EST. 2026 · DUG FROM 439,025 USENET POSTS · REC.MUSIC.HIP-HOP + ALT.RAP

THE HIP-HOP NEWS ARCHIVE · 1997–2019 ★ STRAIGHT FROM THE NEWSGROUPS

Producer J Dilla

SOURCE NOT STATED IN THE POST

Hip-Hop producer J-Dilla passed away today (Feb. 10) due to an unspecified ailment. Early reports suggest he succumbed to kidney failure, a medical problem which arose in 2004.

J-Dilla, born James Yancy, was a member of Slum Village and worked with various Hip-Hop artists including Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and Common's Grammy-nominated album, BE.

In 2005, rumors spread that the rapper/producer had died suddenly. Those rumors were debunked by J-Dilla's label, Stones Throw, but verified the producer did spend considerable time in the hospital. Stone's Throw wasn't at liberty to confirm the death of the rapper, but Slum Village group member T-3 confirmed the unfortunate event on his MySpace web page.

"I'm f**ked up, my n***a just passed away," T3 posted on the website. Friends and fans posted their condolences on T3's site.

MORE ON A TRIBE CALLED QUEST

PRESERVED FROM USENET

This story circulated on the newsgroup rec.music.hip-hop and reached the archive on February 11, 2006. It is reproduced as posted — headlines, typos and all. The post did not credit a source; this story is preserved as it reached the newsgroup.