The late, great J. Dilla has posthumously received the honor of a street renaming in his hometown of Detroit.
J Dilla Street Becomes Official
On Thursday, February 6, a ceremony was held at the corner of East Nevada and Charest, which was officially renamed “J Dilla Street.”
Ja’Mya Yancey, Dilla’s daughter, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and how it was long overdue.
“This is long overdue for my father,” Yancey told FOX 2 Detroit. “He left it up to us, his family, to continue to make sure that his genius was not left behind or forgotten about. And that’s exactly what we are doing, have been doing, and will continue to do.”
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Community Support for the Renaming
Yancey reflected on the overwhelming community support behind the initiative.
“We were out here on foot getting signatures from people and it was so good to see,” she continued. “People were like, ‘Oh yeah, I know exactly who you’re talking about, I sure will support it.’”
Dan Charnas & Industry Tributes
Dan Charnas, author of Dilla Time, celebrated the event on Instagram, acknowledging the work put into making the renaming a reality.
“A great morning in Detroit. A lot of people worked very hard to get to this moment, the first real official recognition of the work and legacy of James Dewitt Yancey from the City of Detroit.”
He extended his appreciation to Dilla’s daughters Ja’Mya Yancey and Ty-Monae Whitelow, as well as key supporters including Joylette Hunter, Detroit Councilwoman Mary Sheffield, Questlove, Common, Pete Rock, Karriem Riggins, and Jessica Care Moore.
J. Dilla’s Lasting Legacy
Regarded as one of the most influential producers of all time, J. Dilla rose to prominence in the mid-1990s as a member of Slum Village. He went on to produce timeless tracks for some of the biggest names in music, including:
- Janet Jackson
- The Pharcyde
- De La Soul
- Busta Rhymes
- A Tribe Called Quest
- Q-Tip
Additionally, he was a member of the Soulquarians, an elite collective featuring Questlove, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Bilal, and Raphael Saadiq.
Remembering J. Dilla
On February 10, 2006, J. Dilla passed away at the age of 32 from complications of lupus and TTP. His influence continues to resonate through hip-hop, neo-soul, and modern music production, inspiring generations of artists and producers.
The renaming of J Dilla Street stands as a testament to his enduring legacy, ensuring his contributions to music will never be forgotten.
