Events

[HIP HOP] It must be difficult to live in the shadow of one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, but Illa J, brother of the late great J Dilla, has handled it pretty well. Earlier this week he proudly posted a video on Facebook in which Dr. Dre names Dilla as one of his favorite producers of all time. “How dope is this?” he said before following it up with a dope post of his own: the premier of his latest track, “Universe.” Throughout his still blooming musical career, the 28-year-old has refused to cop his brother’s style, instead opting to work with electro-hip hop and R&B producers like Kaytranada, Noo Bap, and the Potatohead People, who produced the De La Soul-esque “Universe.” In fact, Illa, real name John Yancey, recently relocated to Montreal from his hometown of Detroit—where he made his name as part of the second generation of Slum Village and as half of the Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt—to be closer to the aforementioned producers.

When Illa J comes to Nietzsche’s on Saturday, July 11 for The Public Presents—presented by the Good Neighborhood and Deep Thinka Records—he’ll bring along a hip hop producer who hails from the opposite end of Canada, Moka Only. For the amount of music this Vancouver-based musician has released—40 full-length albums since 1995—it’s amazing that he’s not a household name. His latest, Magickal Weirdness, is exactly what one would expect from the 41-year-old rapper and producer—expertly produced left-field hip hop. Buffalo’s Mad Dukez and Black Sol—led by talented MC ez amädi—open the show in between DJ sets from Cove. Those who donate an instrument to our monthly Music is Art instrument drive will gain free access to the show.