Tag Archives: Slum Village

seems like Slum went from three to two, two to three, three to two and two to..None. we will see how this one works itself out

In his first tweet since March 8, eLZhi wrote, “Not sure what’s going on….I hope Slum Village’s label and T3’s manager respect what I do for SV. Either way I appreciate yall support.”

Later in the night, T3 wrote, “1 of all I never kick anyone out the group…” followed by, “2nd there is no new members in slum village! !!!!!” and, “3rd don’t chime in if you don’t know both sides. …..” He then followed up by claiming, “oh yeah one more thing. ..This is the last Slum Village Album…..”

Hex Murda, eLZhi’s manager, issued the following statement on the situation to XXLMag.com: “For all intents and purposes concerning eLZhi, Slum Village is defunct. This is the last SV LP. We look forward to bringing you eLZhi’s solo project, The Feed. Until then, check him out on Black Milk’s new opus, Album Of The Year, [in stores] 9/14.”

2009…

Three years since he passed. Wounds are
still open, nothing has changed. You’d think that over the years it would sink
in that he’s gone. But every time I hear his sounds it hits me again. That we
will run out of his beats that provide comfort, that helped us deal with his
absence.
Still we rep Dilla Dawg. Still we keep James Yancey..s legacy alive.
We do not want to forget, but wish we could change what happened in the past.
. ..
I listened to “Bye” this morning on my way to work and it filled my eyes with tears. He left us a goodbye letter, even better than that. Something we can all hear, grab and most of all: feel. No matter which language we speak, where we come from or how well we know him.
.. ..
He was very much alive and present in my life in this past year since his second death anniversary. In November of last year I made a trip to Detroit to visit my
friend Shon, James cousin.Opposed to my first visit to the D; I had much more time to see the city, meet friends, experience the music scene and, on a personal note, spend time with my future husband.
One week after my arrival the Walk for Dilla would take place in ….Los Angeles and we had made arrangements to attend. We got on separate planes to L.A on November 14^th. I was excited to be at one of the many walks for the Lupus foundation, as I had promised myself to do so one day. Living in Germany
didn’t make it easy, but here I was on my way to Los Angeles.The next morning I woke up excited and couldn’t wait to get to Santa Monica Pier where we would meet the other walkers. The weather was incredible. Coming from Detroit, where it had just started snowing, I was shocked to see nothing but blue skies and sunshine. It was the perfect day to celebrate Dillas life and walk to raise funds to defeat the disease that had taken him from us.
I met so many great people that day and I realized once again that James had not only given us the gift of music but had also created a unity between people who would have never met if it hadn’t been for his work. Within the past years since his death I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people who share my love for music and hip hop culture and we all have in common that Jay Dee touched and moved us with his beats and rhymes.
Many of us have become active members in the hip hop community because his death has left a void that we are trying to fill somehow.
We walked that day with smiles on our faces and love in our hearts because he had brought us together, because we could feel his spirit amongst us.
The day had to come to an end eventually but the feeling I felt I will forever carry in my heart.

.. ..
We returned to the D two days later and within the following weeks I understood more and more where James had gotten his sound from. The soulful, dirty, nasty and knocking sound that we will always recognize. Motown is kind of depressing and I guess people search for a way to escape mentally, if they cant do so physically. Yet Detroits natives are so warm and embracing.
I love Detroit for the people I got to spend time with there, love it for the nights we spent at Northern Lights Lounge and the firefly in Ann Arbour where I heard exactly the music I needed to hear, where they celebrate Dilla and his fellow Detroit MCs each night.
I cant wait to go back..
.. ..
Then came Thanksgiving and we were invited to spend it at James parents house. As I stepped in their house and Ma Dukes greeted me with a warm hug, I felt an overwhelmingly positive energy. The living room was filled with memories. Jay Dees platinum records on the walls and painting of him digging for records and his very first magazine cover. I don’t even find words to describe that
afternoon. We talked about his final tour overseas, about Maureens
experiences, about how he still brings people together. We were together reminiscing, laughing and smiling and sharing our stories. My first Thanksgiving, and it couldn’t have been better.

. ..
Two weeks later I had to leave the city and the people I love behind to go back to Germany.It was a sad good-bye, but I will be back soon.

In the meantime, Illa Js “Yancey Boys” has helped to keep my spirits up. Man…those beats..
.. ..
A few weeks ago an article hit the internet
about Ma Dukes trial against the estate. I know most of yall have read it. If
not, go here: http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2009/01/the-battle-for-j-dilla-s-legacy .
I been thinking about a way to help Maureen Yancey. Its such a shame, such injustice that the woman who gave birth to this man has legal trouble about using her own sons name. I heard about these issues a year ago from his family, but I didn’t know any details. If there’s something you can do to help, do it! I will play my part, because we owe her…
.. ..
My latest Jay Dee moment happened only a week ago. I was spending the weekend at my best friends house. We stayed at home Saturday night with drinks and talked all through the night. For some reason I had thought that she knew
WHY Dilla means so much so me, why I keep reppin him like I do, why he inspires me so much constantly.
I was wrong.. She knew some of his music, she knew I loved the music but she had no idea how deep it was. I started talking about Dilla and when I realized that she was far from knowing the whole story I filled her in on how he made beats on his deathbed. How he put together “Donuts” to communicate with the people he hadn’t even told that he was sick, how he had sent us a final note through those songs, so soulful, although he was in such great pain. How he refused to go to the Grammys with Tip when his production was nominated, because he was never one to seek the limelight, because that wasn’t what he made music for.
I told her about the countless music he had produced. The people he influenced and touched. And it made her cry. Me talking about it made my cry too. So we cried together. Because he’s gone. Because there will never be no other like him. And because not knowing the whole story is almost a crime.
To see her touched so much by his story meant so much to me. I always thought she knew but just wasn’t feeling the same way as me. I thought I couldn’t talk to her about Dilla anymore because I was getting on her nerves every time I dropped his name. I was so wrong. She says Dilla changed her life that night.
And I guess that’s how a lot of people who rep him now feel. At some point, sooner or later, Dilla will change your life, whether you know it or not.
.. ..
That was my year with Mr James Yancey.
Still the greatest, always will be.
His beats in my ear, his story in my heart,
I smile and cry at the same time. Keep spreading his story and music and change
peoples lives!
Still we rep Dilla Dawg. Still we keep James Yanceys legacy alive.
We do not want to forget, but wish we could change what happened in the past.