J Dilla was a producer's producer. Under Q-Tip's mentorship, Dilla (formerly known as Jay Dee) first gained notoriety by producing on The Pharcyde's second LP, Labcabincalifornia. He joined the Ummah—a production crew also comprising Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest in 1996—but his solo production with De La Soul, The Roots, and Common is what made him an instant underground favorite. A founding member of Slum Village, he juggled MC and producer duties in the second phase of his career. SV's Fantastic, Vol. 2, Dilla's Ruff Draft, and his collaboration with Madlib, Champion Sound—coupled with his work with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli—elevated the Detroit sound man to cult figure. He died of a rare blood disease in 2006, but he spent his final days crafting songs for the epic posthumous LP, Donuts. He continues to be an important figure in hip-hop and his tracks are still in demand years after his death.