The ILLZ - The Pursuit LP

A VERY impressive project all the way through. ILLZ has more passion than 95% of the artists I hear today.

Fantastic LP from a very talented artist.

A wide range of emotion is right! I'm definitely feeling Dark Side of the Room.

calm LP, I like it.

Feeling every track except "Come In", too sappy for me lol

This is a slow burner, it took me several listens to love this record as much as I do now. I just didn’t get it the first time. Or the second time. In fact, somewhere along the fifth or sixth listen all the way through, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t love it in the first place.

The track that I keep bringing myself back to is "Heaven", written about deceased loved ones, the lyrics are relateable and honest too; heartfelt and simple in their presentation and also having a real innocent and pure vibe. While "Come In" is about ILLZ, who's often away from his loved one. Both tracks are atmospheric and extremely poignant.

It’s thick with raw emotions and melodically dense; it’s deeply personal, sometimes despairing but carries a resounding strength, determined to see the struggles through but it never asks you to pity it.

With a beat keeping its melancholic vibe, somewhere in its saddening heartbreak, "In Between Us" still clings to hope even when all is lost. From denial through depression, to optimism and then moving on. ILLZ is preparing to move on with his life, looking back with both remorse and fondness on what once was, but looking to the future, since the future is all he has left. The track #8, "Shine", has us listen to him in his most braggadocios, and he's good at it. On "Pursuit" he discusses his struggle, in a personal, but also general way, never loosing a connection with the listener.

Sure the rhyming ability is solid but the production, handled by ILLZ himself, is an absolute trip in itself. The music is incredible, mixing shoegazing guitar swirls, absorbing art-rock and distant, yet attached vocal harmonies, all seamlessly sewn into the mix and the effect is nothing short of stunning.

The drums take cues from live rock-sets, mushy vocal harmonies, cinematic strings, horns and assorted electronic flourishes dot the landscape of "The Pursuit LP", making the album a multi-layered affair, even in its more serene moments. Its repeating patterns are built on oh-so-gradually until it sucks you in altogether, carrying aching emotion with it.

Besides the outstanding beats, ILLZ's lyrics are just as noteworthy. He breaks it down to regular dude's concerns. There are constant references to the ILLZ's outlook on life, music, family, love, and growth, expressed through rhymes AND melodic undertones, sensual basslines, and harmonic vocals, all combined to create one incredible listening session.

"The Pursuit LP" is a mish-mash of disparate sounds clashing to make for some surprisingly beautiful and accessible music. Beautifully melodramatic and expertly emotional, ILLZ succeeds in making this a personal album.

My Top Picks:

1. Heaven (Higher)
2. Come In
3. Let It fall
4. In Between Us
5. Faded
6. Pursuit

CLASSIC! from start to finish. bottom line. one of the best hip-hop projects I have heard in a very long time.

Amazing product. Original production, passionate lyrics. Hope someone starts giving ILLZ a push cuz more people need to hear this. Jersey City stand up! Latinos in hip-hop let's go!

One thing that gets me pumped on an artist is a dope intro track, ILLZ had my back on this album. Great track to draw you in, followed by one of his better tracks on the album. Tracks featuring a female singer (not sure who) are all really good, very melodical and soothing, reminiscent of someone like Suzanne Vega. I would label "Dark Side of the Room" as my favorite track, mixing ILLZ's very STRONG voice with an eerie piano track that creates the image I believe hes looking for on the track. Though this is no classic, this album has definite class and style to it, and is definitely worth a download and more than one listen through

This is a unique piece. its so chill and has his pure passion in that form. Magnificent!

Just alright... Thats all I can say about this you really need to distinguish yourself from everyone else when you are starting off and to me I did not hear that in this album

This is going to be in rotation for a bit. Very chillax feel to it-