Today I had the dubious pleasure of sitting down with a member of the Australian rapper Ill Slim. I pressed the hard questions to Adelaide rapper and got a further insight to the scene. I tried to upload the soundfiles but it didnt work so the transcript is as follows. Enjoy!
Bloggystyle: Ill Slim, its a pleasure.
Ill Slim: As always.
Bloggystyle: Would you care to share with Bloggystyle's readers your involvement in the OzHipHop community?
Ill Slim: Well... to succeed in this industry its all about getting the music downpack, getting a name for yourself; showing respect to the existing players in the scene and building up publicity.
Bloggystyle: What do you do apart from writing and recording?
Ill Slim: I try to involve myself personally in promotional events in the underground; I try to keep my fans content so they stick by me; I try to be seen with the big players in the high places to keep my profile out there. I also post regularly on an OzHipHop forums board to keep in scene, of which many people have high respect for me.
Bloggystyle: How long have you been rapping for?
Ill Slim: Ive been an OG since ive been fourteen years old. So for the past six years ive been living; eating and breathing this scene.
Bloggystyle: I believe you are the frontman behind the rap crew 'Genes', how is that going for you?
Ill Slim: In all rap groups there is always conflict between members as to who is more important within the crew. At this stage I am probably considered the frontman of the crew, I am certainly the most recognised and well known. We have all had our problems though, at the moment a member of ours has been sent to lockup. One of the dangers of being in the scene is easy access to illicit substances and sadly this sometimes leads to substance abuse and to cut a long story short he basicly got himself into a bit of trouble and their have been big repercussions because of that. Apart from that, sales are getting up there and we are paving the way to stardom.
Bloggerstyle: My sources have told me that the death of another OzHipHop rapper has impacted you greatly. I believe he was intially a member of Genes and his death led to you joining. How did he influence you in regard to your life and your rapping style?
Ill Slim: Well, this rapper who I will not name out of respect paved the way for me within the OzHipHop community in the sense that if he was in the picture I probably wouldnt be in the picture. Sure before Genes I was known for my raps, but I think my contribution in Genes is what established me as an artist.
Bloggystyle: Are you currently signed to a label?
Ill Slim: Currently, I am an independant artist which means at the moment I am really just trying to get my name out there. There has been some interest expressed from a few big names which I dont need to name. One may rhyme with pony, but nothing is definate yet.
Bloggystyle: I heard a sampler of Genes' upcoming 'The Storm' LP, what is your favourite song off this currently?
Ill Slim: It would have to be 'Honey In The Skank' which was a retaliation diss track against a certain un-named rapper. So me and the rest of the crew got together and dropped this lyrical bomb on this no name who tried to diss us and we pretty much humiliated him on the OzHipHop forums to which the song was leaked.
Bloggystyle: Im going to name drop here. I know the song was a retaliation track to Dee-enay's 'Money In The Bank' to which you focused your disses on his sister. What happened with Dee and who else have you had beef with?
Ill Slim: Well Dee-enay has been the main one, he ended up getting two of his friends to drop diss tracks on us aswell but I don't know if I'd count them as separate beefs. Basically he was having ago at the whole Genes' crew as well as one of our well known affiliates Joel Turner and not to mention Figgkidd aswell. It was our duty as figures in the industry, we can not take it. Otherwise we will be seen as Dee-enay's bitch and we can not have that for our image. Ever since we put it to him heavy, he has backed off and must of realised he is not going to win which was just another success for the Genes' crew.
Bloggystyle: How was collaborating with Joel Turner on the track 'David Nicholas Arnold'?
Ill Slim: Yeah Joel is a professional he knows his stuff; his beat-boxing is second to none and not only that he is a really cool guy. He has got standards and he would never sell out. Apart from that he was down to earth and a nice guy and it was just a good chance to collaborate with him.
Bloggystyle: How would you describe your style of rapping?
Ill Slim: I tend to steer clear of the 'violent' attitude some rappers have. We generally just rap about what life for us is and experiences that have influenced us in our travels. Some people arnt going to like it, thats always the way. But if you give the true fans what they want to hear, they will stay true. Adelaide aint Detroit or Compton, I can't relate to that.
Bloggystyle: On that note, we will leave you to your work. Thanks and the best of luck with the new album. For more news on Ill Slim and his affiliates hit up the Australian Hip Hop Forums at ozhiphop.com/forum
1 comment:
are you serious...
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