Illa J, 2Dopeboyz, Delicious Vinyl, and Audible Treats Proud To Announce Winners Of Illa J Remix Contest
Grynch and Illecism Announced As Winners, Submissions To Be Released As Free Digital Downloads By Delicious Vinyl
(April 3, 2009 -Brooklyn, NY) After judging over 50 submissions from over five countries and three continents, Illa J, 2Dopeboyz, Delicious Vinyl, and Audible Treats are proud to announce the winners of the Illa J Remix Contest. The two winners are Seattle-based rapper Grynch, who dropped a crazy lyrical flow over “Showtime” and California-based rapper Illecism, who dropped a winning mad style over “R U Listening.”
Four weeks ago, Illa J, 2DopeBoyz.com, Delicious Vinyl, and Audible Treats launched the Illa J Remix Contest to promote the release of the instrumental version of Illa J’s highly acclaimed album, Yancey Boys – an album featuring Illa J rapping over beats left behind by his brother, J Dilla. Aspiring rappers were given two weeks to record their best verses around the concept of Illa J’s hooks for “R U Listening” and “Showtime,” two tracks featured on Yancey Boys. Two winners were to be chosen, one for each song, with the two winning submissions released as digital singles for free download by the legendary Delicious Vinyl record label. Additionally, each winner was to receive one unique 16 bar verse recorded personally by Illa J for inclusion on whichever personal project they choose. Now, after much listening, deliberation, and consideration by Illa J and Delicious Vinyl, the winners have been chosen.
For Illa J, the contest served as more than just a promotional tool, but as a way to give something back to upcoming emcees. Illa says, “I thought it would be a good opportunity for an aspiring MC to get their shine on. I was also interested to hear how another MC would flow to the tracks, and what type of flavor they would bring to it.” With over 50 submissions, judging can be a lengthy process. Making things even tougher was the overwhelming quality of many of the submissions. Michael (Mike Floss) Ross, founder of Delicious Vinyl says, “I was very impressed with not only the winners, but with many of the runners-up as well.”
Illecism, who submitted the winning remix for “R U Listening” and hails from Natomas, CA, is 20 years old, and is excited to be recognized for his hard work. He also looks forward to the opportunity to work on a song with Illa J, saying, “It’s cool to know I can have Illa J hop on a song for me.” More information about Illecism can found at his website and MySpace (links found below). Grynch, who submitted the winning remix for “Showtime,” and hails from Seattle, WA, is 22 years old and has been rapping seriously for five years, having released two albums and an EP to date.
The Background:
When Jay Dee passed away from complications relating to lupus in February 2006, he left behind an extraordinary legacy of production work, including hits for Common, Janet Jackson, and Busta Rhymes. One mother lode of previously untouched beats dates from his time working on the Pharcyde’s sophomore album, Labcabincalifornia (Delicious Vinyl, 1995). As Delicious VinylMichael “Mike Floss” Ross explains: “From ’95 through ’98 Jay Dee was my go-to guy for hot beats and remixes. He was always making beats, always. So there was a select amount of tracks that he composed for me during that time, tracks as good as anything he’d done, only they never got used. When I finally met Illa J last year, I gave him a CD containing those unreleased beats.” owner and founder
In a case of pure serendipity, 21 year-old Illa J had just relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles and constructed a studio built using Jay Dee’s recording equipment. He dubbed it Yancey Boys Studios in tribute to their fraternal bond. “Dilla was 12 years older than me,” Illa J says. “So back in the day in Detroit I was just a little kid, sitting on the stairs in our house, watching him make those first beats for Slum Village. I always felt my brother’s tracks and had an instinct for what I wanted to do over them.” When Illa J set to work in early ’08 recording the album, the project flowed quickly as he entered the proverbial can’t miss zone. The name of the studio rightly became the title of the finished album, Yancey Boys, which is available online and in stores everywhere on Delicious Vinyl Records.
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