It has been just over three years since the late great Midwestern hip-hop producer J Dilla passed away at the tender age of 32 due to cardiac arrest. While he is unfortunately not as well known outside of the hip-hop community as many of his contemporaries, Dilla’s impact on hip-hop music is unquestionable. His final album, Donuts, was an instant classic and a must have for any true fan of hip-hop music. Dilla suffered from lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, and it is this disease that ultimately lead to his cardiac arrest on February 10, 2006.The Blot was shocked to find out yesterday, almost three years to the day of J Dilla’s death, that his mother Maureen Yancey, fondly known as Ma Dukes, now also suffers from lupus. Ms. Yancey’s health has declined steadily over the past few years and to raise funds to help with her medical bills a benefit concert in Los Angeles has been planned for Sunday, February 22nd.
Additionally, a limited edition poster by Shepard Fairey and B+ (Brian Cross) will be released to coincide with the benefit concert. The OBEY Giant x J Dilla print is based on a photo of J Dilla taken by B+ in 2003 at Dilla’s home studio in Detroit, Michigan. Sadly, even back then the effects of lupus had started to take their toll on this very talented artist.
The OBEY Giant x J Dilla print is limited to only 400 pieces and will measure 18” x 24”. This limited edition print will go on sale at the OBEY Giant online store this Friday, February 20, 2009 at noon PST and will retail for $55. Fifty of these amazing prints will be sold at the benefit event on Sunday, February 22nd.
To find out more about the benefit concert in LA entitled “A Suite for Ma Dukes” click here or contact The Luckman Arts Complex box office at (323) 343-6600. All ticket and print proceeds will go directly to Ms. Yancey.
