Pictures from the Illastr8 II album release show @ Koko Lounge
Posts tagged illastr8
Its been a long road and a hard drive but with drive and determination nothing is far fetched.
Shortly after the professor’s abstract thesis was handed in, 2011 welcomed a brand new masquerade with open arms . Meanwhile several XperimentZ were carried out in the wee hours before dawn leading to exceptional results with the public echoing “nice one” in unison. Many moons passed before the crew had to Illastr8 II the world that hip-hop is a common language with out restrictions or rigid forms somewhat desultory but with a driving cohesiveness invisible to the untrained eye.
Thanks for the support y’all…let’s keep the same energy come 2012..big things fam!!
BRING IT
Directed by R-Cube (other variations include R3, RQB) aka Agent Zero, Oshodi
and the award for the gulliest Str8 Buttah vid till date goes to….(drum roll) uhm…<read title>
Fact #1: ‘Bring It’ was a single off ‘Illa-Str8’
R-cube delivers the most-stomach churning grade on this masterpiece…
This joint was produced by beat-supremo XYZ and was recorded at the Livelyne studios in 2007.
Historical Fact #1: Livelyne Studios became the haven for more than 85% of Illa-Str8 Compilation Album recordings ala (The 2-Session Miracle) <watch out for this story in weeks to come>
It also featured Mi Fliss of Nuff Noise; The first collaboration with the emcee….Fact #2: Mi Fliss forged alliances with Str8 Buttah on three tracks.
The day began with R-Cube & Enigma on an ‘Indiana Jones-type crusade’ to find the most unsightly and disturbing alleyway in their estate…Location: Alausa-Ikeja, Lagos
After discovering the abomination, we got a ‘shot’ of paranoia when the owner of the crib next to it started checking us out every two minutes…
He must’ve been Lebanese… (Imitating foreign accent ~ You no shoot video here or I shoot you wanna-be hard-core rappers in the head next time I drive-by)
He eventually gave us the thumbs up and left us to our biz…Teck offered the logistics with his Toyota (chick alert!-It was some sweet ride)
Fact #3: This video ushered in the use of titles on our vids
Many improvisations were attempted, namely…with no money for renting a track-rail, we tried to use a computer desk with wheels…
But the ground was too rough…we also etched ‘Str8 Buttah 2007’ on the wall at…0:59 but it never had the desired effect. There were also rumours of a ‘storyboard’…how dare them?!!
Fact #4: This video also was the first to use the ‘Get Up And Move’ T-shirts (as seen on Teck & R-Cube)
The end (after Enigma’s verse) was actually a prank (some will say improvisation) played by Venomous - C.E.O. of Mic Worx Studios <Note: Venomous was on the boards>
Apparently, after laying his verse (on the 1st take- psyche!), Enigma realized that it was two lines too long…hence “the beat don finish” part
On the 2nd take (psyche!-the sequel), the emcee had omitted a word and the rant which followed was recorded and subsequently left in there for laughs
In the vid, the last shot when Enigma yells ‘Yo we gotta leave now!’, the gate at the back was locked and that’s why everyone shuffles their feet like Ali in a cubicle
Buddah aka Brother lee will take credit for some excellent camera work done with those grimy in & out-of-focus shots (looked like someone taking their glasses off & on…LOL ahem)
Notable cameos include Venomous, The Kaliphate, GQ, Nace, Battle Cat, Blade, Don Chi Chi, De Frame (please pronounce with fake french accent), Henry, Lekan (funny how all those names sound like the dramatis personae of a Nigerian Manga cartoon)
Notable Absentees were the trio of Deck, Rae & XYZ who were offering services to motherland at the time of the shoot
Hint# 1: they were sporting ‘em lime-green hats and khakis with those white t-shirts that got 4 letters across the chest and every university graduate’s dread…(Go Figure!)
