Died On This Date (February 10, 2006) J Dilla aka Jay Dee / Hip-Hop Producer
themusicsover J Dilla aka Jay Dee (Born James Yancey)
February 7, 1974 – February 10, 2006
J Dilla was a respected hip hop producer who rose to prominence during the late ’90s. He began getting noticed thanks to mid ’90s remixes for the likes of the Pharcyde, Janet Jackson and A Tribe Called Quest. In 1997, Jackson’s “Got ’til It’s Gone” won a Grammy. Even though Dilla produced it, he wasn’t credited, therefore didn’t receive the Grammy. Dilla began releasing his own albums in 2000, each of which were moderately successful, particularly throughout hip hop’s underground community. In 2003, he began collaborating with Los Angeles based producer and MC, Madlib. Together they recorded as Jaylib. Around that time, Dilla learned he was suffering from a rare blood disease that made it increasingly more difficult for him to get around. His health continued to deteriorate over the next few years. On February 10, 2006, 32-year-old J Dilla died of cardiac arrest.
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Big Punisher, or Big Pun, was a Puerto Rican-American rapper who exploded out of the South Bronx during the latter part of the ’90s. He first lent his vocal talents to recordings by the Beatnuts, and more famously, Fat Joe, before launching his solo career on Loud Records in 1998. His debut album, Capital Punishment, went to #5 on the Billboard album charts and earned him a Grammy nomination. It was also the first rap album by a solo Latino rapper to sell over a million copies. Unfortunately, health issues cut his life tragically short just two years later. It was no secret that Big Pun was considered obese, which factored in to his premature death by heart attack and respiratory failure at the age of 28.
DJ Peachez was a popular DJ for Richmond, VA radio station, iPower WCDX 92.1. After graduating with honors from James Madison University where she began DJing at the school’s station as a freshman, DJ Peachez was hired by WCDX in 2006. Colleagues have said she was an inspiration to young women with dreams of being a DJ. She was also a popular draw at clubs throughout the area. DJ Peachez reportedly died after recently being hospitalized for meningitis.
Derek B was a British rapper who came on the scene during the mid ’80s. He was just 15 when he started and was soon picked up by local radio stations to spin there. He was soon hired by hip UK independent dance label, Music Is Life to do A&R. Derek B released several records during his career, a couple reaching the top 15 on the UK charts. He was one of the first British rapppers to appear on the Top of the Pops program due to his crossover appeal. As a producer, Derek B worked with the likes of Cookie Crew and Eric B & Rakim. Derek B was 44 when he died following a heart attack on November 16, 2009.
Born Andre Hicks, Mac Dre was a San Francisco Bay area rapper who built a following during the ’90s due to his songs that chronicled life on the tough streets around him. Throughout his career, he had several hits, including “Too Hard For This Fuckin’ Radio” and “California Livin.” He also worked with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Too Short and Warren G. Hicks started his own label in 2000, calling it Thizz Entertainment, where he was instrumental in the development of the hyphy sub-genre of rap. Andre Hicks was 34 when he was gunned down by the occupants of another vehicle while he riding in a van with a friend. Though the case has never been solved, a Kansas City rapper by the name of Anthony “Fat Tone” Watkins was killed the following year in what is believed by some to be in retaliation for the murder of Hicks.
