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Posted by Dave
Rap News Network
2/22/2006 9:38:43 AM
A weekly Tuesday hip-hop night at Northern Lights Lounge in Detroit's New Center area became an all-night tribute to Jay Dee on Tuesday, with more than 100 fans, DJs and local music-makers paying homage to the Detroit rap producer -- born James Yancey and also known as J Dilla -- who died earlier this month from kidney failure after a long series of health problems.
In-between playing unreleased beat CDs, tunes from Jay Dee's former group Slum Village, and tracks that Jay Dee produced for others, the event's host, DJ Houseshoes dropped prerecorded messages over the sound system, with folks such as Slum Village members T3 and Elzhi, and DJs Pete Rock and Jazzy Jeff, talking about their friend. Waitresses served up cocktails while sporting "Jay Dee Changed My Life" t-shirts, and fans wore RIP clothing. On the DJ table, near the turntables, there was a box of tissues for anyone who got emotional.
A multicultural mix of people break-danced and nodded their heads to the familiar-sounding music from the hip-hop innovator, who worked with such major names as A Tribe Called Quest, Common and Janet Jackson.
"My man is gone, he ain't coming back," Houseshoes said from the DJ stage, commanding the crowd to yell and pump their fist in the air for his longtime friend.
In the prerecorded messages, national hip-hop figures talked about Jay Dee's influence on hip-hop.
"I haven't made any beats since I heard the news, but I plan on doing a record to help his family out," said Pete Rock.
This was a theme of the evening. A beer pitcher was passed around to collect money to help his relatives pay down bills, the result of several years of on-and-off hospitalization and medical care.
There will be a Detroit service for Jay Dee, open to the public, at noon Thursday at Greater Quinn A.M.E. Church, 13501 Rosa Parks Blvd, Detroit.
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