J Dilla

J Dilla, born James Dewitt Yancey, was an American record producer and rapper associated with Slum Village and the wider hip hop and neo-soul scenes. He was known for sample-based production that blended soul and jazz elements with loose, off-kilter drum programming and a warm, textured sound, often created using an Akai MPC sampler. His rhythmic approach and studio techniques influenced beat-making practices in hip hop. He died in 2006.