Week 10 Music - Illa J.
Music by: Illa J.
Suggested Listen: “Yancey Boys”
Recommended Tracks: “R U Listenin’?”, “We Here”, “DFTF”
Did you know Jonas and the crew are into Hip-hip? That’s what I heard. That’s what you’re hearing all week, thank you Illa J.
Now I realize you may not know who Illa J. is or what the foundation of his music is about. As bittersweet as it is, let me recount the story about a very talented set of brothers that you are going to be hearing a lot over the next several months as “Yancey Boys” unfolds into public consciousness.
Illa J.’s brother was the late great producing genius J Dilla who sadly passed away in 2006 at the age of 32. J Dilla produced hit songs for Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, The Pharcyde and a ton more. One consequence of losing such a beat guru so young was he left behind a body of finished, but unreleased work. His younger brother Illa picked up the pieces and wrote verse after verse after chorus with them, creating “Yancey Boys” in the process. Having your late brother produce your debut record as an MC must be pretty heavy. I hope Illa finds success in all of this, he’s a real talent that’s endured a struggle to get there.
On the Fly. Off the Cuff.
“DFTF” – sounds like the beat and rhyme were written at the same time, by the same guy.
“We Here” – Celebration of Life
“R U Listenin’?” – Rad verse trading with Guilty Simpson.
LG15: The Resistance (updated weekly)
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November 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I’m so glad that this music was selected for the show this week. So few people have heard of Illa J, and after the tragic death of his brother, a true great in the hip-hop community, this is a great fusion of work from the both of them. J Dilla’s beats make a perfect background for Illa J’s rhymes.
Good choice!