(AllHipHop News) Many fans and artists celebrated the late James “J Dilla” Yancey’s birthday on February 10. Before his death in 2006, the acclaimed Hip Hop producer worked with music visionaries such as Slim Village, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Common, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, and many others.

[ALSO READ: Dr. Dre Pays Homage To J Dilla (VIDEO)]

Jay Dee was also a regular collaborator with The Roots. In a video posted to the Ambrosia For Heads YouTube channel, the band’s front man, Black Thought, spoke about the impact the Detroit icon had on Hip Hop culture.

“Dilla was the common denominator between Kanye West, Pharrell, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo. The list goes on and on,” said Black Thought. “Dilla’s influence transcended genres and regions. It was something that we were all willing to fit the bill in order to travel to Detroit and go to this grown man’s mother’s basement to experience.”

[ALSO READ: New J. Dilla Track Drops With Electronic Relaxed Feel]

Watch Black Thought’s interview below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIc_IB1cGhs]