Illy - The Chase Album Review

[RichoKidd]

Oh yes, I believe it is time for another album review & with some much quality stuff being released over the past few months it was hard to choose which album deserve a review from the one & only RichoKidd.

After narrowing down to a few choices I could only think of one, Illy’s highly anticipated The Chase.


Illy is an Australian Hip Hop Artist from Melbourne, Victoria. He was a member of Crooked Eye and has since gone solo, releasing his first album, Long Story Short in 2009. Long Story Short reached #24 on the ARIA Top 40 Urban Album chart and the lead single, "Pictures", was placed on national rotation on Triple J. "It Can Wait" debuted on the Australia Singles Chart at number fifty-eight.

In the fortnight before The Chase was due to be released Illy released one track from The Chase every day up until its release. He called it 14 Tracks in 14 Days. This was a rather successful venture as it gave his fans, even those who aren’t aware of him, an insight into his album before going out and purchasing it.

The 14 tracks from The Chase are;

1. Go
2. Guess I Could
3. It Can Wait (ft. Owl Eyes)
4. On The Bus
5. Cigarettes (ft. Hue Blanes)
6. Without A Doubt
7. We Don’t Care
8. Numbers Game
9. Feel Something
10. Put ‘Em In The Air
11. Diamonds (ft. Wren)
12. The Chase (ft. Oliver Daysoul)
13. I Know (ft. Joyride)
14. Same Number, Same Hood

It was easy for me to review this album as, I had never followed Illy’s career as much as I’d liked & couldn’t be biased towards this album. Keeping this in mind, I still loved this album. It is an excellent portrayal of the generation-Y that Pegz (Obese Records CEO) feels fit to pass the torch to.

This album consists of many-a different styles of Australian Hip Hop. I consider it a very “rise & fall” album, in the sense Illy can write a slow tune about a lost love & put it on the same album as a fast paced “ghetto” track like Put ‘Em In The Air.

Illy is lyrically sound & has no issue writing an incredible hook, but the production on his album helped him stand higher then most artists dream of reaching. With people like ARIA award winning M-Phazes, Jan Skubiszewski, Taku, Styalz Fuego & J Squared you know this album is going to be an impressive piece of work.

As usual I have a few favourite tracks from the album & of course I couldn’t look past the lead single It Can Wait (ft Owl Eyes). I can see the reason for this track being selected as the main single from this album. It sums up Illy’s life rather well & tells an incredible story. The hook in the song is really well written & with the addition of Owl Eyes, Illy could do no wrong.

The final track on The Chase Same Number, Same Hood is another favourite of mine. Know most, if not all, of us know The Notorious B.I.G is a big influence in the modern day hip-hop. So seeing Illy sampling the big man himself was a great pleasure of mine. This track is an excellent story of Illy’s love for his hometown.

Finally, probably my favourite tracks from the album, The Chase (ft Oliver Daysoul). The Chase has everything a hip-hop track needs, a chorus with an amazing voice, lyrics that only a man like Illy could come up with, a beat that no-one could better. This track is what hip-hop is meant to be. I can see this track topping the charts sooner rather then later.

This album is definitely a chart topper. With an array of singers & producers from all different walks of life & different styles it causes everything to gel. I couldn’t put this track down & repeatedly listen to this to get my Illy fix. Keep an eye on the stuff coming from this kid over the next few years. You & I all know that, whatever it may be, it’ll be the next big thing. This album gets a highly deserved 9/10.

If your a fan of Aus Hip Hop, or Hip Hop in general support the stuff and go out and buy this album

THREE UP TOUR DATES
Illy is currently on tour around the country headlining the Three Up Tour on the following dates:
Fri Oct 29 – Sandbar, Mildura
Sat Oct 30 – Rocket Bar, Adelaide
Fri Nov 5 – The Hi Fi, Melbourne
Thu Nov 18 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
Fri Nov 19 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
Sat Nov 20 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
Thu Nov 25 – Roi Bar, Albury
Fri Nov 26 – Yahoo Bar, Shepparton
Sat Nov 27 – Transit Bar, Canberra

[VLC86]

Awesome review mate.

Im a big fan of aussie hip hop so great to read this, keep them up!