While not originally from the Northwest, iLL Chris has grown into a national touring artist since relocating to the region many years ago. He’s been able to sustain a career in music through various style transitions and found his biggest platform yet with his latest wave of music. Having recently released a mixtape with Ski Mask The Slump God that’s touched plenty of spins it looks like the buzz is on another upswing.
We recently had the opportunity to talk with iLL Chris about touring, new music, and the Lil Mosey situation.
iLL Chris Respect My Region Interview
*This interview was edited for clarity*
RMR: Did It bother you about what Mosey said in the No Jumper interview? What did you think when you saw it?
Chris: I woke up around 12 am lit a blunt and peeped my socials and I was getting tagged a lot. I peeped the No Jumper thing and as RMR wrote, I took it with a grain of salt because I make moves and there is and have been factors in our region for years. There’s a lot of people out here that feel the way I do too. Because for one, there are a good number of people making waves out here and been people with plaques and accomplishment in the music scene.
RMR: If you guys don’t know, iLL Chris has been an underground factor grinding for years helping artists and helping connect dots for shows, fashion, and being a tastemaker in the scene. His works, songs and videos with SmokePurpp, Famous Dex, and a new project with Ski Mask The Slump God, in which he will be co-headlining a world tour with the South Florida powerhouse has given him renown mentions from No Jumper, Elevator, 88 Rising and more with 1 mil on plays on his last project and major views on his videos. He also helps style a lot of artists in the industry with Ski to Local artists and also helped Smoke Purpp with his looks at New York Fashion Week earlier this year.
Chris: It doesn’t help because the region is already being slept on, so a comment like that is going to have backlash locally. Having opportunity like that could have been used to give thanks to the region and give back to the scene. I don’t know if Adam (No Jumper) may have left out content or that’s what Mosey actually wanted to say, but here we are.
People have the mentality to bring people down to get shine, but that goes with any region, so for me= its more fuel to the fire for dog. I can see where it gets people irritated and wanna lash out . But Mosey is 15-years-old, we gotta understand that and some of us gotta be the ones to educate him about someone like a Jake One, etc. Mosey is from the new, new wave and he grew up North of Seattle so he’s not going to know. I took a liking to his music when my brother Bakari (R.I.P.) introduced me to his shit when Yung Tada was working on Me and SmokePurpp’s video (Ill Like I’m Sick) before “Pull Up” was finished.
RMR: I saw a picture with you and Mosey and a few videos online. One with you Mosey, Bakari, and Smooky Margeila how did y’all meet?
Chris: One day last November or December my bro Kari told me this kid Lil Mosey is the truth. They showed me and was like bro… you have to help me get this kid a deal. I had a lot of dates with the Higher Brothers, 88 Rising and Rolling Loud, shit to do with Ski, so I didn’t have time (which I regret now looking back at it). When I came back to Seattle, Mosey had almost 1,000,000 views and Kari was like “BROOO WE GOTTA GET HIM THIS DEAL.”
RMR: How did that go and were you hurt by him signing to someone else?
Chris: I mean yeah I was a little sad but I don’t hate so I was happy he went to Interscope. I saw him in the Alamo Office and I told him I was proud of him. I think Kari and I were both sad at the time but Kari would go on tour and further build with Mosey. We wanted to guide him to not make mistakes and do things that are going to be good for his career. While Mosey was on tour with Comethazine and Smooky I told bro that he had to just focus. I talk to him every now and then and he’s with a lot of my industry friends and tbh he’s really a quiet, cool kid that’s trying to figure it out. I wish the best for him.
Chris: I just dropped a tape with Ski and it’s doing well. I believe it hit an M collectively. I got a video with Me and Famous Dex dropping, some shit with
RMR: Any shout outs or closing?
Chris: Yes, shout to everybody in the NW from OG’s to new heads, learn the game out here, a lot of people that paved the way. Shout to everybody on that list you posted too. Good look on the love, for real.
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