My City: The ILLZ - DR, Jersey and All Points In Between (Exclusive Interview)

The ILLZ (make sure you use all caps when you spell the man's name) makes some of the more original you're going to hear; where does the New Jersey representer's unique style come from? Is it innate, or the product of his environment? Nature or nurture? I thought I'd ask the man himself and invite him to join our My City series to talk about the benefits of Jersey over NYC, the roots of his sound and his early, early days in an Ace of Bass cover band. Hey, we all have to start somewhere.

RefinedHype: You were born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New Jersey at an early age. How have your Dominican roots influenced your music?

The ILLZ: I can't say my Dominican roots have influenced my music much. They've certainly influenced me as a person. I listen to ALOT of spanish music, specifically Bachata which comes from the Dominican Republic. However I can't say its played too much of a part in MY music.

RefinedHype: Your music is certainly a melting pot of sounds - are your surrounding as diverse as your music?

The ILLZ: Where I come from is predominantly Hispanic. I can't say it's diverse, however I do live literally across from New York. Where I'm from is right in front of the Hudson River and we have New York about 10 minutes from us so we spend more time in NYC than anywhere else. Being that close to NYC and being surrounded by its diversity was really influential.

RefinedHype: You reside in New Jersey, a place that's often looked at as living in the shadow of New York City. What's kept you in Jersey?

The ILLZ: I love Jersey. I love being so close to the madness and magic that is NYC yet always being able to kind of go back to the calmness of Jersey. Where we live there is a huge population of people that work yet used to live in NYC. They move to the waterside for the calmness and the huge difference in living costs. I really love the fact that I'm from Jersey and I plan to always have a home out here. As long as It's close to NYC though.

RefinedHype: If I'm rolling through your city where can I find you?

The ILLZ: In the crib more than anywhere else, writing and recording. If not then definitely in one of the many restaurants I frequent around the way. I LOVE FOOD and I LOVE a good restaurant. More than likely when you go into any of those restaurants you'll find me at the bar.

RefinedHype: Last words? Shout outs? Confessions?

The ILLZ: 1. I love my state. 2. Shouts to Hudson County. 3. Around the age of 6 or 7 I was in a Ace of Base cover garage band and we used tennis rackets as guitars. LOL. Good enough?

You can check out more about The Illz, and listen to his some of his music, below. Enjoy.
http://TheILLZ.com
http://twitter.com/TheILLZ
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-ILLZ/53837351069