Illa J’s Yancey Boys is not a tribute to his late older brother, J Dilla. Instead it is a collaboration with one of the most legendary producers to ever grace hip-hop. The album, released on Delicious Vinyl Records (Tone Loc, Masta Ace, Pharcyde), divulges in Dilla’s untouched beats created in the mid-late 90’s while working with Pharcyde on Labcabincalifornia. As opposed to exploiting Jay Dee’s work (Hi Afeni!), Yancey Boys presents Dilla’s untouched unreleased beats in a glass case, simply complimented by Illa J’s framework.
Opening with ‘Timeless’, a track infused with soul and Dilla’s patented drums, Illa J sets the mindset for the entire album. It acts as an introduction to Illa J’s persona – a self-proclaimed singer-rapper, who alternates his delivery methods throughout the entire album. Illa J pairs up with Guilty Simpson on “R U Listening,” which uses the voice of Pos (via “Much More”) effectively for the chorus. With a heavier bass to his flow, Guilty, who was working with Jay Dee at the time of his passing, virtually outshines Illa J with his delivery. Despite that, Guilty ironically compliments Illa’s lighter-sounding flow, making this joint too ill. “Strugglin” is a self-indulgent track that exposes the difficulties of being an artist trying to make it big, but more than that, it frames Dilla’s exemplary production abilities as this beat is so simplistic and raw, but still so powerful.
Another song that profiles the immense talent Jay Dee held is “All Good”, a jazz and soul infused beat that outlines Dilla’s conscientiously crafted instrumentation. “Everytime”, a track about love and lost, as well as “Sounds like Love”, both bring refreshing elements to the album’s structure. The latter features Debi Nova and brings a pop R&B vibe that blends with the neo-soul jazz sound found throughout the album. “DFTF”, featuring Affion Crockett, evokes a Tribe-esque sound and showcases the most of J’s rhyming abilities, as he maintains a smooth flow beginning to end. The album closes out with “Air Signs” and it is bittersweet because it’s in memory of Jay Dee. Nonetheless, it celebrates the life of the Yancey family and insinuates the passing of the torch from sibling to sibling.
Whether it was on purpose or not, Illa J’s presence takes the backseat on this album, and Dilla’s legacy of work shines through. The periodic off-beat bars and the mediocre rhymes proves that Illa J is far from a polished lyricist, however, Illa understands how to compliment Dilla’s work in such a way that it highlights every beat, break and soulfulness within the production. Whether Yancey Boys purpose is to engage the listener to the sounds of neo-soul or to highlight J Dilla’s endless talent, this release is an effortless listen, and ultimately an album worth giving a chance.
Overall score: 75/100
Standout Tracks:
“R U Listenin”
“All Good”
“DFTF”
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this album.
Great review BTW, Deez.
If Illa J has mediocre rhymes then should he be the one on this joint?? Is that not exploitation? How come there aren’t emcees on here dilla worked with instead? I never heard of Illa J until recently, after jay dee passed. Just asking the questions.
This review wasn’t me. It was my protege, eA. I’ll holler at Kev!
Sorry bout the mixup eA! Dope review, btw. Although, I really ain’t feelin this album.
Mike, those are really good questions and my response will probably hit a sore spot, but I don’t think Illa J should have gotten these beat. Yeah, he’s family, but so what. I believe it is exploitation. I think these beats could have been better used for a Dilla Tribute album with other emcees maybe.
is the album available as an imstrumental version?
illa j ’s rhymes are not very interesting. Also he sings way too much on this album, he doesnt have a great voice…. These are dope beats ( but still not close to dillas best) and Illa j does ride a few of them but agreeing with cenzo…..
id rather get an instrumental version of this album,
peace
best album of the year so far, and it december haha.
illa j is sick, not the best mc in the world is better than 90% of mc’s in the underground, would like to have seen more collabos on this album with karrem riggims and madlibs and peeps working with dilla at the time of his passing, and at the time he made these beats, like tribe, sv, common or phar.
singing/rapping combo is sick, the best are unreal. cop this, dont listen to the haters.
easy there Sert One. Best Album of the Year, if this? Means that you need to listen to a few of the albums I’ve reviewed there on the side.
and sorry that a negative review = a hater. I don’t get this, and I’m gonna start lashing out at people calling me or any of my companions “haters” just because we don’t think an album is good. If our review matched your opinion, you wouldn’t be calling us a hater, especially if you enjoyed the album
fuck outta here with that talk
hey man each to their own this is imo the best album of the year, thasts me though so if u aint feeling it then cool, i wasnt reviewed to u cats as “haters” i was referring to the negative press that this release has gotten from people writing off the album because of illa j’s rhymes before listening to it.
dude needs to stop singing, cause he cant! let dwele, slum village etc etc hop on those beats man.
I simply don’t think Illa J can rhyme, and I think the proof is in the pudding.
OUCH Deez… hahaha… its funny cuz theres been a couple relatives (cats whos related to someone in the game) come out lately but not quite like the original… best relative ive EVER heard whos actually as good as the OG is Gerald Levert… dude sounds exactly like his daddy haha… shits actually kinda scary
The thing with this album is that it seems like Illa had all the right intentions to showcase Dilla’s work, as opposed to exploit it and come off as if he’s the shit on the album. He knows his place, he took the backseat. IMO, that completely throws out any thoughts of exploitation.
If he intends to go further with a career, he seriously needs to step up his singing AND rhyming game. We’ll see!
great review..i agree 100%
As the younger brother of Dilla who is anyone to presume that he jumped on those beats & tried to exploit it. He knew his elder brother was & (now lives through his music eternally) as the greatest producer to ever bless the sampling machine & also the best producer on the mic. This undeniably may have influenced him to go about a music career & that being the only way forward as I believe Dilla really influenced those around him. r.i.p Dilla, Illa J’s lyricism & yeah i hear that singin’ too aint the sharpest,individually he def needs to step up, but Dilla’s beats can make anyone sound good. Blessed..
peace from London..
Is ^^ A member of the Dilla fam-a-lay?\