Pics by Lee-Roy Jason

Our boys, the formidable rap duo Ill Skillz bomb-rushed Jozi during the Hype Awards weekend. The first stop was of course the highly-anticipated Hype Awards which were held at the posh Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City.

Performing the lead single from their debut album “Off the Radar” …. the fellas really got the crowd to “Rockoflo with the Ill Skillz”. Congrats to Flexx and Uno for holding down CPT hip hop!!

Ill Skillz and Head Honcho have been holding each other down for a minute now…… There’s no Cape Town hip hop outfit that epitomizes the philosphy behind our brand more than these fellas. Just like us they are on the come-up; they are hungry, mad talented, ambitious and dream of a global takeover.

On a personal level, I’ve been riding with Jinxx and Flexx for yonks. Personally, I am proud to see their metamorphosis into a well-rounded hip hop duo with a captivating live show. As you might know, the guys just released their lyrically-potent debut album Off The Radar. We sat down with the guys to get insights on their upcoming local and international tour, their debut album and why they’re the No.1 Cape Town hip hop crew.

What’s going on fellas?

Tommy Jinxx: Ill Skillin’, gettin buzzay and berserk! I guess it’s always been like that for us.

Jimmy Flexx: On the grizzly making progressive moves to get Ill Skillz out, everywhere. Off The Radar!!!

Off the Radar, your debut album is finally out. I know that it’s been an intensive labour of love. How does it feel to finally have a lifelong dream come to fruition? And what’s the feedback from the masses so far about the album?

TJ: It’s definitely a breath of fresh air, especially after a long roller-coaster ride through peaks and valleys. However since its here now we’re expecting to achieve greater things as a reward. And peeps as well are appreciating us more and respect our hustle, now that we’ve finally managed to release the music we’ve introduced long ago via gigs.

JF: I feel a sense of accomplishment. It’s a great feeling. Cape Town is a very strict Ol’lady and tends to make the hustle twice as hard. All the hardships we’ve been through in this city are what make us appreciate this extraordinary time so much. The response from the masses is inspiring and motivates us to push harder.

Who did you guys work with on the album and what creative elements did they bring to the table?

TJ: Our artist features include Archetypes, Ben Sharpa, Driemanskap, Nonku Phiri and ETC Crew. On the production-end we dominantly featured Planet Earth, including Nyambz, Mizi, Ootz, Max Magnum, Slabofmisuse and Ill Skillz Playas, our full band who contributed some live elements. We basically arranged a mash-up of sounds and transcended genres ranging from boombap to jazz, soul to rock, glitch-hop then back to boombap. And we ultimately proved to be very versatile when it came to our lyrical execution.

Your new video for your jump-off single “Rocoflo” has got the internet buzzing. What’s the concept of the video and what are your plans for it?

TJ: Initially I had just envisioned a black n’ white video, after I was inspired by Blackstar’s ‘Respiration’ video and Jay Z’s ‘99 Problems’ one. But in general thinking we wanted to capture the essence of hip-hop and take it back to the streets, now look what we have now.

JF: Yeah mayne, we had to contribute something fresh yet nostalgic to remind the old and new cats what Hip Hop is about. We wanted to take it back, guerrilla style. Captured a few dope scenes around the city, kept it street like where we be at and bam! Vuzu put it on their site, Channel O said bring it on, and BET is waiting (watch this space).

Let’s go back a bit ….. Give our readers little backgrounds on yourselves. Where did you grow up? When and how did you fall in love with this art form we call hip hop?

TJ: Well, Uno was a shy dude born & bred in a rough township called Gugulethu. Also quite a diverse and left-field kinda kid who happened to meet Hyphen from Archetypes while in high school, and had introduced into him to the local hip hop scene and became hands-on since there on. I grew up inside of him all these years and made him realise he’s potential as a rapper.

JF: Born at St’ Mary’s, Umtata…bred in De Aar -Guguletu, Malunga Park. Paid my dues in Cape Town. Peace to Driemanskap & Archetypes, Breeze (Groundworx). Growing up in a shebeen crib, I would say I have quite a musical background, can’t remember not hearing loud music at my spot. Got into the game in 04, Native Yard and been with I.L.S since 05. Hip Hop Wins!!!

You guys are currently revered as Cape Town’s illest hip hop crew…. I for one know that this status you currently enjoy didn’t come easily….. What are some of the challenges and learning curves that you guys have experienced?

JF: It’s a great honour and a lot of pressure to be seen as CPT’s hope at being represented in the mainstream, as an urban, “underground” outfit with international appeal, I mean Slum Village, Mos Def, Wordsworth they’ve seen our talent as a crew if not individually, and it’s only the beginning. Ill Skillz represents Cape Town, SA, Africa true school Hip Hop! The grind has never been easy, lack of resources, flaky people – the works. But we’re here…Off The Radar!

What have been your career highlights?

TJ: It has to be definitely the 2008 Euro Tour, had a chance to rub shoulders with Slum Village, Phat Kat, EMC, Torae, Marco Polo and Qwazaar. Releasing the Battle of Gugulethu Vol. 1 compilation in 2006 also proved to be quite remarkable. And to date, our ‘Off The Radar’ debut album has set milestone in our career. What you say Flexx?

JF: Finally putting out the album is definitely at the top, everytime a listen to it i have a new favourite cut. Another moment I won’t forget was Mos stepping outta the booth and giving me a pound after hearing my verse on “Dancing In The Rain” a track he features on for the Pangaea project. I was humbled. Then there was the I Luv Hip Hop tour and the MTV Staying Alive Foundation gig, man it’s a great time to be alive in Cape Town. I’m grateful.

What exciting things can your fans expect in the coming months?

TJ: We currently putting together an international tour for September/October, in US and across Europe, then back here in SA for a nationwide tour with an outfit from the US during November. We gonna drop 2 to 3 videos for our singles from the ‘Off The Radar’ album as well, also handing a mixtape for DJ Raiko.

How do you “Live Progressively”

TJ: Dope raps, dope sneakers, donning that Honcho shit!

JF: Carpe Diem! Extraodinary times make Extraodinary people. Progressive Living, its great!

Follow Ill Skillz on Twitter and Facebook; just search Ill Skillz. Also visit www.myspace.com/illskillzmusic.

]]> http://headhoncho.co.za/2009/08/cape-town-rap-duo-got-ill-skillz/feed/ 5 http://headhoncho.co.za/2009/04/head-honcho-well-repped-at-zula-bar-cpt/ http://headhoncho.co.za/2009/04/head-honcho-well-repped-at-zula-bar-cpt/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:51:52 +0000 nick http://headhoncho.co.za/?p=409

Ill Skillz, our favourite Cape Town hip hop crew, launched their debut album “Off the Radar” this past weekend. The Head Honcho family came out in full force in support of our lyrically-supreme brethren. Jimmy Flexx and Tommy Jinxx, the supremos behind Ill Skillz did not dissappoint. They floored the audience witch catchy beats and sing-along hooks that propelled the crowd to seek an encore at the end of the show.

We’re so proud of these friends of ours for getting to this stage; having know them for more than 5 years, I am happy to see their awesome progress. Its been a long journey. You guys deserve all the success that’s coming your way.  And please people, support dope local hip hop by buying Ill Skillz’ debut album “Off the Radar”. You will not be dissappointed. Holler at them on FB.

If you missed their performance last week, you can check them on Friday, 24 April 2009 @ the Party People gig at Zula Bar and at the Cape Town and Joburg Slum Village gigs on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Keep those “H’es” where our eyes can see!

You can now keep up to date with Head Honcho on the following additional platforms:

* www.twitter.com/headhoncho1

* www.studentchoice.co.za/headhoncho

LIVE PROGRESSIVELY