"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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment