From our friends at Hedrush...
The District of Columbia is gearing up for the annual DC Loves Dilla Tribute Concert presented by Hedrush, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and Pulse DC. In commemoration of the 10th anniversary, the DC Loves Dilla Tribute features a two-day celebration, including a panel discussion on Thursday, July 9th and tribute concert Friday July 10th. “This is a milestone for the DC Loves Dilla family, says producer Brent ‘Munch’ Joseph. “We started this movement in 2006 to honor one of Hip-Hop’s most influential music producers and artists, James Dewitt Yancey a.k.a. J Dilla.” While the tribute highlights and celebrates Dilla’s impressive and important body of work within Hip-Hop, it additionally casts a bright spotlight on his continued influence and standing as a legend in the music industry.
This year also commemorates the 15th anniversary of J Dilla’s inaugural album “Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 2” which was released when he was an original member of the Hip-Hop group Slum Village. The remaining members of the group, T3 and Young RJ, will honor J Dilla with a special performance during the tribute. Both the panel discussion and concert will feature DJs and music producers, as well as local and national artists (listed below). Additional sponsors and partners for the 10th annual DC Loves Dilla Tribute and Fundraiser include Heineken, Hennessy, The Hip-Hop Theatre Festival and The J Dilla Foundation.
The panel discussion entitled “Beat Sessions: J Dilla” will be held on July 9th from 6-8 PM at The Kennedy Center. Beat Sessions will take a look at J Dilla’s music, from the unique perspective of distinguished producers, DJs, artists, and other industry professionals. From his ear for music, production style, influences and work ethic, this conversation will be thoughtful, insightful and a great addition to the 10th Anniversary celebration.
A stellar line-up is in place for the tribute concert, including Common, Slum Village, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and a host of area music luminaries. Performers will be backed by the official DC Loves Dilla band: ‘The Players’ - a collective of thirteen musicians and vocalists, all overseen by the concert’s musical director and co-producer, Jon Laine. "Our goal has always been to celebrate on a large scale, the legacy and music of J Dilla. To witness the tribute’s growth and the kind of star power the event continues to garner, speaks volumes of J Dilla’s influence” adds Laine.
The tribute concert will be held at the Howard Theatre on July 10th from 8 PM to 12 AM, with a special VIP Reception beginning at 7 PM. The event’s after party will take place from 12-3 AM and will feature Grammy Award winner 9th Wonder and the acclaimed DJ Spinna.
10TH ANNUAL DC LOVES DILLA EVENT LINEUP
Beat Sessions: J Dilla
Panelists include: Amp Fiddler, Slum Village, DJ Spinna, 9th Wonder, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Musiq Soulchild
Location: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and streamed live on www.kennedy-center.org
Date and Time: July 9, 2015 | 6-8 PM
Beat Sessions is free and open to the public
10th Annual DC Loves Dilla Tribute VIP Reception, Concert, and After Party
Talent lineup includes: Common, Slum Village, Georgia Ann Muldrow, 9th Wonder (After Party), DJ Spinna (After Party), Wes Felton, Alison Carney, Deborah Bond, J Hill, Kacey (Black Alley), Awthentik, Muhsinah, Ra the MC, Kaimbr, Tislam, Labtekwon, DJ Two Tone Jones, DJ Roddy Rod + “Special Guest”
Location: The Howard Theatre
Date: July 10, 2015
VIP Reception: 7-8 PM
Concert: 8 PM to 12 AM
After-Party: 12-3 AM
Tickets: VIP tickets include early entry and a cocktail lounge with artists, as well as premium seating. A variety of general admission seating options (standing room, seating, booths and tables) are available at various price-points. General Admission tickets start at $35, with tickets available at the links below:
Eventbrite: dclovesdilla10.eventbrite.com
Ticketmaster: http://bit.ly/DCLD10tix
After Party: http://bit.ly/DCLD10Party
About J Dilla: A Detroit native, James Dewitt Yancey, a.k.a. J Dilla is one of hip-hop’s most influential music producers and artists. He emerged from the underground hip-hop scene in the mid 1990’s as a founding member of the group Slum Village. It would only be a short time before his talents garnered the attention of music heavy hitters such as A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, The Pharcyde, De La Soul, and Janet Jackson. His career resumé boasts collaborations with Common The Roots, Madlib, Dwele, Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica, Erykah Badu, De La Soul. J Dilla passed away on February 10th 2006 due to complications with Lupus, just three days after his 32nd birthday and the release of his final album Donuts.
About Hedrush Music Agency: Hedrush is an Experiential Marketing Boutique based in Washington, DC. The agency serves as a one-stop shop for national branding campaigns, event production and arts and entertainment consulting. Multi-national brands served include Red Bull, PUMA, Heineken, Sony and Toyota/Scion. Organizations and institutions include The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, The John F. Kennedy Center and member-supported organizations like Service Employees International Union.