Sad news for the hip hop world today. Yes, a death that has nothing to do with East Coast v West Coast rivalries, drug overdoses or HIV. J Dilla died on the 10th of February due to complications from Lupus. Yes, Lupus. That stupid, stinky disease that yours truly suffers from (although these days I have been feeling much better, thank you).
Seems he was fighting up until the end – recording his album from the hospital. That is pretty brave and strong. I know what it feel likes on my bad days and I’m not suffering from a life threatening form of Lupus – so I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for him.
RIP J Dilla
February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006
j dilla
Hip-hop artist J Dilla, 32, dies
NEW YORK (Billboard) – J Dilla, a founding member of hip-hop act Slum Village, died Friday (February 10) in Los Angeles. The Detroit-hailing rapper/producer succumbed to complications from lupus. He was 32.
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Before his passing, J Dilla (born James Yancey and also known as Jay Dee) had been working on “The Shining,” the follow-up to his 2001 solo debut, “Welcome to Detroit.” The new album was scheduled for a June release via BBE Records.
“Jay was one of my favorite hip-hop producers of all time. His passion for music was a rare thing amongst people in the music industry,” BBE founder Peter Adarkwah said. “His music and presence will be sorely missed for many years to come.”
Since forming the rap trio Slum Village in the late 1990s with MCs Baatin and T3, J Dilla has worked closely with such artists as A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip, Common and the Pharcyde.
J Dilla left the group to pursue a solo career, and in 2003 released “Champion Sound” with fellow rapper/producer Madlib. J Dilla’s instrumental album “Donuts” was released last week by Stones Throw.
