Biography

John Derek Yancey better known as “Illa J” (born October 13, 1986 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American rapper/singer & songwriter. He is a solo artist but also is currently an active member of Detroit based groups Slum Village and Yancey Boys. He also has another alias “John Regal”. He taught himself how to play the piano, had bass lessons and continuously has vocal training. 

As an independent artist, he has released three albums, 2008’s solo album Yancey Boys, 2013’s Evolution (as Slum Village along with rapper T3 and Producer Young RJ) and 2013’s Sunset Blvd. (as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt and Illa J’s big brother, James Dewitt Yancey (1974-2006) aka J Dilla, on the production). Illa J also has two EP’s, 2007’s Illa J, 2010’s 4 Past Midnite and two mixtapes 2012’s Dirty Slums and 2013’s Dirty Slums 2 (both as Slum Village). He magically has released all this work without being signed. He has done interviews and specials for Sway in the Morning with Sway Calloway, Mass Appeal Magazine, HipHopDX, URB Magazine, XXL magazine, etc. He also performs every year at DillaDayDetroit held at The Fillmore in Detroit which is a tribute event to celebrate the life of his big brother J Dilla. The 2013 event was headlined by Royce da 5’9 and Talib Kweli.

Since 2007, Illa J has toured in Japan, Europe and has had shows in Chile and Canada. As Slum Village, Illa J has also toured many times in Europe, the USA, Canada and have had shows in Greece, Chile and Brazil. However, 2013 has been the busiest year for Illa J in the studio and on the road.
With almost 100 booked shows with Slum Village for 2012-2013 he has recorded and released Sunset Blvd and Evolution. He also took part in the Welcome to DillaVille - A tribute to J Dilla Tour along with SlimKid3 from Pharcyde, Guilty Simpson, Frank N Dank and Slum Village. Illa J has been in a relationship for little less than two years with his Venezuelan but Montreal based girlfriend Maya. Montreal is where they spend most of their free time.

Illa J wrote and recorded his first rap at the age of 13 with his big brother J Dilla at Studio A in Detroit, Michigan. Later on, in his teenage years, he wanted to undertake a basketball career but music had always been part of his life. He joined the church choir at the age of six and he grew up seeing his entire family involved in music. His mother, Maureen Yancey, studied opera singing and was in the church choir, and his father, Beverly Dewitt Yancey (1932-2012), was offered a deal by Motown Music that he turned down but kept on doing music independently, Mr. and Ms. Yancey also had their own acapella group. His big brother James Dewitt Yancey better known as “J Dilla” was a record producer who was a great influence to the hip-hop scene by working with groups such as; A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, De La Soul, and artists such as; Busta Rhymes, Common, Erykah Badu and MF Doom. 

Just a poet 
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Music label. Paris, France.
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@Riski-Metekson 
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Catalogue :
* Metek - Paris 75021 (Mixtape, 2014)
* Metek - Riski (LP, 2014) 
* Sameer Ahmad - Ne Mourez Jamais Seul (EP, 2014)
* Sameer Ahmad - Perdants Magnifiques (LP, 2014) 
* Riski - Matière Noire (EP, 2015)
* Sameer Ahmad - Un Amour Suprême Part.1 : Jovontae EP (2017)
* Riski - 26 (EP, 2018)
* Riski - Tercian (EP, 2018)
* Sameer Ahmad - Apaches (LP, 2019)
* Riski - Oh Mon Dieu (EP, 2019)
* Riski - Piscines (EP, 2020)
* Metek - Ghost Years (Bootleg, 2020)
* Sameer Ahmad - Un Amour Suprême Part.2 : Ezekiel EP (2020)
* Riski - Z (2 Titres, 2020)
* Metek - Les Années Collège (Bootleg, 2021)
* Loto & Riski - Camo Life (EP, 2021)
* Sameer Ahmad - Effendi (LP, 10.12.2021)

Jewelry Rap is a product of two things: it’s definitely the result of a talented MC’s love and appreciation for hip-hop and all things to do with it, and it’s indisputably the culmination of amazing chemistry between the rapper Jah-Monte and the producer Lavonte Hines aka FLLS. The eight new collaborations the duo lay down here are astonishingly varied in style, sound and delivery, and each is an invaluable musical addition to a constantly growing discography. ‘Holistic Sebi Life Style’ sees Jah-Monte attack the mic with incredible tenacity. ‘Having festivals in Charlotte without me included me included? That’s why them shits never work’ he sneers on the verse. ‘I ain’t tryna work, these n***** be trash, like Keith Sweat let’s make the memory last’ he implores on the hook. The beat has a winding, hypnotic nature to it that allows for the rapper’s stinging bars to engrain themselves remarkably fast.

By contrast, ‘Fenty & Prada Mama’ is smooth and soulful, a joyful sample looping under the snappy drums. The rapper’s snarl is still as well utilised as ever, however: ‘The game ain’t changed, there’s just no real n***** left, I can read her body language like a n**** deaf.’ For a lot of the song, FLLS’s production rides out solo, proving that Jah-Monte is well aware of the importance of crafting an atmosphere in his songs, and allowing the beats to act as far more than a backdrop. There is real, genuine love for the art to be found here, and it’s one that continues on tracks like the jazzy ‘Creative Loathing FOH’ in wildly different ways. With minimal pianos and drums backing him, the rapper delivers lyrical hell: ‘Fuck a bitch you won’t catch me in no detective mode, by the time the pound drop I had 10 extra O’s’. Few are blessed with the skill for rapping that Jah-Monte possesses, and he doesn’t waste a second of any of these songs to exercise it.

Another attribute that the rapper frequently displays is his ability to write a fantastic hook. ‘Rip Swindle’ is the best example, his delivery transforms into a hoarse holler that conveys the passion in the music better than ever. ‘Light your shit up like a candlelight, better show some fucking manners like’. As I’ve mentioned before when covering his music, you can really hear the pain and anguish when you put on one of Jah-Monte’s songs. In my eyes though, no track on Jewelry Rap does this better than the proper closer ‘I Miss You Tae Tae’. The production here is something special, FLLS conjures a palpably mournful mood as the rapper pains a grim picture of his upbringing, including the death of his loved ones. 

It is clear from the first moment of this project to the last that as a rapper Jah-Monte is an almost unmatched talent, and as a songwriter he is truly flourishing. Working with FLLS, he has crafted an early contender for AOTY and made something truly magical out of the experiences he knows all too well. He has something for all here, appealing to long time fans with the latest, greatest installment of the ‘Best Rapper In Charlotte’ series and drawing in an array of new listeners with diverse production choices, intimate lyrical moments and increasingly brilliant mic performances. Definitely one of the hottest releases out right now, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not listening to it.

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