James "J Dilla" Yancey (1974-2006) passed away on February 10, 2006 at the age of 32. He was an American hip-hop producer, rapper, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Detroit, Michigan. J Dilla was well-known for his influence on early 2000s underground hip hop in Detroit and Chicago. He was a founding member of the Detroit-based hip-hop group Slum Village and was also a part of the music producer group from Los Angeles known as The Soulquarians. Notably, J Dilla was responsible for producing and mixing several songs from Erykah Badu's classic 1997 album, "Baduizm". His reach extended beyond hip hop, as he was known to create instrumentals for a variety of genres such as soul, funk, and jazz. Throughout his career, he collaborated with several notable artists such as The Roots, Common, and A Tribe Called Quest. His body of work was widely respected and helped shape the sound of hip hop in the early 2000s. J Dilla's legacy is remembered for his influence on the hip-hop production world and his dedication to the art form. He will be fondly remembered by fans and collaborators alike.