Music
T3
· rapper, producer
Co-founder and last original member of Slum Village, the Conant Gardens group that grew up with J Dilla and shaped soulful Detroit hip-hop.
- Birth name
- R.L. Altman III
- Also known as
- Tim Tim
- Detroit years
- 1970s–present
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
T3 grew up in Conant Gardens, a historic Black neighborhood on Detroit's northeast side, alongside Baatin and James Yancey, later known as J Dilla. The three attended Pershing High School together and formed Slum Village, becoming favorites of the city's underground scene soon after graduating. Their first album, Fantastic Vol. 1, recorded in 1996–1997 and widely bootlegged, was not officially released until 2006. Fantastic, Vol. 2 (2000), with guests such as Common, D'Angelo and Q-Tip, made them nationally known. When Dilla left for a solo career in 2001, T3 brought in Elzhi; Trinity (2002) produced “Tainted” with Dwele, and Detroit Deli (2004) the Kanye West-produced hit “Selfish”. With producer Young RJ he also compiled the Dirty District series of Detroit rap. After Dilla's death in 2006 and Baatin's in 2009, T3 kept the group alive, first with Illa J and later as a duo with Young RJ.
Highlights
- Co-founded Slum Village with Baatin and J Dilla in Conant Gardens.
- Fantastic, Vol. 2 (2000) brought the group national attention.
- “Selfish” (2004), produced by Kanye West, was Slum Village's biggest hit.
- Sole surviving member of the original trio.
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · early 1990s
Pershing High School
The Conant Gardens high school where T3, Baatin and J Dilla met; it now houses a recording studio created with the J Dilla foundation.
Lived here · 1970s–1990s
Conant Gardens
Historic Black neighborhood, childhood home of Slum Village's founders.