Detroit Pistons Honor J Dilla’s Legacy With Royce Da 5’9″-Curated Capsule Collection
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The Detroit Pistons are celebrating the live and legacy of J Dilla in a fly way with the help of someone close to home. The NBA team announced their retail collaboration with Grammy-nominated rapper Royce Da 5’9, a perfect match considering both Hip-Hop minds are Detroit natives.
The announcement took place on what would have been Dilla’s 50th birthday (Feb. 7), almost 18 years after the acclaimed producer passed away from complications from a combination of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and lupus.
The collection will drop on 313 day (March 13), when the Pistons will host the Toronto Raptors at Little Caesars Arena. Each piece in the capsule pays homage to J. Dilla, his legacy, and his non-traditional style.
According to Royce, who served as art director on the project, the collaboration intends to carry on Dilla’s legacy and complete their “unfinished business.”
“Dilla’s enduring legacy is a treasure that must be safeguarded at any expense,” said the “Tabernacle” rapper via press statement. “It is a great honor to be responsible for curating his likeness in this exclusive merchandise drop entrusted to me by his estate and the Pistons. This campaign holds major significance not just for myself but also for the city of Detroit and the Hip-Hop community as a whole.”
Bilal Saeed, vp of brand marketing strategy, added, “Those familiar with Dilla’s musical genius understand his impact on Hip-Hop, but there are still so many who aren’t familiar with his legacy. The Pistons wanted to tell his story in a creative way while also continuing to shed light on the city’s impact on music around the world.”
Also assisting with the genesis of the project was Dilla’s long-time friend Frank Nitt. He introduced the Pistons to Dilla’s Estate and the family, his four heirs — his daughters Ja’Mya Yancey and Ty’Monae Whitlow, his brother John “Illa J” Yancey, and his mother Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey.
Head over to Pistons313Shop.com to view more details of the collection.
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