dilla

Dilla is a town in southern Ethiopia. In addition to its geographic use, the name Dilla is also associated with people and music in other contexts.

In music, Dilla most often refers to J Dilla, the stage name of James Dewitt Yancey (1974–2006), an influential American hip hop producer and rapper who also used the alias Jay Dee. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he became a central figure in late 1990s and early 2000s hip hop through his work with artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Slum Village, Erykah Badu, and Common. Dilla was renowned for his intricate drum programming, soulful sampling, and innovative approaches to beat making, qualities that helped shape the sound of contemporary hip hop and neo-soul. His instrumental album Donuts, released in 2006 shortly before his death, is widely celebrated for its inventive composition and emotional depth.

As a name, Dilla can function as a given name or surname in various cultures, and it appears in different place-name instances beyond the Ethiopian town. The term thus has multiple, distinct uses across geography, music, and personal naming, each treated separately in reference works.