3
Sep
2010
ILL Brown “Photogenic” Instrumental | @ILLBrown
Chicago producer ILL Brown released this instrumental a few hours ago “Just wanted to give ya’ll something to vibe with! Leave a comment and let me know what you think! ENJOY!!!”
30
Aug
2010
What Happened To The Crate Diggers? by ILL Brown & WBC Magazine | @ILLBrown
Over at W.B.C. Magazine, ILL Brown talks about crate digging
“Maybe I’m showing my age here but this is something I’ve got to say. Technology is a wonderful thing and I love it! However, as a producer I have mixed feelings from time to time. With programs like FL Studio, Reason, Logic, etc; “Producers” have been popping up almost as much as new “Rappers”. Now I’m not knocking anyone’s hustle but I come from an era where if you didn’t at least have a turn table you couldn’t sample! Period.
Nowadays anybody with an internet connection can find gems that I spent years and tons of cash to have in my collection! I can’t knock cats for wanting to be creative though. Just do your homework and pay homage to the way the older gods had to get out their ideas. I always share the wealth with my peeps so here’s some valuable information regarding sample clearing. Get familiar with diggin’ in the foreign crates. In most cases you won’t even have to clear the sample. The international sample clearing system is a lot more Hip-Hop friendly! I’ll just leave you with that.
As a bonus click below for a track that I used a “imported” sample off of a record my uncle slid to me a while back! This joint is also featured on Maja 7th’s Breakout album so support my home boy! This is just the instrumental for that track which is titled “That Ain’t Love” By Hinx Jones Ft. Papi Jamon. The sample is “Tropeau Bleu” By Cortex.“ | Read More @ W.B.C. Magazine
Head on over there and check out the instrumental and such which is the first single off of Hinx Jones’ project that’s about to drop
16
Aug
2010
Papi Jamon feat Mike Schpitz “Run It Back” (prod by ILL Brown) | @papijamon @mikeschpitz
I’m late to the party. Great video, and a great song. This is off on ILL Brown’s “Hotter Than July”, but if I remember correctly is also going to be on Papi’s upcoming project. Another dope video from Brandon “N2ition” Riley. They’re going in on this one!
3
Aug
2010
Gray Area “Place Ya Bets” | @grayareahiphop
Big day for music releases in the Chicago area, as Gray Area has also dropped a project entitled “Place Ya Bets”. I’ve listened to about 4-5 tracks so far, and it’s sounding good… make sure you tune in!
“Gray Area releases their highly anticipated album “Place Ya Bets” on August 3rd 2010 and marks the beginning of a new era for Gray Area. This album features Production by Kenny Keys, Maja 7th, ILL Brown, BaddMoodz, Jelify, Panik & PNS of The Molemen + more w/appearances by Alicia “Ya Yah” Townsend, Pete Sayke, Papi Jamon & Mafisto Moriarty. Place Ya Bets is definitely a must have for ALL music lovers and supporters of this art we call Hip Hop.“
Production Credits:
Place Ya Bets Prod. By Kenny Keys
Sky Hi Prod. By Sin Castle
DIZIZWUTISAY2U Prod. By Jelify
Family Ties Prod. By Panik of The Molemen
U Prod. By Kenny Keys
Life Prod. By ILL Brown
Runnin’ Prod. By PNS of The Molemen
Moment In Time Prod. By Kenny Keys
Mi Latina Prod. By Beatiful
Oh Yeah Prod. By ILL Brown
It’s Over Prod. By Sin Castle
Pump Ya Fists Prod. By Maja 7th
Let’s Get It On/One Night Stand Prod. By BaddMoodz
1
Aug
2010
Papi Jamon & Mike Schpitz LIVE @ iStandard Showcase | @mikeschpitz @papijamon
Shouts to my mans Papi Jamon, Mike Schpitz, and Ill Brown! Make sure to grab “Hotter Than July” from Ill Brown
22
Jul
2010
ILL Brown’s “W.B.C. Magazine Presents… Hotter Than July” | @illbrown
It’s here!!! Big ups to my homie ILL Brown!
Originally called the “25 Mixtape” and featuring the 25 artist listed in issue #3 of W.B.C. Magazine (released 06/16/2009), the “Hotter Than July” mixtape had been in the works for a long time. When it was the “25 Mixtape”, it was meant to be a collection of songs from the artist mentioned in our “25 Rappers From Chicago You Should Know Already” article that would be released along with issue #3 of the magazine. A month before the magazine’s release, it was decided that doing a tradition mixtape wouldn’t be enough, and ILL Brown was brought on to produce original music for the entire mixtape. The mixtape theme was changed and more rappers were included. The mixtape was recorded at Dragon Room studios by A.O.K., ILL Brown, and Okay.?!!. The mixtape was mixed and mastered by ILL Brown and A.O.K..
Tracklisting:
01. Intro Feat. Javairo “J.V.” Wilson
02. Hotter Than July Feat. J.G. & Gallardo Tone
03. I’m The Shit Feat. Reno Chinati
04. Keep On Doin’ It Feat. Crystal La’Juene & Sam I Am
05. Hall Of Fame Feat. Maserati Deeder & B-Easy
06. Youngest In Charge Feat. Chas Mac
07. Zone Out Feat. Simeon Viltz & Rita J.
08. Get Out My Business Feat. Shayla G
09. P.S.A. (Hold On) Feat. Okay.?!! & Mys Michelle
10. This Life Is Beautiful Feat. T.K.O. & Big Taz
11. Black Karate Feat. Just Wisdom, F.A.B.L.E., & Water
12. Run It Back Feat. Papi Jamon & Mike Schpitz
13. Get Ya Hustle On Feat. Ang 13
14. Nigga Please Feat. Preach
15. Tape Rock Feat. Pennjamin Bannekar & Japcity
16. 3Peat Feat. Voyce G.I. Go, Scheme, & Shugga
17. Church Feat. Dave Coresh, Gemstones, & Twone Gabz
18. The Recipe Feat. Sulaiman Shabazz
19. Lyrically In Heat Feat. Sandy Redd
20. Street Soul Feat. Chise Up
21. A G.O.O.D. Ending Feat. Malik Yusef
Live Interview with W.B.C. Magazine
Fire gets a bad rap. Yeah it burns you if it touches you… It eats anything it touches. But fire has its pluses too. It clears the way for new growth. Good or bad, fire will eat through it. Think of fire as the start or end of any cycle. Think of the “phrase bapitism by fire”. ILL Brown spent last winter playing with fire… This summer he mastered it. Read the “Diary Of An Arsonist” and get into the mind of the Fire Nations greatest fire bender. Word to Nickelodeon…
On working with so many different Chicago artist on one tape…
Great question. I was pleasantly surprised by how humble some of the artist are in Chicago on the contrary. The artist that I thought we wouldn’t be able to get for the project were ready to work and were totally professional. While certain artist were hard to reach and I guess didn’t believe in the project. We have a dope mesh of talent though at the end of the day.
On producing original beats for an entire mixtape….
I was excited about the idea of a totally original “Street Album” if you will. It allows the artist and producer to be creative conceptually.
On you and Okay.?!! chasing down artist for the tape…
(Laughing) This was the tricky part. All I’ll say is some artist and they’re management teams were professional. The others… Not so much! (Laughing)
On the “Aha!” moment when working on the tape…
I think that moment was when we decided to pair certain artist on tracks, that were originally scheduled to have one artist.
On the best recording session for the tape…
I would have to say the “Black Karate” session (Ed. Note; song on the mixtape featuring Chicago artist Water, F.A.B.L.E., and Just Wisdom). The artist were all super dope and there was a competition for who’s verse would be the nicest!
On crafting a cohesive sound for the tape…
This is where picking the right kind of artist for the right track was critical. We had to do it the right way to create a good album sequence so to speak.
On how to “Kill” the hate in the city… The way to “Kill” the hate in the city I say is for the artist to stop trying to be the man. This project shows the antidote to the illness. Chicago artist working together for a common cause!
On building yourself as a producer…
Whoa… From my grandparent’s piano lessons, all the way to my first piece of gear (Akai MPC 2000). It takes years to craft a “signature sound”. I’ve been producing going on 15 years now. It doesn’t happen over night.
On your favorite piece of equipment, software, or plug-in used on the tape…
My weapons of choice for this project and anything you’ll hear from me is the Akai MPC 2500, Reason 4.0.1., and Pro-Tools 8 HD! Also I wanna shout out my big brother Albert “A.O.K.” Mayden! Couldn’t have pulled off this one without you! Check us out at Dragon’s Room recording studio for great quality and one of the best mix engineers in the city!
2
Jul
2010
Bun B featuring GLC & BJ The Chicago Kid “Happiness Before Riches”
Homie ILL Brown is part of production team “The Weathermen”, and they produced this joint by Bun B. Big thangs!
2
Jul
2010
ILL Brown “Hotter Than July” Preview
Just Wisom, F.A.B.L.E., and Water recording at Dragon Room Studios for the “Hotter Than July” Mixtape dropping July 22nd, 2010. Geah!
22
Jun
2010
Pete Sayke “THE NEW BLACK”
It’s June 22nd. Finally.
That simply means that Pete Sayke has released The New Black (in association with Bettye Lee Music and Bringing Down The Band). A 13 track mixtape with features from the likes of Mike Schpitz, Papi Jamon, Briana & Buckdub of Ladies Runnit, Lonegevity & Gritts of Hinx Jones, and production work from the likes of Maja 7th, Ill Brown, Mic Noize, and Lonegevity. This is a thoroughly
Track Listing
01 – Beautiful
02 – House of Bettye Lee (Produced by Maja 7th)
03 – What It Sounds Like ft. Mike Schpitz (Produced by Maja 7th)
04 – Make It Work ft. Buckdub of Ladies Runnit
05 – No One But You ft. Briana of Ladies Runnit
06 – Love Song: A Vagina Monologue
07 – Slow It Down ft. Hinx Jones (Produced by Lonegevity)
08 – The Office
09 – IXL
10 – The Bump featuring Papi Jamon (Produced by Lonegevity)
11 – The Welfare II (Produced by ILL Brown)
12 – Three’s Company (Produced by Maja 7th)
13 – The New Black (Produced by Mic Noize)
I’ve had the luxury of listening to this project a few times, and can say that it is definitely up to par with all of his previous releases, if not better. Even back to his KM2 days. KM2? Nevermind. He starts out the project out with 3 straight bangers, including the single with Mike Schpitz, and then goes through a few songs describing stages of relationships with the help of Ladies Runnit (additionally one of my favorite concepts in “Love Song”). He then slows it down with Hinx Jones, talks about his cubicle and boss, and then just completely snaps for God knows how many bars in IXL. “Stop take, rewind, take that back a couple lines please.” Papi Jamon jumped on a track that I love seeing live in “The Bump”, and then he closes out out the project giving a little more of the personal and introspective Pete Sayke. The New Black has everything. One of my favorite releases this year. Get to know Pete Sayke!
