Tag Archives: ILL Son

A Slice of Hip-Hop: “What Would Jesus Do (WWJD),” by DATz DEM

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Are you ready for some gospel hip-hop? Check out “What Would Jesus Do (WWJD),” from DATz DEM, which consists of artists ILL Son and Focist P. The opening moments of “WWJD” evoke Marvin Gaye’s gospel side, with a soulful vocal floating above strings before ILL Son and Focist P trade raps about Jesus, Psalm 23, and the joys of spirituality (they name check televangelist Creflo Dollar for good measure).

The lyrics are an unabashed expression of the Christian faith and a condemnation of all things evil.  “The devil is a lie, that’s why people be killing,” they rap, “Robbing and stealing sometimes for no reason/Cutting down trees in the Garden of Eden/The Snake got you eatin’ forbidden fruit/So the question is for you/What would Jesus do.”

“WWJD” is an affirmation of life (“Every day above ground is a wonderful day”) and faith (Jesus “delivers us from evil like a Greyhound bus”). “WWJD” is also ILL Son’s first foray into gospel hip-hop and a departure from the romantic, secular “Wait for Me,” which I featured on Superhype earlier this year.

In an email interview with me, ILL Son explained that “WWJD” is “a direct reflection of how I have been pursuing my dreams for 15 years and counting; and no matter how long it takes, we shall achieve our goals.” He believes the spirituality of “WWJD” co-exists comfortably with more secular material because both types of songs simply reflect what he and Focist P are feeling from moment to moment.

“I just feel that however the music speaks to us at that moment, that is what comes from the heart,” he says. “We do not put ourselves into any kind of musical box.” He describes the audience for “WWJ” not in religious terms but as “anyone who enjoys great hip-hop music.”

This summer, they performed three shows (including “WWJD”) over two nights at the Atlanta Gospel Fest, where the likes of Shirley Caesar and Montel Jordan appeared (an experience that ILL Son describes as “a blessing’). Now ILL Son and Focist P are busy on a mixtape, video for “WWJD,” and a promotional tour.

You can be sure the experience will be inspirational.

For further exploration: check out this site for more insight into gospel hip-hop. And if you are not already fans of Marvin Gaye and Al Green, I invite you to explore their musical legacy to appreciate how two giants of music mixed the secular with the spiritual in their art.

A slice of hip hop: “Wait for Me” by ILL Son

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“Wait for Me” by ILL Son requires a close listen to appreciate. When I first heard the sweet female chorus and the gentle chimes that open the song, I thought ILL Son had shared with me another love song like his lush production of “Get 2 You.” But then ILL Son’s voice kicks in with a rap that reveals a man in torment over a girl who is with the wrong guy.

“Fast track marter rail/on your way to excel,” he raps. “But you want to give it up/say that you feeling him/Wrong step your life is full of wages minimum/that’s your world when you live with a criminal.”

And at the same time, I sense that the narrator isn’t so sure he’s the right choice, either (“I can’t keep putting you thu this hell”).

What else tells me this song is not all sweetness and light? The fuzzy guitar line, which provides some extra sting to the rap.

I got to know ILL Son, who is based in Atlanta, on Global 14, which is a social site run by Jermaine Dupri and source of vibrant communities who share lifestyle interests ranging from hip hop to relationships. Check out ILL Son on Global 14 and follow him on Twitter @ill_son.

Music I like: “Get 2 You” by ILL Son

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“Get 2 You” by ILL Son is sweet. The song evokes hip hop and urban contemporary (for some reason I thought of “Knockin’ Da Boots by H-Town when I first heard this song).

When you listen to “Get 2 You,” you feel a sense of urgency for ILL Son to get the girl (”life is like sports with many short careers”), which suggests “Just Wanna Love You Tonight” by the Average White Band. You don’t know if ILL Son will succeed, and I like that.

Here is what ILL Son told me about the song: “The inspiration for writing the song came from my real life experience — a life altering relationship that has brought forth not only the song but the basis of my entire project, ILLSONOMICS= THE STUDY OF WOMAN THRU A MUSICAL PERSPECTIVE.

ILL Son

ILL Son, who is based in Atlanta, shared “Get 2 You” on Global 14 — a social community run by Jermaine Dupri and a hotbed of hip hop. Check out Global 14 and follow ILL Son on Twitter @ill_son.