For the comedian Jay Dee, see Jay Dee (comedian) . Not to be confused with the Dutch house producer and DJ Jaydee . J Dilla J Dilla in 2001 Background information Birth name James Dewitt Yancey Also known as Jay Dee Dilla Dawg Born February 7, 1974 Detroit , Michigan Died February 10, 2006 (aged 32) Los Angeles , California Genres Hip hop soul instrumental hip hop electronic Occupation(s) Record producer rapper Instruments Turntables sampler drum machine keyboards bass guitar synthesizer drums cello vocals guitar Years active 1993–2006 Labels Delicious Vinyl BBE Pay Jay MCA Stones Throw Bling 47 Associated acts Slum Village Common Questlove Soulquarians Madlib MF DOOM Dwele Guilty Simpson Frank n Dank Phat Kat Black Milk Mos Def J Rocc Waajeed Bilal Busta Rhymes Erykah Badu De La Soul A Tribe Called Quest The Pharcyde Notable instruments Akai MPC3000 E-mu SP-1200 Minimoog Voyager James Dewit