T3 (Slum Village)
If you listened to hip hop or R n B in the mid 90’s through the first ten years of the new millennium chances are you’re familiar with James Dewitt Yancey, also know as J Dilla or Jay Dee. He came from a musical family, his mother was an opera singer and his dad a jazz bassist. He was one of the founding members of Slum Village. The music he produced influenced a generation of artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Janet Jackson, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Common, The Pharcyde and Erykah Badu and many more. His music was groundbreaking and changed the sound of urban America and the world.
In 2006 J Dilla passed away at the age of 32 from a rare blood disease but his music lives on. On February 7th - February 10th, the dates that mark J Dilla’s birth and death, Detroit celebrated the life and music of one of her native sons, James Dewitt Yancey.
Mission Statement:
To document the city in an attempt to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the uniqueness of Detroit, her buildings, and her people.
Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus.
We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes.