Formed in 1993, and hailing from Orakei, East Auckland, Patriarch, Nemesis and DJ CXL are the legendary trio Ill Semantics.
After a 9 year hiatus Ill Semantics have released their third full length album Trillogy. The 20 plus years they've been developing their unique Kiwi Hip-Hop sound has really paid off. Culminating in an energetic album which is an aggressive, commercially viable and immaculately produced masterpiece.
Trillogy – a play on the phrase “trill” meaning both “true” and “real” features a barrage of guests veteran MC’s and rising stars, including Scribe, Mareko, K.One, Sikeone (The Doqument), Tyna, J.B, Nikki Montana, Madis, KD (The Lost Tribe) Giant Killa, Sir T, Ashely Hughes, Flows (Footsouljahs) and more.
This album is tasty, no doubt about it. Containing world class production and song writing with a distinct New Zealand sound that only a few NZ groups actually pull off well. The thing I notice is the blend of aggressive bars and commercial appeal, artfully balanced to entice a wide spectrum of the Hip-Hop community.
The first single from the album, Musik is a feel good song all about the love that one has for music and how music can be the one thing that keeps many people strong and blessed. Musik features the soulful vocals of Grace Ikenasio, a top 10 finalist in X Factor NZ season one, as well as veteran MC K.D (Kilo Delta), from pioneering Hip-Hop group The Lost Tribe.
The album contains 16 tracks that fit seamlessly together to give a high octane, energetic experience with immaculate rap flows and hooky choruses.
Ill Semantics have definitely put their best foot forward with this masterful offering which in my opinion is an instant New Zealand Hip-Hop classic.
Check out the music video for Musik by Ill Semantics.
Formed in 1993, and hailing from Orakei, East Auckland, sifting through members until the final line-up consisting of two MC's and a DJ. Patriarch, the nucleus of the group and founding member, Nemesis, New Zealand's most prolific female MC and DJ CXL, 2 x ITF North Island Champion and current DMC #2, beating Auckland's defending champion, P-Money.
Ill Semantics have established themselves over the years as the best authentic and purest Hip-Hop sound to emerge from urban New Zealand whilst still delivering songs that catch radio attention. Ill Semantics first appeared with Dawn Raid on the debut compilation Southside Story in 2000 which was followed up a year later with two songs featured on Southside Story 2: International, Unstoppable and the monster underground hit Verbal Assault which was the #1 song on bFM for five weeks. The success of this song led Ill Semantics to land a number of high profile performances with national and international artists such as Che Fu, Naughty by Nature, Nelly Furtado, and opening for Destinys Child, (Destinys Child's manager was so impressed with DJ CXL that they asked him to continue the rest of the world tour with them, which he unfortunately declined due to studio commitments).
The Ill Semantics name kept growing as they became recognised for their energetic live shows, and was strengthened even further when they collaberated with P-Money on the un-released single, Drop that Ish, which also went on to sit at the #1 spot on bFM for eight consecutive weeks and remaining in the charts for over half a year. Because of its popularity in 2002 it was featured on DJ Sir-Vere's Major Flavors 2 mix compilation.