Rapper Illbliss's next album is the last familiar ‘Boss’ project that you will ever hear

Aspirational music is a huge feature of Nigerian Hip-hop, but no one embodies it more than Illbliss. The rapper has spent close to a decade in the industry, championing the genre, striding the fine line between Indigenous and secular rap.

But the most defining trait of his rap is his ability to be a boss (that is, sing aspirational music). He whips the lyrics like fine cream, mixing it into every beat, every bar, for the haters, the romance, the hustle, the tears, health, blood and sweat. He is consistent with it.

play illBliss to drop new album "illygaty 7057"
(The Goretti company)

“As we enter na gun salute, Juvenile stand up salute, Black boy fly fresh from the back of the zoom zoom…” that’s just a regular description of an Illbliss arrival on single ‘Powerful’. His thematic romance on ‘My heart beats’ remix, has ‘For the rest of my life, Champagne lifestyle with the wife, Range rovers maybe like 5. Stock purses made of rough skin…”

But the height of it all has to be the one for the haters on ‘Many men’, a single which has Wizkid on the hook. The first verse reads below:

“They try to put the boy in a box, Am still here, bow tie with the tucks,

Am still here Gucci down to my socks. Man stocks hundred mil in the walks

The other hundred mil, I put it down on real estate

I swear my taxes I keep it fucking up to date, I’ve been grinding from the bottom to the penthouse

Suite to be looking beaches out of Florida. Fuck the godfather, all I need is God the father,

Every time I talk, cats wanna stick the dollar, Feminine booty shaking like my flow reggae

But it’s only right that I forgive them holy father

They pray for pot hole and mishaps, they pray Wizzy fight EME and leave on a sour note

They pray for blood on your white coat, so they can pose with TV at your mother…motherfucking funeral”

play illBliss (Oga Boss) On the Industry Nite Stage
(Pulse)

Three albums have carried this theme to perfection –  “Dat Igbo Boy” (2009), “Oga Boss” (2012), and “Powerful” (2015) – offering it at a level that no one else can. But he is done with it. IllBliss wants a new chapter to his music, as he seeks new sounds, and new waves to ride on. A new album titled “illygaty: 7057” is being planned.

The new LP is buzzing with 12 new songs, which will mark the end of a phase in Illbliss’ life, as he chooses to draw the curtain on the past.

"I'm not going to say it wasn't or that it was a stunt, even though we did mean to get your attention it was really a moment I chose to openly close a chapter of my life as I proceed in renewed energy.” Illy said via email to Pulse.

“My new album “illygaty:7057” is a concise offering that's meant to serve as a sort of prelude to what's next for me as an artist and as a brand and what's to come.

“I go by the moniker Oga boss not necessarily because I want to brag about being a made man but for fans or listeners to mirror themselves through my brand and my music and see a leader, a champion, a success story, greatness in themselves.

play Illbliss and Phyno o set of 'Chukwu Agozigo Zi'.
(Press)

The new LP –“Illygaty:7057” guests lines, vocals and presence of some the finest young music acts Nigeria has to offer including  Vector, Reekado Banks, Koker, CDQ, Lola Rae, Mr Eazi, Runtown , Ycee, Dremo with production by Kezy Klef, Sess, Del’ B, Tune X, Big Foot, Waz Beat and Tha Suspect. The collection is a soundtrack to the Illbliss story as he reflects on his journey and shares with his fans far and wide ushering them to the new phase of his career as a musician and entertainer.

Will Illbliss leave the aspiration behind? Will he stop being the ‘boss’ via his music, and chase another foreign path? No.

play Industry Nite with illBliss
(Pulse)

What Illbliss intends to do is to revamp his act to change with the times. Hip-hop is a culture that redefines itself every 5 years, cutting off the dinosaurs and favouring the new artistes who tend to be less rigid in their disposition to change, taking more risks because they have very little to use. For Illbliss, being the new guy is what counts, as he continues to chase the bright lights of the genre, and all the impact that his music can have on his fans.

“Even as I intend to continue to make fun, glamourous and aspirational music and perform more, I plan on doing more to inspire younger people which is why I'm tapping into the wave and energies of the younger fresher artists and even more so introducing newer talents to the  scene ...’, He said.