Music
Illa J
born 1986 · rapper, singer, producer
J Dilla's younger brother, who carried on the family's musical legacy with albums built on Dilla's beats and a stint in Slum Village.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan
age 39- Birth name
- John Derek Yancey
- Also known as
- Yancey Boys
- Detroit years
- 1986–2000s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
John Yancey grew up in a musical family on Detroit's east side, near McDougall and Nevada, the youngest of four children of a former opera singer, Maureen Yancey, and a jazz bassist. His older brother James became the celebrated producer J Dilla. Basketball, not music, was his first passion, but after Dilla's death in 2006 he left Central Michigan University to continue the family's work in music. His debut album Yancey Boys (2008, Delicious Vinyl) was built entirely from previously unused beats his brother had left at the label's offices. He then joined Slum Village, recording Evolution (2013) with founding member T3 and producer Young RJ, and made the album Sunset Blvd with Detroit rapper Frank Nitt under the Yancey Boys name. His second solo album, ILLA J (2015), produced by Canada's Potatohead People, showed a smoother, singer-songwriter side. He has since joined the Torchlight Commission collective.
Highlights
- Debut Yancey Boys (2008) used unreleased J Dilla beats.
- Member of Slum Village on Evolution (2013).
- Recorded Sunset Blvd with Frank Nitt as Yancey Boys (2013).
- Second solo album ILLA J (Bastard Jazz, 2015).
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Lived here · 1980s–2000s
Yancey family neighborhood (McDougall and Nevada)
The east-side area where the Yancey family, including J Dilla, lived; exact house not listed.