Young RJ of Slum Village Says the Group’s New Album Is Coming

Young RJ of Slum Village spoke with REVOLT about his history with J Dilla and the group’s surviving members preparing a new album.

Nearly three decades into their career, Slum Village is preparing a new album. Group member Young RJ recently spoke with REVOLT about his latest album World Tour, working with fellow Detroit rapper Boldy James, his history with the late J Dilla and confirmed new music from Slum Village.

“It should be out next year. We’ve been working on it for about a month. It’s always us first figuring out the direction we want to go sonically and then just making music that feels good. We’ve been locking in, and we’ll lock in for the next two or three months until we get it done. There may be some Dilla on there. We have to see what makes the final cut.”

In 2016, the group dropped a compilation of previously unreleased music titled Vol. 0. The project followed their eighth studio album Yes! which featured appearances from Bilal, Dilla’s younger brother Illa J, BJ the Chicago Kid, De La Soul, Black Milk, J. Ivy and the since-deceased Phife Dawg.

In the interview, Young RJ shared that his last session with Dilla was before the Detroit-born producer relocated to Los Angeles.

“He and I were working on many different projects he had to complete and because he wasn’t 100 percent, he asked me to assist him with finishing up some of the work,” RJ said. “I wasn’t credited on most of the stuff, but some of the things, I was. I remember asking him, “Why don’t you just start a production team?” He said, “Nah, I don’t want nobody having my sound when I’m gone.” That was the last time I seen him in person outside of coming to the “Selfish” music video shoot.