US hip-hop producer, J Dilla, aka Jay Dee, real name James Yancey, has died at the age of 32, just days after the release of a new solo album 'Donuts'. He was suffering from Lupus, a disease which causes the body's immune system to turn on itself.
Over the years, Dilla worked with artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, The Roots, D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, as well as being one third of hip-hop trio Slum Village. Pharrell Williams named him as his favourite producer in an interview two years ago, whilst Rolling Stone recently called him "a top-ranked architect of soulful hip-hop" and "one of the nicest and most unique producers in the game."