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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]
Illa J | |
|---|---|
 Illa J Performing at Hip Hop You Don't Stop in Montreal in September 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Derek Yancey |
| Born | October 13, 1986 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of |
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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]
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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.
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Studio albums
- 2008: Yancey Boys
- 2015: ILLA J[15]
- 2017: Home
- 2018: John Yancey
Collaborative albums
- 2013: Evolution (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)
- 2013: Sunset Blvd. (with Frank Nitt as Yancey Boys)
- 2015: YES (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)
EPs
Mixtapes
- 2012: Dirty Slums[18] (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)
- 2013: Dirty Slums 2[19] (with T3 & Young RJ as Slum Village)
Singles
- 2008: "We Here"[20]
- 2009: "Sound Like Love"[21] (featuring Debi Nova)
- 2010: "Affair"[22]
- 2012: "The Throwaway"[23] (featuring Frank Nitt)
- 2013: "Quicksand" (Yancey Boys featuring Common and Dezi Paige)[24]
- 2015: "Strippers"[25]
- 2015: "Universe"[26]
- 2015: "All Good Pt. 2"[27] (featuring Moka Only & Ivan Ave)
- 2018: Enjoy the Ride[28]
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]
- Debi Nova – Este Amores (2017)[41]
- Phife Dawg – "French Kiss Trois" from Forever (2022)
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