(AllHipHop News) It was just six years ago today that Hip-Hop lost one of its greatest producers of all-time, Detroit born and raised J Dilla.
“Dilla,” as his friends called him, suffered from Lupus and passed away at the early age of 32, after being hospitalized for pneumonia.
While battling his illness, J Dilla became widely regarded as one of the most influential and prolific producers of all time, staying busy amid his waning health conditions.
Producing for the Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson, The Roots, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, D’Angelo, and his own group, Slum Village, Dilla developed a cult-like, post-mortem following. His legacy includes production for some of today’s biggest Hip-Hop stars, as well as the release of the critically-acclaimed, 31-track “Donuts” album just after his passing.
In honor and in celebration of his mark on music, J Dilla will be remembered this Friday (February 10) with a concert at The Filmore in Detroit. Deemed “Dilla Day Detroit,” the celebration seeks to recognize the Detroit Hip-Hop pioneer’s musical legacy and will feature Busta Rhymes, Jay Electronica, Phife of A Tribe Called Quest, along with Phat Kat, Danny Brown, and the Nick Speed Orchestra.
While those are the confirmed performances to date, others are expected to be added to the bill as the the concert approaches.
“It’s going to be very special to have people right here in Detroit see his name up in lights and embrace his great legacy,” Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press back in December. “It’s very special that we’re doing it right here in his hometown. He loved his city.”
Portions of the proceeds from the concert will go to the J Dilla Foundation and Rebirth of Detroit, a new album of unreleased J Dilla material, scheduled for May through the Yancey Music Group.
For more info, visit www.jdillarebirthofdetroit.com and www.jdillafoundation.org.