By Ayomide Tayo
Albums: Position of Power EP [Vol. 1 & 2]
Artiste: Illbliss
Guest Appearances: RQB, Muna, Tesh Carter, Mike Aremu, Tha Suspect
Producers: XYZ
Record Label: Goretti Company/Capital Hill (2012/2014)
Not a flashy rhyme singer, Illbliss is one of the most hardworking rappers we have in Nigeria at the moment. In two years he has dropped three projects, and is gearing up for the release of his third LP sometime this year. His Position of Power EPs come as forerunners to his full-length albums.
Illy released his Position of Power EP in 2012 right before the release of his second album Oga Boss. With a new project in his sights, he drops the sequel Position of Power 2.0 as a foretaste of what to expect. The first installment is mostly an ode to what is regarded as the most pure Hip Hop sound of all time- boom bap. It starts with ‘Ruler’, which has a dusty boom bap feel to it, creating a nostalgic effect of what rap records sounded like in the ‘90’s. The second song is the remix of the ‘Anamachikwanu’ remix featuring Muna and Phyno. The remix gives the song a boom bap twist. This is the song that introduced Phyno to the Southwest and the mainstream of Nigerian music.
On ‘Deep Down’, you get Hip Hop purism as Illbliss chronicles his hustle to the top. Also on this track he reveals his hatred for the fakeness (sic) that runs the music industry- ‘deep down you know we are not friends’. This dislike for phonies is a strong theme of Illbliss’ songs. The man just can’t stand people who are not real. ‘2 Hands’ featuring RQB is a thick boom bap joint with horns blaring. On this song Illy tells us that he is an elder statesman of the Naija rap game. ‘The rap supreme pontiff/I bless tracks/What’s the point if we ain’t talking stacks’. Despite his ability of the running the game, and controlling his team, Illbliss gets weak sometimes, which he expresses on ‘Asiko’ featuring Tha Suspect. ‘Thank you God, I thank you for your blessings/but the music business got me stressed out’ he raps over an oriental flute.
Illbliss hasn’t slowed down though. Within two years, his record label has grown in strength. The success did cost him a few health issues though. ‘I lost weight- blood sugar level on the high/I had to check my health/everything I write is heartfelt’ he spits on the opener of Position of Power 2.0, ‘Looking Back’ featuring Tesh Carter. Apart from kicking autobiographical raps on his latest project, Illbliss has incorporated a lot of Igbo influence, which highlights the success of Igbo rap in mainstream music.
‘Osadebe’ is driven by a guitar riff and anchored with an Igbo hook. With scratches tucked here and there, Illbliss gives thanks to God for his work ethic. ‘Thank God for putting in me the spirit of a hustler/mind of an owner/always been a loner’– the last bar reflecting his one-man approach to running the game. The Igbo theme continues on ‘Idichie’. This track is dedicated to his wife who has been Illbliss’ muse on several songs to mention. Mike Aremu’s solo at the last verse elevates the mood of the track. The last track off the EP is named ‘Tobechukwu’ which happens to be Illbliss’ name. After putting in much work Illy looks back and declares ‘I belong with the greats/early age digging in the crates/hustle till I face the pearly gates’.
Now in a position of power, there is no stopping Illbliss from reaching the highest peak.
Rating- 4/5