New ‘Buzzin’ Interview w/ @iLLaJthegreat

Hip hop (or electro, or R&B, or pop, or bossanova…or whatever) artist iLLA just released his latest project, entitled “Van Gogh The Mixtape.” Backed by Coast2CoastMixtapes.com, DJBooth.net, and Illababy.com, “Van Gogh” combines a collection of different styles of music, which represent a further journey into the mind of the eclectic next-generation artist.

How did you get to where you are now, musically?

Man…a lil ginger, a lil paprika, some basil, rosemary, cooked that shit up. Nah man, just a lot of hard work really assessing my situation and the current industry. Coast 2 Coast has been really supportive in me exploring what kind of music I want to do—with hip hop being the core. I’m really fascinated by all kinds of music, save for country (boo). So exploring where I wanna go, releasing different kinds of sounds, getting connected with proper folks (like J Hatch and them), and executing plans.

You work closely with Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes. How did that association come about?

Coast 2 Coast and I go back like babies and pacifiers! I was there from the beginning of C2C and watched it grow. Fats (CEO of C2C) has always been a righteous dude when it came to music. I did some label shit with him prior to him creating Coast 2 Coast, so on a business level we were already good. Like I said earlier, they have been nothing but supportive on my journey, encouraging change and progress. The mixtape game has morphed into a viable entity in the advertisement industry, so as this has been happening I’ve had a bird’s-eye view on the do’s and don’ts. Fats and them just set the sails and tell a dude to drive it home, ya know?

What’s up with your company, Illababy?

Illababy! Illababy.com all day. That’s just a company I started to create a business entity for myself as well as being an artist. I might bring some of my young niggas on to the company as I get more established, but for right now it’s more like a sleeping giant. Taking deep breaths, rumbling ground, but waiting for my shine to really start stomping on the land. Dig that!

Some people might be confused whether you are iLLA, Illaj, or Illa J. What’s going on with the name?

Man, great fuckin’ question. I mean, much respect to the Dilla camp. He was one of the dopest producers EVER. I have nothing but respect for that movement, but his lil brother “Illa J” has been a MAJOR source of headaches. I wish I could say he sucks and that he’s irrelevant, but I would be lying like a motha fucka. My name is by historical fact “iLLAJ,” [check the Source’s Unsigned Hype from August 2007] but because of all the industry issues, I’ve had to start using “iLLA” just to make it easier to cut through the BS. I wanted to fight it, really, but that would be an ever-increasing uphill battle. So we’re officially using ‘iLLA” now. Start Googling “iLLA” and fuckin’ with Illababy.com!

You’re a pretty eclectic artist. What kind of vibe can listeners expect from your latest mixtape “Van Gogh?”

It’s a collection of things I’ve been working on for the past year or so. I’m all over the board, from hip hop, to pop, to dance, to R&B, to whatever I’m feeling next. I think “Van Gogh” is displaying my comfort in my eclectic skin. I know a lot of artists that do all kinds of music, but will only release a certain kind for “image” and whatnot, which I totally get, but I would like to think of myself different. I’m not afraid to put myself out there. I want the iLLA listener to know they get almost any kind current music genre out of the iLLA catalog. I want people to walk away from this project like “Damn, this dude does it all, got a lil chop, got a lot a swag, can harmonize a lil bit, just a total package.” That’s what I’m aiming for at least, ya know.

What producers and artists have you been working with?

I’ve been working with some different production teams and individuals for years now. Stewie Vuiton (aka Stewart Villain), The Skyscrapers, the Bang Bros, and Synthphony are kinda like my core guys. I’m pretty introverted when it comes to artists. If you notice, I don’t have a lot of features on the project, or any of my projects, really. I just like to do me I guess. Tone Trump, my man Willis Brook, TJ Hooker (Capital Brand)—those are the cats featured on this project. I’ve also got some dope features for myself in the works.

There are rumors that you’ve been producing tracks lately as well. Should we look forward to an all-iLLA project in the future?

Yes, yes, yes. “Are you Experienced” EP will be dropping in March, after the “My Digital Romance” EP drops in February. I’m looking forward to “Are You Experienced.” I haven’t produced much for some years, but I got this crazy itch and came out with some dope tracks. You can expect that to be eclectic to the max—like really all over the board. Big ups to Reason and Akai for making shit easy to produce while in-flight. From coach to first class seats, I banged these joints out while in the friendly skies, so enjoy the altitude!

“Cranberry Vodka” off the mixtape has been getting a lot of hype online and the video is on WorldstarHipHop.com now. Would you say that single represents the direction you’re trying to go?

Not much [laughs]. Seriously, I’m not gonna be rappin’ and singing about alcohol all the time, but I think it shows my diversity and hopefully lets the dudes know I’m a threat in whatever genre I choose to play ball in, PERIOD. “Cranberry Vodka” was/is a fun track—I was probably off a cran vodka when I wrote that song. I’m excited about the buzz it’s getting and looking forward to continuing to push the song and watching people get f’ed up while it rocks, but like I said, I think “Cranberry Vodka” is a chin check for niggas who thought iLLA was on some “other” shit. I’m your shit, their shit, the shit… dig that.

What else is coming up for iLLA?

Hmm, lots and lots. Of course I’m putting together another mixtape and pondering some DJs to work with on that. Oh BIG UPS to DJ Epps for “Van Gogh.” That’s my nigga. Anyway, as far as official projects (like go buy this off iTunes, PLEASE), the next EP on the schedule is “My Digital Romance” aka “MDR.” It’s exclusively produced by Stewie Vuiton and is on some other shit! We recently released a song off “MDR” called “KiLLA.” We’re shooting a video for it now and I think it represents “MDR” well. It releases at the end of February and we’ll be doing a lot of promo work leading up to that, so stay tuned.

What would you say motivates you as an artist?

MONEY MONEY MONEY! Nah man, everything motivates me: success, life, ups, downs, girls, hustle, etc. Shit, I’m motivated sippin’ this coffee doing this interview…

Any last words or shoutouts?

Big ups to Coast 2 Coast, Illababy fam, Capital Brand, DJ Epps, my producers, my fans, Teddy T, J Hatch, GetYourBuzzUp.com, iStandardProducers.com, DJBooth.net, DJ Z. PDX stand up, Miami watch out. LEHHHHGO!

Links:

iLLA – Van Gogh Mixtape – Hosted By DJ Epps (via DJBooth): http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/illa-van-gogh/

iLLA – “Cranberry Vodka” Official Music Video (via Worldstar): http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh1ir15RIyD65M87l4
Website: www.illababy.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/illajthegreat
Facebook: www.facebook.com/illafanpage
Myspace: www.myspace.com/illaj
Management Site: www.coast2coastmixtapes.com