Slum Village

Despite lineup changes, deaths and industry setbacks, the legendary Detroit hip-hop group Slum Village built an impressive catalog filled with gritty funk-soul beats and first-rate lyricism. • Founding members T3, J Dilla (aka Jay Dee), and Baatin grew up in Detroit’s Conant Gardens section. While attending John J. Pershing High School, they formed Ssenepod, which later became Slum Village. • In 1994, Funkadelic keyboardist Amp Fiddler connected J Dilla with Q-Tip, leader of the NYC group A Tribe Called Quest. This led to Dilla joining the production collective known as The Ummah and producing for Tribe. • A 1996 collection of Slum Village songs titled Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1) was leaked and circulated throughout the rap community. A&M Records signed Slum shortly before closing in 1999. • In 2001, J Dilla stepped away to focus on his solo career. Ahead of 2002’s Trinity (Past, Present, and Future), T3 and Baatin added veteran lyricist Elzhi to the lineup. The LP made the Top 20 of the Billboard 200. • Slum Village collaborated with Kanye West and John Legend for the crossover single “Selfish”, from their 2004 Detroit Deli album. • In February 2006, J Dilla died after a battle with lupus. In 2009, Baatin died from what the coroner revealed to be cocaine toxicity. • With T3 at the helm, Slum Village’s acclaimed 2010 album Villa Manifesto incorporated unreleased Dilla and Baatin music along with contributions from Elzhi, Young RJ and Dilla’s young brother, Illa J. • In 2017, T3 announced he was putting Slum Village on hold for solo efforts.