Ill Bill
William Braunstein (born July 14, 1972), better known as Ill Bill, is an American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his diverse lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records. His brother Ron is also a rapper and producer, known as Necro.[1]
Ill Bill | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | William Braunstein |
Born | Flushing, Queens, New York, U.S. | July 14, 1972
Origin | Glenwood Houses, Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop, rap metal, death metal |
Occupation(s) | Rapper Producer |
Instruments | Vocals, bass guitar |
Years active | 1986–present |
Labels | Uncle Howie (1998–present) Psycho+Logical (1999–2005) Fatbeats |
Associated acts | Non Phixion, La Coka Nostra, Heavy Metal Kings, Necro, DJ Muggs, Sean Price, Vinnie Paz, Jedi Mind Tricks, Slaine, Everlast |
Website | www |
Collaboration work/groups
Non Phixion
In late 1994, MC Serch (of 3rd Bass fame) took his protégé Sabac Red and teamed him up with DJ Eclipse and Ill Bill, thereby creating the group known as Non Phixion.[2] Within six months Goretex, a childhood friend of Ill Bill, had joined the crew after freestyling for MC Serch. MC Serch did not appear in Non Phixions first album "The Future Is Now". Non Phixion made two studio albums and a promotional tape named "The Past, The Present And The Future Is Now" that was released before their first album "The Future Is Now", all Non Phixion's work is highly regarded in the underground hip hop scene. Ill Bills brother Necro produced a lot of material for Non Phixion, including most of "The Past, The Present And The Future Is Now" and several other tracks from "The Green CD" and "The Future Is Now".[3]
Circle of Tyrants
Circle of Tyrants was an underground hip hop group consisting of Necro, Ill BIll, Mr Hyde and Goretex. The group only released one album, named "The Circle of Tyrants" which was released in 2005 under Necro's Psycho-Logical-Records.[4] Necro produced all tracks on this album.[5] Though only releasing one album, these four members often collaborated at the same time on the members solo albums.
La Coka Nostra
Founded in late 2005 with no intention to record an album, La Coka Nostra was more a loose collective of artists connected through Danny Boy than a group. Having taken time off from rap after the break-up of House of Pain, Danny Boy took to working in video production and fashion as well as mentoring other artists. He met Slaine in Boston and, impressed with his writing, brought him to L.A. to record some tracks. Eventually it turned into more of a group effort including the former members of House of Pain and Ill Bill, it was announced that Everlast would be leaving La Coka Nostra due to his daughter's medical issues.
Heavy Metal Kings with Vinnie Paz
Heavy Metal Kings is a group featuring veteran rappers Ill Bill (Non Phixion/La Coka Nostra) and Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks/Army of the Pharaohs). In 2006, Ill Bill was featured on the single "Heavy Metal Kings" by hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks, released through Babygrande Records.
Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz have since combined forces to form a group of the same name, "Heavy Metal Kings," and recorded a full self-titled album that was released on April 5, 2011 through Enemy Soil/Uncle Howie.
Heavy Metal Kings 2 was officially confirmed and recording in 2013. It was announced that the album would be in stores in 2014 however as of March 2015. It was released in 2018 with the official name “Black God White Devil” and has numerous features from Goretex. .[6]
Heavy Metal Kings VS DJ Muggs was posted to be in the works by an associated producer[7] on 2011, to this date this album has had no more updates or information released. It is not known if this album is still in the works.
Solo albums/albums with brother Necro
"The Early Years: Rare Demos '91-'94" (2001)
The Early Years: Rare Demos '91–'94 is the first rarities released on September 16, 2001 under Psycho+Logical-Records. The compilation contains 12 demos, an intro, two skits and one remix. Featured guests on the compilation include Gongo Boy and future Non Phixion and Circle of Tyrants member Goretex. These tracks were recorded between 1991 and 1994.
"Street Villains" mixtapes with brother Necro
Ill Bill and brother Necro released two mixtapes named Street Villains vol.1 (2003) and Street Villains vol.2 (2005). Street Villains vol.1 was released originally to build hype for Ill Bill's at the time upcoming album "What's Wrong with Bill?"
"Ill Bill is The Future Vol.1" (2003) & "Ill Bill is The Future Vol.2: I'm a Goon" (2006)
Ill Bill is the Future was released in 2003 on Ill Bills label Uncle Howie Records and is a mix of pre released and new tracks with collaboration tracks with EI-P, The Beatnuts and Problemz.[8] Ill Bill Is The Future 2: I'm A Goon was released in 2006 under Uncle Howie Records. The album featured mostly new tracks except for a few pre used La Coka Nostra Tracks and featured collaborations from artists such as Q-Unique, Raekwon, Sick Jacken, Block McCloud, MF Grimm and B-Real.
"Howie Made Me Do It" mixtapes
Recorded from 1999-2002 "Howie Made me Do it" is a compilation of mostly songs previously released on mixtapes. "Uncle Howie" is Ill BIlls uncle, who bill also named his record label after in tribute of his junkie uncle Howie and is a common topic in Ill Bill and brother Necro's tracks.[9][10] Howie Made me do it 2 was released in 2011 with collaborations from various artists such as Vinnie Paz and Q-Unique. Howie made me do it 3 was released late 2013.
"What's Wrong with Bill?" (2004)
"What's Wrong with Bill?" is Ill Bill's debut studio album, released on May 4, 2004 by Psycho+Logical-Records. The album spawned one single, "The Anatomy of a School Shooting", and a music video for "Chasing the Dragon". Ill BIll's brother Necro produced the entire album.[11]
The album never charted but is widely known as an underground classic from Ill BIll by fans.
"The Hour of Reprisal" (2008)
On September 16, 2008, he released his second album on Uncle Howie Records, entitled The Hour of Reprisal. The album includes appearances from Necro, Tech N9ne, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Everlast, Bad Brains, Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks, Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage, Immortal Technique and Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan. It also features production by DJ Muggs, T-Ray, DJ Lethal, Necro, DJ Premier and Ill Bill himself. During Spring 2008, Ill Bill joined Tech N9ne and Paul Wall on a nationwide tour. The Hour of Reprisal was released on September 16, 2008 by Uncle Howie Records and Fat Beats.
"Kill Devil Hills" (2010) with DJ Muggs
DJ Muggs vs. Ill Bill: Kill Devil Hills is a collaboration studio album by the American rapper Ill Bill and producer DJ Muggs. The album was released on August 31, 2010 on Fat Beats Records.[1] All songs produced by DJ Muggs.
"The Grimy Awards" (2013)
His third album, The Grimy Awards, was released on January 29, 2013.[12] The album includes appearances from H.R. of Bad Brains, A-Trak, El-P, Jedi Mind Tricks, O.C., Cormega, Meyhem Lauren, Q-Unique, Shabazz the Disciple & Lil Fame of M.O.P. and production by DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, Pete Rock, Large Professor, The Beatnuts, El-P, Ayatollah, MoSS & Ill Bill himself. The first single "Severed Heads Of State" featuring and produced by El-P came out on October 29, 2012.[13]
Discography
Solo albums
- 2004: What's Wrong with Bill?
- 2008: The Hour of Reprisal
- 2013: The Grimy Awards
- 2016: Septagram
Collaborations
- 2002: The Future Is Now (with Non Phixion)
- 2004: The Green CD/DVD (with Non Phixion)
- 2005: The Circle of Tyrants (with Circle of Tyrants)
- 2009: A Brand You Can Trust (with La Coka Nostra)
- 2010: Kill Devil Hills (with DJ Muggs)
- 2011: Heavy Metal Kings (with Heavy Metal Kings)
- 2012: Masters of the Dark Arts (with La Coka Nostra)
- 2016: To Thine Ownself Be True (with La Coka Nostra)
- 2017: Black God White Devil (with Heavy Metal Kings)
- 2018: Split (with Ghoul)
- 2019: Cannibal Hulk (EP) (with Stu Bangas)[14]
- 2019: Pulp Phixion (EP) (with Sunday)
- 2020: Gorilla Twins (with Nems)
References
- "Ill Bill - Hip Hop Underground". Hiphopug.com. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- "Goretex – Goretex, Himself". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
- "necro non phixion instrumental". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- "Circle Of Tyrants - The Circle Of Tyrants - release date, producers, reviews". Ughh.com. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- "Spring.me". Formspring.me. 2013-10-18. Archived from the original on 2013-08-10. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- "Heavy Metal Kings 2 - currently being... - C-Lance (Enemy Soil Producer)". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- "Heavy Metal Kings VS DJ Muggs + Vinnie... - C-Lance (Enemy Soil Producer)". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- "The Beatnuts feat Ill Bill & Problemz - Yae Yo". YouTube. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- Archived May 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- "Necro - "I Need Drugs" Official Video". YouTube. 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- "Twoo - Meet New People". Formspring.me. Archived from the original on 2013-08-10. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- "OK-Tho.com's Top 20 Albums Of 2013" http://www.ok-tho.com/2014/01/top-of-year-albums-of-2013.html
- "Ill Bill - Severed Heads Of State Ft. El-P". YouTube. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- "PodOmatic | Best Free Podcasts". Conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com. 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2015-11-14.