CHARITY : The J-Dilla Foundation

      "Dilla was about love in many formats", Maureen stated. "One of the things he wanted me to do with his legacy was to use it to help others... kids who were musically gifted but had a little hope due to poverty". Therefore, Maureen Yancey created The J-Dilla Foundation in 2006, to help fund inner-city music programs and provide scholarships to students attending school that have progressive music curricula.

      James Dewit Yancey, better known by his stage name 'Jay Dee' or 'J-Dilla', was a producer who emerged in the 90's from the underground hip-hop scene of Detroit in Michigan. According to a lot of people, he was one of the most influential hip-hop artists, and he worked with big-name rappers like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and Common. J-Dilla was a real music lover, collecting ton and ton of records. Unfortunately, he died from complications with Lupus and rare blood disease TTP. Dilla's death has had a significant impact on the hip-hop community and his mother, better known by the name of 'Ma Duke', decided to create the J-Dilla Foundation right after her son passed away in February 2006. A couple of months after, the foundation was put on hold due to legal issues with J-Dilla's estate, but it was reestablished in 2009 in Detroit, the hometown of the Yancey family.

      The idea of this foundation is to create and provide progressive programs to students in order to develop their talent and creativity. Giving them the tools and support they need, the foundation helps children to flourish and become successful within the entertainment industry. Different programs were designed. The 'Pay It Forward' program provides financial support to local music programs. The foundation will give money to cover needs such as transportation, uniforms and vital equipment. The 'Be Instrumental' program have been collecting used instruments and equipments, and ensure that where there is a child with a desire to create music, he has the opportunity to do it. The foundation also has a dedicated partnership with inner city high school and community music programs. It supports them by providing instruments, editing and production software and equipments.
      Because of J-Dilla's renown, a lot of famous hip-hop artists such as Busta Rhymes, Common, De La Soul or Erykah Badu are involved in the foundation. In 2009, a posthumous album titled 'Jay Stay Paid' was released and a part of the benefits were donated to the foundation. Concerts, festivals and art contests have been organized not only in United States, but also all over the world in order to make money. The J-Dilla foundation also developed a huge network of partnership and sponsoring with a lot of brands. For example, last February, Grassroots California released the official 'King of Beats' J-Dilla hat to donate back to the foundation. Maureen Yancey and the mother of J-Dilla's youngest daughter, Joylette Hunter, are working together to keep the name and the legacy of J-Dilla alive in the hip-hop community and throughout the world.

      I can not say how much I like the idea of this foundation. I am a real fan of Dilla's work and music, especially hip-hop, has a huge place in my life. I think it is really important for those children who live in poverty, to escape their ghetto and their daily routine, and I have the strong conviction that music is one of the best ways. I hope the J-Dilla foundation will continue to help children and, why not also expand their activities in poor countries in Africa.

HISTORICAL STRUCTURE : Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere

      If there is something you can not miss when you are visiting Lyon, my hometown in France, it is the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. By its dominating position on top of Fourvière Hill, the Basilica can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. After many years, it became a iconic building and a real symbol of Lyon.

      In 1168, a little chapel was built on the top of Fourvière Hill by Olivier de Chavannes, dedicated to Saint Thomas and then, to the Virgin Mary. Due to an increasing number of pilgrims in this chapel, Cardinal Bonald decided to build a new church. The construction began in December 1872, following the design of the architect Pierre Bossan, drawn from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture. The basilica contains two churches, one on top of the other. While the lower is simply designed, the upper sanctuary is very ornate, with a lot of beautiful mosaics, sculptures and stained glass. The monument was completely finished almost a hundred years after, in 1964 and became a basilica through the benediction of Pope Léon.

      In addition to being a gorgeous church, this place is really special for every Lyon citizens because of a lot of mystical stories. All over the years, three major wishes were made in this place, and all were achieved. The first happened in 1630 when the french queen Anne d'Autriche, the Louis XIII's wife, could not have a baby and decided to come to Fourvière and pray to the Virgin Mary. A miracle came 8 years after and Louis XIV was born. I think the most important and famous story happened in 1643, while a cholera wave was killing the population of the city. Another wish was made to the Virgin Mary, to protect the city and stop the massacre. Twenty days after, the virus was gone, and the city was safe again. The last story happened in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian war. The Prussian army, was progressing south towards Lyon, and a wish was made at Fourvière by Monseigneur Ginoulhiac to the Virgin Mary, to prevent the occupation of Lyon. The Prussian never took the city and after this victory, the basilica was dedicated to Mary.

      Time changed but nowadays, the basilica of Fourvière is still a place where people come to pray or confess, but it is also a tourist attraction which receives around 1.5 million visitors every year. Guided tours are organized and you can also visit the Museum of Sacred Art, or just admire the spectacular 180-degree view of Lyon and its suburbs. There is also big traditional event related to this iconic building. Lyon citizens still thank the Virgin Mary for saving them by lightening candles throughout the city every 8th of March. We call it the Festival of Lights and people from all over the country come to see it.

      As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The basilica of Fourvière will continue to attract tourists from all over the world. The building is in renovation since 2008 to keep the magic going, and with the Virgin Mary as protector, Lyon can build its future serenely.

View from the Basilica

The upper sanctuary