Jay Dee: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• The Roots
• Prince Paul
• Ta'Raach
• Daedelus
• Erick Sermon
• Finale
• Mos Def

• Amp Fiddler
• Large Professor
• DJ Premier
• De La Soul
• EPMD
• Whodini
• Jungle Brothers

• Dabrye
• Diego Bernal
• Visioneers
• Dorian Concept
• Black Milk
• S1
• Hudson Mohawke

• Slum Village
• 1st Down
• Jaylib
• Soulquarians
• The Ummah
• J-88
• Baatin

Birth Name:

James Yancey

Born:

Feb 7, 1974 in Detroit, MI

Died:

Feb 10, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA

Genres:

Rap & Hip-Hop Music, Underground Rap Music

Decades Active:

1990's

Artistic Quality

High

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

After quietly serving as a member of A Tribe Called Quest's production team, the Ummah, Detroit producer Jay Dee quickly became known as a major hip-hop prospect at the beginning of the early 2000s. The hip-hop community took notice of his no-frills, breakbeat-laden classic hip-hop style after he helped craft albums for Common (Like Water for Chocolate), D'Angelo (Voodoo), and Q Tip (Amplified), in addition to other projects of lesser profile. When Fantastic, Vol. 2 -- the long-awaited major-label debut album by Jay Dee's group, the trio Slum Village -- finally appeared in 2000, Jay Dee was no longer a secret, suddenly having become one of hip-hop's most admired and desired producers. His growing reputation and impressive resume presented him with the opportunity to release a solo album in early 2001, Welcome 2 Detroit, an album featuring a number of underground Detroit rappers.

- Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide