J Dilla Honored by Detroit Pistons With Royce Da 5’9″-Curated Merch Collection

February 8, 2024 E Jazz Reporter

Entertainment

The capsule will be available for purchase on March 13.

J Dilla of the group Slum Village photographed at the Key Club in 2000 in West Hollywood, Calif.

Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images

Wednesday (Feb. 7) marks what would have been J Dilla’s 50th birthday, and J’s hometown NBA team, the Detroit Pistons, is honoring the late producer with a capsule collection curated by fellow Motor City native Royce Da 5’9″.

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A closer look at the collection inspired by J Dilla will be unveiled leading up to the March 13 release date for the capsule, which doubles as 313 Day in Detroit.

“It is a great honor to be responsible for curating his likeness in this exclusive merchandise drop entrusted to me by his estate and the @detroitpistons,” Royce said in a press statement. “This campaign holds major significance not just for myself, but also for the city of Detroit and the hip-hop community as a whole.”

With 2023 serving as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and February being Black History Month, the Detroit Pistons wanted to properly honor J Dilla’s legacy.

“Those familiar with Dilla’s musical genius understand his impact on hip-hop but there are still so many who aren’t familiar with his legacy,” said Bilal Saeed, VP of Brand & Marketing Strategy. “The Pistons wanted to tell his story in a creative way while also continuing to shed light on the city’s impact on music around the world.”

“Anybody from Detroit, we’re natural-born hustlers… As creatives and as individuals, that’s the thing that sets us apart from everybody else.”

J. Dilla’s daughters, Ja’Mya and Ty’Monae, are carrying on his legacy while continuing to make an impact in their own ways.

Detroit… pic.twitter.com/9CStapJybM

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 4, 2024

The impactful Detroit-bred producer died in 2006 from a combination of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and lupus. Saturday (Feb. 10) will mark the 18th anniversary of J Dilla’s death.

Each piece is set to pay homage to Dilla and his “work and non-traditional style.” Dillla’s daughter, Ja’Mya said the collaboration honoring her father was “a long time coming.”

“It has honestly been a long time coming,” Ja’Mya Yancey said. “I am just so glad that we were finally able to do something so major through the appropriate channels and highlight my dad in a way that was fun and exciting while respecting his estate at the same time.”

His other daughter Ty’Monae added: “It means a lot to see the estate and the Pistons collaboration in celebrating and continuing my father’s legacy. Seeing the love Detroit has for him and for us as a family is heartwarming. I can’t wait to be a part of and to see what the collaboration entails.”

The J Dilla collection will be available on the team shop’s website starting March 13 when the Detroit Pistons will host the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena.

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