Late Detroit hip hop legend J Dilla honored with street renaming

DETROIT (FOX 2) - It has been 19 years since Detroit’s own James Dewitt Yancey, better known as J Dilla, tragically died at just 32 years old from cardiac arrest.

His legacy lives on through his daughters, his fans, and his music - and now his own day and a street sign.

"This is long overdue for my father," said daughter Ja'Mya Yancey. "He left it up to us his family to continue to make sure that his genius was not left behind or forgotten about. And that’s exactly what we are doing, have been doing, and will continue to do."

J Dilla's daughters Ty-Monae Whitelow and Ja'Mya Yancey.

"Personally, I feel like he was a chill guy," said daughter Ty-Monae Whitelow. "He was cool, laid back. I feel like I’m the same way, I’m very shy, I’m very to myself - but he also was very outgoing."

J Dilla left his mark as a rapper, song writer, composer and producer. Some of his most popular work came in the mid-1990s as a member of Slum Village.

Thanks to the work of his family and the support of Detroit City Council, J Dilla’s legacy permanently now lives on at the corner of Nevada and Charest - which is now officially also "J Dilla Street."

"We were out here on foot getting signatures from people and it was so good to see, people were like, 'Oh yeah, I know exactly who you’re talking about, I sure will support it,'" J' Mya said.

Dilla’s two daughters, Ja’Mya and Ty-Monae, who are now in their early twenties, say their dad would be proud of how hard they’ve worked to make sure the world, not just Detroit, remember the impact their dad left on the music industry.