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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ill Bill: Spoken Word Returns to Rap, April 24, 2005
The underground rapper Ill Bill at long last releases a solo album. Known for the morbid work he's done with his kid brother, the notorious Necro, Bill's style and content are truly his own, flowing with dark wit and unabashed social commentary.
With this release, Ill Bill reveals himself to be more than an underground hardcore "death" rapper like so many of his label's comrades. His infectious beats, his smooth voice and stellar lyrics combine to create an album that goes beyond the banality of today's radio rap (fun but empty-headed records by Lil' Jon and the Ying Yang Twins come to mind) and brings rap back to a level which it originates from: the spoken word.
Ill Bill's rhymes are in no way inane as are the majority of the material you hear from Eminem and Puff Daddy. Bill is actualy rapping about something in his songs, and it's not as simple as him wanting some girl to shake her rump.
"What's Wrong with Bill?", the title track, is a deep tune, filled with sorrow, reflection, confusion, paranoia, grief, lament and rage. It shines with the all-American hostility of the lost children in our society, the ones that fall through the cracks and grow up to be emotionally distant, scarred men and women. It's a profound track which I related to deeply, as will anyone who hasn't lead a life as decent as the norm.
Other tracks shine bright too, like the thug anthem "Glenwood Projects", a seriously aggressive song about hardship, misanthropy and a lust for violence. "Peace Sells" is a cool nod towards some of his metal influences (Megadeth, for those of you with no musical knowledge what-so-ever), and is one of the album's groovy songs about death. "Legend Has It" pops and kicks with a mean thump while the song describes the nightmare of drug dealing, car stealing and overall criminal behavior.
But "The Anatomy of a School Shooting" upstages it's fellow tracks. This song is politically incorrect in every possible way but speaks an unsung truth, that instead of blaming Marilyn Manson records and Doom video games for schoolyard bloodbaths, blame the uncaring society of the school itself. Ill Bill insists that if these kids were not bullied, picked on and abused by everyone in their lives then the mass murders never would have gone down. Instead of demonizing the killers, look to the people who made them. This is a truth no-one wants to admit or even hear. But it's like Dr. Frankenstien blaming everything on the monster he created. It's madness, and Bill says it flat out, and then goes beyond.
This is a powerful record that, as I said, returns rap to the art form of free expression which it birthed from, steering it away from the banal booty music it's become associated with. Ill Bill deserves to be the next big thing in rap music but he's probably too darn good to be popular. What can you do, the masses like crap.
Do yourself a favor though. Open your mind and check this out. It's intense, death-filled, horrific but wonderful rap and art. While Goretex's album is filled with great lyrics but poor beats, while Hyde's album is fun but not serious in any way, and while Necro continues to go darker and sicker without perfecting his voice, Ill Bill has managed to get everything right here.
This is an album not to be missed by anyone who is serious about rap, spoken word, or music in general.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
SOLID BUT COULD'VE BEEN BETTER, May 18, 2006
i was kinda disappointed when i heard this cause ill bill is nicer than what i heard on this album.the album was mostly that overproof thug s**t.it wasn't as well thought out as the nonphixion "the future is now".imo this is the weakest solo album from nonphixion.the sabac red "sabacalypse: a change gon' come" is the illest,next the goretex "the art of dying",and then the ill bill.it just seemed like he didn't give it his all.don't get me wrong,this album is NOT wack,i just feel he could've done better but still worth checking out.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
THIS MAN'S JUST ILL, October 22, 2005
A member of the group Nonphixion, Ill Bill releases his solo album and man is it good, Necro, Ill Bill's younger brother who is a solo artist/producer and all round sick f**k gives Ill Bill some serious beats for which he could spit too. The beats are hard rugged and raw (just how I like them)and give the album a good template enabling Ill Bill to show his versatility, I was under the impression that while Nonphixion are a good group it kind of came across that Bill was quite limited in his subject matter but here he shows more depth that I feel was necessary for him to grow to become an all round mc, tracks like WHATS WRONG? and THE ANATOMY OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING demonstrate a good ability to show the listener the story by verbally illustrating the vivid scenes being told. Their are 15 tracks and one skit and out of that 15 only about two tracks are weak the rest are either solid or brilliant.
All the members of Nonphixion appear here, Goretex,Sabac Red and Necro as well appears on several songs, other appearances include Q Unique and Mr Hyde.
Overall this is an exceptional album from an equally exceptional label, constantly putting out quality product. I advise that you check this out, also check for Sabacalypse and both Nonphixion albums, you won't be disapointed.
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