In 2002, J Dilla had been diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), an incurable disease of the blood, while also battling lupus, which had been diagnosed a year previously.

His recovery is encouraging, but also reflective of an unfortunate reality as more hip-hop greats are affected by health-related issues. J Dilla was just 32 when he died from cardiac arrest in ...