from Art/Money Vol. 1 (2011)[34]
  • Jonti – "The Days Have Turned" (2011)[35]
  • J Dilla – "Do It for Dilla Dawg" from Rebirth of Detroit (2012)[36]
  • Slum Village – "Greatness", "Nightmares (No Mas)", "Look at Yo Face", "How It Feel", "What You Want", "Un Fuc Witable" from Dirty Slums 2 (2013)[37]
  • Jonti – "Home" (2013)[38]
  • Potatohead People – "Explosives" from Explosives feat. Illa J & Moka Only / Blue Charms (2014)[39]
  • Potatohead People – "Seeds" from Big Luxury (2015)[40]

References
  1. "Illa J John Yancey". Facebook.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. "Illa J – Biography & History – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  3. "It Takes a Village: The Tragedy and Triumph of Detroit's Slum Village".
  4. http://www.axs.com/news/interview-with-illa-j-emcee-on-his-new-music-slum-village-and-more-50440
  5. "Illa J Wiki, biography, pictures, Illa J songs & albums".
  6. Let it roll (Metro Times Detroit)
  7. "Interview: Slum Village". March 9, 2015.
  8. "Illa J on Apple Music".
  9. "Yancey Boys – Illa J – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. Stones Throw Store
  12. http://hiphopisdream.com/illa-j-4-past-midnight/#.Un0zj1_naM8
  13. http://www.urb.com/2013/11/06/carrying-on-a-legacy-yancey-boys-interview/
  14. Baker, Soren (July 18, 2013). "J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  15. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/illa-j/id1034961898
  16. "Illa J – Illa J EP (CDr) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  17. "iTunes – Music – 4 Past Midnite by Illa J". iTunes. December 21, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  18. "iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums by Slum Village". iTunes.com. May 8, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  19. "iTunes – Music – Dirty Slums 2 by Slum Village". iTunes.com. January 29, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  20. "iTunes – Music – "We Here" by Illa J". iTunes. August 26, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  21. "iTunes – Music – "Sounds Like Love" – EP by Illa J & Debi Nova". iTunes. May 26, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  22. "iTunes – Music – "Affair" – Single by Illa J". iTunes. December 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  23. "iTunes – Music – "The Throwaway" feat. Frank Nitt – EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. December 18, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  24. "iTunes – Music – "Quicksand" – EP by Yancey Boys". iTunes. August 27, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  25. "iTunes – Music – "Strippers" by Illa J". iTunes. April 13, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  26. "iTunes – Music – "Universe" by Illa J". iTunes. June 22, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  27. "Bandcamp – Music – "All Good Pt. 2" feat. Moka Only & Ivan Ave by Illa J". Bastard Jazz. September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  28. "Spotify – Enjoy the Ride by Illa J". Spotify. November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  29. "iTunes – Music – Black Milk Presents: Caltroit by Black Milk". iTunes. January 1, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  30. "iTunes – Music – Jay Stay Paid by J Dilla". iTunes. June 2, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  31. Shake (February 10, 2009). "Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…)". 2dopeboyz. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  32. "iTunes – Music – Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch". iTunes. October 6, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  33. Indy (April 14, 2010). "Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up | Blackout Hip Hop". Blackout Hip Hop. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  34. "iTunes – Music – Art/Money by Cris Prolific". iTunes. February 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  35. Killakam (2011). "Okayafrica Audio: Jonti feat. The Stepkids and Illa J 'The Days Have Turned' « Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  36. "iTunes – Music – Rebirth of Detroit by J Dilla". iTunes. June 12, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  37. "Slum Village – Dirty Slums 2 – Download & Stream". DJBooth.net. January 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  38. Ran (February 22, 2013). "Jonti – Home ft. Illa J | Ego Thieves". Ego Thieves. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  39. Ran (December 2, 2014). "Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  40. Ran (March 2, 2015). "Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
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