Tim lawsonAn interview with Illy
March 31st 2010 15:05
Having performed with the likes of Bliss n’ Eso, Phrase, Spit Syndicate; Dialectrix. Illy is the latest edition to the highly coveted Obese label. His debut album Long Story Short was released in May of this year and is another strong edition to the genre. I recently caught up with Illy to discuss the new album.
How did the name Illy come about?
It was originally ‘Ill Al’ in high school. I had to change that because it turns out there was a group from way-back in America called ‘Ill Al Skratch’ (a hip hop duo consisting of two rappers, Big Ill and Al Skratch). So I had to change it, and Illy was a nick-name that everyone had been giving me, so I just rolled with that.
What are your influences from within the Australian hip hop scene?
Probably all hip hop artists anyway man. Obviously ‘Hilltops’, one of the first ones that I really got into – I haven’t had the chance to meet them or do anything with them, but hopefully in the future there will come a point where I can. ‘Bliss n Eso’, who I’ve been really lucky to go on the road with; they’re awesome guys. I started out as a fan and ended up being mates with them, which is pretty awesome; and ‘Phrase’, who sort of brought me from obscurity to where I am now.
What are your influences from outside Australia?
In terms of what got me started in hip hop – would be like, all the old-school West Coast gangster shit: ‘Tupac’ was probably the first CD I bought, ‘Snoop’ and that. I wouldn’t say they’ve influenced my music, but they are definitely what introduced me to hip hop. Then from there I sort of dug a little deeper, found some underground stuff, ‘Kweli’, ‘Mos Def’ – that sort of vibe.
What is seeing the most play-time on your IPod currently?
The most recent CDs I’ve been listening to are the ‘Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ album, ‘Phrase’s album, and my album. Those are the three that are getting smashed in my car at the moment.
How do you feel about how the album turned out?
I’m stoked as, with how it came out. When I say I’ve been listening to it – in the last few months and the build up to finishing the album, it’s been mainly listening to it and pinpointing bits that I needed to change. So I’ve only had it for a few weeks where I can actually sit back and enjoy it.
How would you describe the album in your own words? What can fans expect?
They can expect awesome production, some of the best in the country. My style, my flow, and everything isn’t really complex, it’s not really wordy, I try and keep it quite simple – I think that that makes for better songs. So just getting 14 strong songs, that stand by themselves really well, but that also come together well as a whole album is important. So fans can expect a good solid Aussie hip hop album, really.
If you had to choose a favourite track from the album, what would it be and why? I know that’s probably a hard question.
It is man. I like maybe eight songs and my favourites change depending on the day, but probably ‘Long Story Short’, the title track – it’s pretty personal; Cisco Tavares sings on the hook and I think he just killed it. That’s probably a track that I can listen to no matter what sort of mood I’m in.
Can you provide some insight into the creative process behind the writing and recording of ‘Long Story Short’?
It’s always getting the beats first. Even if there is something I want to write about, I’ll wait till I find a beat before I actually make the song.
One of the singles off of the new album, ‘Generation Y’, has received a very positive reaction and is seeing regular airplay on JJJ. Can you tell us a bit more about the message in that track?
I think that young people in general tend to not really get the credit they deserve for the contributions they make to society: we are capable of doing a lot of good and often do, but it’s overlooked. We get tagged as the underdog a lot, which is not something we despair over, we sort of use that to our advantage and the song is reflective of this. The third verse is about Aussie hip hop, and that’s a perfect example: no one gave us a chance at actually doing anything with it – except for JJJ – and from that we have created an entire scene. Bliss n’ Eso are doing two sold out shows at Festival Hall in a week, most Aussie bands couldn’t even dream of doing that two nights back to back.
I understand you went through a period of intense hospitalisation and a subsequent recovery period. Could you tell us a bit more about that?
I got nerve damage along the spine and was in hospital for about a month and rehab for about a month after that, and then it took about nine or ten months before I was able to run properly again. There were three or four days at the very start, where they didn’t know what had happened. I was unable to walk, unable to use my legs or my right arm, so there was a period where they thought I could be paralysed.
So was that caused by an injury?
It was. It happened during a basketball game. I finished the game fine, then I guess after the adrenaline wore off, my fingers and toes were tingling; six hours later I couldn’t feel them, or below my waist or my right arm.
What’s next for Illy?
I’ve got a couple of big shows next month. I’m going up to the snow to do a couple of shows which should be fucking mad. Also, sometime in July or the start of August we’ll have the launch for the album. In the immediate future – just get some shows done and then I’m going to start writing the second album in August.
What suburbs did you grow up in?
Always on the Frankston line. I grew up around the Bentley area and went to school around the Mentone area.
What do you love or respect most about the Aussie hip hop scene?
As I said before, what’s been accomplished. It’s at the point now where there is something for everyone: there’s a wide diversity of different artists. What been accomplished over the last five or six years is amazing.
What, if anything, shits you about the Australian hip hop scene?
Just corny fucks man.
Is there any advice you can give to young aspiring Australian emcees?
Working man, that’s the most important thing. If you believe in yourself enough to want to make a go of it, you have to work and you have to keep believing in yourself because there will be times when it seems like it’s not worth doing. People that aren’t doing music are making these big moves in their lives and you’re sort of falling behind, because of the time that you have to dedicate to music, but if you really want to make it, that’s what you have to do.
Illy’s debut album can be purchased at record stores around the country as well as online at www.obeserecords.com
How did the name Illy come about?
It was originally ‘Ill Al’ in high school. I had to change that because it turns out there was a group from way-back in America called ‘Ill Al Skratch’ (a hip hop duo consisting of two rappers, Big Ill and Al Skratch). So I had to change it, and Illy was a nick-name that everyone had been giving me, so I just rolled with that.
What are your influences from within the Australian hip hop scene?
Probably all hip hop artists anyway man. Obviously ‘Hilltops’, one of the first ones that I really got into – I haven’t had the chance to meet them or do anything with them, but hopefully in the future there will come a point where I can. ‘Bliss n Eso’, who I’ve been really lucky to go on the road with; they’re awesome guys. I started out as a fan and ended up being mates with them, which is pretty awesome; and ‘Phrase’, who sort of brought me from obscurity to where I am now.
What are your influences from outside Australia?
In terms of what got me started in hip hop – would be like, all the old-school West Coast gangster shit: ‘Tupac’ was probably the first CD I bought, ‘Snoop’ and that. I wouldn’t say they’ve influenced my music, but they are definitely what introduced me to hip hop. Then from there I sort of dug a little deeper, found some underground stuff, ‘Kweli’, ‘Mos Def’ – that sort of vibe.
What is seeing the most play-time on your IPod currently?
The most recent CDs I’ve been listening to are the ‘Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ album, ‘Phrase’s album, and my album. Those are the three that are getting smashed in my car at the moment.
How do you feel about how the album turned out?
I’m stoked as, with how it came out. When I say I’ve been listening to it – in the last few months and the build up to finishing the album, it’s been mainly listening to it and pinpointing bits that I needed to change. So I’ve only had it for a few weeks where I can actually sit back and enjoy it.
How would you describe the album in your own words? What can fans expect?
They can expect awesome production, some of the best in the country. My style, my flow, and everything isn’t really complex, it’s not really wordy, I try and keep it quite simple – I think that that makes for better songs. So just getting 14 strong songs, that stand by themselves really well, but that also come together well as a whole album is important. So fans can expect a good solid Aussie hip hop album, really.
If you had to choose a favourite track from the album, what would it be and why? I know that’s probably a hard question.
It is man. I like maybe eight songs and my favourites change depending on the day, but probably ‘Long Story Short’, the title track – it’s pretty personal; Cisco Tavares sings on the hook and I think he just killed it. That’s probably a track that I can listen to no matter what sort of mood I’m in.
Can you provide some insight into the creative process behind the writing and recording of ‘Long Story Short’?
It’s always getting the beats first. Even if there is something I want to write about, I’ll wait till I find a beat before I actually make the song.
One of the singles off of the new album, ‘Generation Y’, has received a very positive reaction and is seeing regular airplay on JJJ. Can you tell us a bit more about the message in that track?
I think that young people in general tend to not really get the credit they deserve for the contributions they make to society: we are capable of doing a lot of good and often do, but it’s overlooked. We get tagged as the underdog a lot, which is not something we despair over, we sort of use that to our advantage and the song is reflective of this. The third verse is about Aussie hip hop, and that’s a perfect example: no one gave us a chance at actually doing anything with it – except for JJJ – and from that we have created an entire scene. Bliss n’ Eso are doing two sold out shows at Festival Hall in a week, most Aussie bands couldn’t even dream of doing that two nights back to back.
I understand you went through a period of intense hospitalisation and a subsequent recovery period. Could you tell us a bit more about that?
I got nerve damage along the spine and was in hospital for about a month and rehab for about a month after that, and then it took about nine or ten months before I was able to run properly again. There were three or four days at the very start, where they didn’t know what had happened. I was unable to walk, unable to use my legs or my right arm, so there was a period where they thought I could be paralysed.
So was that caused by an injury?
It was. It happened during a basketball game. I finished the game fine, then I guess after the adrenaline wore off, my fingers and toes were tingling; six hours later I couldn’t feel them, or below my waist or my right arm.
What’s next for Illy?
I’ve got a couple of big shows next month. I’m going up to the snow to do a couple of shows which should be fucking mad. Also, sometime in July or the start of August we’ll have the launch for the album. In the immediate future – just get some shows done and then I’m going to start writing the second album in August.
What suburbs did you grow up in?
Always on the Frankston line. I grew up around the Bentley area and went to school around the Mentone area.
What do you love or respect most about the Aussie hip hop scene?
As I said before, what’s been accomplished. It’s at the point now where there is something for everyone: there’s a wide diversity of different artists. What been accomplished over the last five or six years is amazing.
What, if anything, shits you about the Australian hip hop scene?
Just corny fucks man.
Is there any advice you can give to young aspiring Australian emcees?
Working man, that’s the most important thing. If you believe in yourself enough to want to make a go of it, you have to work and you have to keep believing in yourself because there will be times when it seems like it’s not worth doing. People that aren’t doing music are making these big moves in their lives and you’re sort of falling behind, because of the time that you have to dedicate to music, but if you really want to make it, that’s what you have to do.
Illy’s debut album can be purchased at record stores around the country as well as online at www.obeserecords.com
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