Illa J

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
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.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, singer, producer, songwriter,
Instrument(s)Turntables, MPC3000, sampler, drum machine, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, vocals, bass[1]
Years active2004–present
LabelsBastard Jazz Recordings, Delicious Vinyl Records, Yancey Media Group

Early life

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 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 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]

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 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]
  • Phife Dawg – "French Kiss Trois" from Forever (2022)

References
  1. "Illa J John Yancey". Facebook.com. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. "Illa J – Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  3. "It Takes a Village: The Tragedy and Triumph of Detroit's Slum Village". Vice.com. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  4. "Interview with Illa J: Emcee on his new music, Slum Village, and more - AXS". Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  5. "Illa J Wiki, biography, pictures, Illa J songs & albums". artistwiki.com.
  6. Coombe, Doug. "Let it roll". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  7. "Interview: Slum Village". Soundofboston.com. March 9, 2015.
  8. "Illa J". Apple Music.
  9. "Yancey Boys – Illa J – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  10. "Illa J - Hip Hop Galaxy". Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  11. "Stones Throw Store". Stonesthrow.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Carrying on a Family Name: Yancey Boys (Interview) | URB". Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  14. Baker, Soren (July 18, 2013). "J Dilla Beats Featured On Yancey Boys' "Sunset Blvd" LP". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  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. "Slum Village, Frank Nitti & Illa J – Homage to Dilla (prod. Focus…)". 2dopeboyz. February 10, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  32. "iTunes – Music – Chemistry 1.5' by Grynch". iTunes. October 6, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  33. "Roc C. Feat. Illa J – Turn it Up | Blackout Hip Hop". Blackout Hip Hop. April 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  34. "iTunes – Music – Art/Money by Cris Prolific". iTunes. February 14, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  35. "Okayafrica Audio: Jonti feat. The Stepkids and Illa J 'The Days Have Turned' « Okayplayer". Okayplayer. 2011. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. 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. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  38. "Jonti – Home ft. Illa J | Ego Thieves". Ego Thieves. February 22, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  39. "Potatohead People – Explosives ft. Illa J & Moka Only | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. December 2, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  40. "Potatohead People – Seeds ft. Illa J | Bandcamp". Bastard Jazz. March 2, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
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