YANCEY BOYS Talk "Sunset Blvd", Dilla, etc.

Back in October Frank Nitty and Illa J rounded up a batch of previously unreleased Dilla grooves and released "Sunset Blvd." on Delicious Vinyl. The Yancey Boys had a close, personal relationship with the late legendary super producer, something they speak freely about amongst other things (including, of course, their new LP) during this 90 minutes sit down with Out Da Box Radio. A must listen for fans of the Yancey legacy! For the record you can stream the complete album @ DJBooth, and pick up the CD or LP from UGHH.

[Album] YANCEY BOYS - "Sunset Blvd"

A lot of dope releases coming out today, and one of the most exciting to me is the new Yancey Boys project "Sunset Blvd.". Entirely composed of Frank Nitty and Illa J rhyming over previously unreleased Jay Dee beats, this is definitely a nice addition to this years selection of dope music from the 'D'. Now DJBooth has put up the entire project for free streaming so all you have to do is press play and get your head nodding. I just started listening, but I've been digging the previous singles so this should be an ill listen - especially with guest features from the likes of Common, Posdnous, Guilty Simpson, Talib Kweli, Dank, T3 and SlimKid3. "Sunset Blvd." is now available from iTunes, while Delicious Vinyl will start shipping the CD and LP editions this November 5. TURN IT UP!!

01. "Dilltro" (Ft. Dank)

02. "Fisherman" (Ft. Vibe, J Rocc & Detroit Serious)

03. "Lovin' U" (Ft. Eric Roberson)

04. "Go And Ask The DJ" (Ft. Guilty Simpson & J Rocc)

05. "Jeep Volume" (Ft. T3 & C-Minus)

06. "Flowers" (Ft. Talib Kweli, Niko Gray & DJ Rhettmatic)

07. "Honk Ya Horn" (Ft. J Pinder)

08. "Slippin'" (Ft. Early Mac)

09. "Without Wings"

10. "Beautiful" (Ft. Posdnous & Bonita Applebum)

11. "Quicksand" (Ft. Common & Dezi Page)

12. "Rock My World" (Ft. SlimKid3 & Niko Gray)

13. "The Throwaway"

14. "This Evening"

YANCEY BOYS - "SUNSET BLVD"

Yancey Boys - "Jeep Volume" (Ft. T3)

As we're getting closer to the first album from the new incarnation of Yancey Boys, which features Frank Nitty and Illa J rhyming over vintage Jay Dee productions courtesy of Delicious Vinyl, we are treated to the fourth single from the project. So far everything has been sounding great, and the new "Jeep Volume" is no exception, even featuring a guest verse from T3 as well as C-Minus.

Yancey Boys Ft. Common - "Quicksand"

The Yancey Boys now consists of Illa J and Frank Nitt (of Frank-N-Dank), brother and frequent collaborator of J Dilla, respectively. Their forthcoming album, "Sunset Boulevard" is created around previously unreleased tracks from the great producer's deep vaults. Joining Frank Nitt and Illa J on the project is other Dilla associates such as Common, T3, Guilty Simpson, Posdnous and SlimKid3 as well as The Beat Junkies and Eric Robertson. “We’ve created an album that would make Dilla proud,” says Frank Nitt about the album. “But this isn’t a nostalgia trip: Dilla’s beats were so future-forward that they’re right on time in 2013, and we’ve assembled the best artists possible to represent that.” And it is truly amazing how fresh and knocking these old beats still sounds today as is clearly evident by the single "Quicksand", featuring Common and singer Dezi Page. Beautiful!

Support the cause and cop the single (strapped with the Beat Junkies assisted B-side "Fisherman") from iTunes. Stream supplied by Delicious Vinyl. 

New YANCEY BOYS LP Coming

Following the release of several semi-official unreleased J Dilla tapes in early 2006, right before the great producer's untimtely passing, he worked a lot with both his younger producer-brother Illa J and Frank Nitty (of Frank-N-Dank). Whereas the first Yancey Boys album consisted of Illa J spitting new vocals over unreleased tracks from Dilla's early mid-'90s contract as a producer for Delicious Vinyl (The Pharcyde, Brand New Heavies, N'Dea Davenport).

Now the duo has transformed into a trio, following the song "The Trowaway", and have recorded an entire album together of unheard Dilla productions. Then new Yancey Boy is titled "Sunset Blvrd", and is said to feature guest apperances by Common, Posdnous, De La Soul, Karriem Riggins, Guilty Simpson, SlimKid3, and Eric Robertson . The album is set for a September 17 release, so be on the lookout!

FRANK-N-DANK / DILLA on February 5

Despite James Yancey, aka J Dilla, aka Jay Dee, passed away in early 2006, his legacy sure lives on through the huge amount of incredible music he left behind him; both in terms of the classic productions and albums he completed during his lifetime, as well as the vast amount of unreleased music left in the stash. Ma Dukes has made it her life mission to continue Dilla's legacy. Together with Delicious Vinyl, the label in positiion of much of Dilla's earliest material, Yancey Media Group are planning quite a few releases of official, but vaulted music, from the late producer in 2013. Two releases from the label will drop on February 5; the four track EP "Music From The Lost Scolls Vol. 1", featuring four tracks ("DeWitt to Do It" / "Smack A Bitch" / "Ruff & Rugged" / "The Throwaway") both produced and performed by Dilla. PRE-ORDER it here.

The second release is even more interesting for a hardcore Dilla collector like myself; in 2002 Dilla spent a year at MCA Records to record two albums. One by his Detroit brethren Frank-N-Dank entitled "48 HRS" and his solo album, though sporting productions by other talented beatsmiths. The former LP, "48 HRS" went to a lot of trouble before defing completely shelved; the first version was scrapped because it featured a large amount of samples. JD and FND then went back in the studio and completed a version with barely no samples, sounding something like a mix of Neptunes, Dilla, and Timbaland. It was not a bad LP, but it is easily the most unimaginative record Yancey ever produced with the exception of maybe five songs. I have the semi-official bootleg with cover and everything that I believe Frank-N-Dank themeselves put out, so if this turns out to be the same version I will not cop it (the tracklisting is slightly different though). If it on the other hand, is the sample driven version, I can't wait to finally get this in my collection! PRE-ORDER it here.

NOW PLEASE - Release the complete and mastered version of Dilla's MCA 2002 album "PAY JAY", an album that simply needs to get a proper release out of repsect for the late genius. It is the final and only project which features Yancey's vision and complete overseeing of an album that has not yet been released. Just like ODB's "A Son Unique" it's a huge disrespect that these albums have not yet been released. Keep your fingers crossed!

Yancey Boys Ft. Frank Nitt - "The Throwaway"

J Dilla was a true workaholic, and although we sadly will never get to hear a brand new JD beat again, all the times he spent in his home studio which resulted in hours and hours of previously unreleased beats. This has promted friends, and familiy to start the J Dilla Estate (run by Ma Dukes), and release original album with never before, officially released Jay Dee beats. One of the earliest was the other Yancey Brother's 2008 album "Yancey Boys". Since it was released on maybe Dilla's very first label contract, with Delicious Vinyl, the LP saw Illa J and guests like Guilty Simpson rhyme over never before heard  beats from the mid-'90s era (when he was putting in work on The Pharcyde's classic sophomore amongst other stuff), which gave the project a very different sound than the jokers releasing mixtapes over the "Donuts" tracks. The album was not perfect by any means, but it was far from wack.

Now the Yancey Brothers' return with a brand new single, featuring Frank Nitty, entitled "The Thowaway", a track that was announced a few weeks back as the starting shot for a host of releases from the Dilla vaults overseen by Ma Dukes; other releases will include a final release of Frank-N-Dank's "48 HRS" project. You can show your support by purchasing the song on iTunes, or check out the video up top, no strings attached. Stay tuned for more info on future releases. I can dig this!