Submitted By: Mo`

Genre: Hip Hop

Date of Set: Jan 25th, 2003

Filesize: 75.90 MB

Total Downloads: 18

James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974–February 10, 2006), better known as J Dilla or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. He began his career as 'Jay Dee' but used the name 'J Dilla' from 2001 on. Many considered Dilla a creative genius and he influenced some of the worlds biggest hip-hop and RnB stars, many of whom he worked with.

Jay Dee grew up in Detroit, and developed a vast musical knowledge from his parents. At a young age, he began acquiring a large collection of records which inspired him to learn multiple instruments. By high school, he had developed a passion for MCing, and formed a rap group called Slum Village with some schoolmates. He had also taken up beatmaking, using a simple tapedeck as the center of his studio.[1]

In 1992, he met experienced Detroit musician Amp Fiddler, who was impressed by what Jay Dee was able to accomplish with such limited tools. Amp Fiddler taught Jay Dee how to use a MIDI Production Center, which he learned quite quickly. Before too long, several other hiphop acts had heard work by Slum Village and made contact with Jay Dee. [2] By 1995, he had produced songs for Pharcyde, and became a part of A Tribe Called Quest's production team, The Ummah.

Along with a string of singles and remix projects, including production for De La Soul and Busta Rhymes, Jay Dee became known as a major hip-hop prospect by the late 1990s. This climaxed with the independent release of a full Slum Village album in 1997, and production for Q-Tip's solo album in 1999.

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