Loading AI tools
American rapper From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels |
|
| Formerly of |
|
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]
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.
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
