Deep Thinka Records is keeping the positive momentum rolling with its BEING charity fundraiser series, with a third event lined up for February 8 at Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar. After raising a mic to the legacies of the Notorious B.I.G. and the Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch, the local producers have decided to pay homage to the late J Dilla in the next installation.
The Being Beastie event held in early September pulled in close to $4,500 in donations to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America. The cause was one that hit close to home for DTR’s Damon Bodine, who experienced his own battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The local producer-promoter has dedicated a great deal of time and energy to raising money for cancer research, but will be shifting gears slightly with the upcoming Doin’ Dilla event.
All donations made at the door will be heading to The J Dilla Foundation, which was founded by Dilla’s mother, Maureen Yancey, after he passed in February of 2006 from a prolonged battle with Lupus and the rare blood disease TTP. His impact on the hip-hop industry was massive, producing tracks for artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, The Pharcyde, and many others. The mission of the organization is to help sustain inner-city music programs and promote the styles of hip-hop, R&B, and soul in their curricula, thus providing students with the tools to pursue careers in the music industry.
“Dilla was about love in many formats,” Yancey said. “One of the things he wanted me to do with his legacy was to use it to help others… kids who were musically gifted but had little hope due to poverty.”
The organization also seeks to promote the study of urban music styles in colleges and universities. “The J Dilla Foundation seeks to be a staple in the movement for progressive music education,” Yancey said. “We also hope to be leaders in the efforts to enhance and develop arts programs in urban communities.”
Like the first two BEING events, Doin’ Dilla will offer audience members the chance to step up to the mic and perform their favorite Dilla-produced track–anything from Erykah Badu, to Busta Rhymes, to Janet Jackson. Those interested in signing up for a slot in advance can visit the DTR event website and register via email. The event will be set up karaoke style, so if spontaneity is more your thing, it’s ok to wait until the last minute to take the stage. DTR’s Billy Drease Williams will be DJing and a live band is in the works as well. The event kicks of at 10 p.m. There will be a $5 donation at the door, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the J Dilla Foundation.
Check out the Facebook page for more event details.