Tommy Ill
Wellington based hip hop artist Tommy Ill is more attuned to those who prefer ‘The Brunettes’ over ‘Smashproof. His songs range from upbeat 50’s style pop to blues based hangovers, phone bills and heartache.
Mr. Ill has so far released three EP's; Toast and Tea Kettles (2007), Matchsticks (2008), Come Home Mr. Ill (2009) and currently he’s working on his soon to be released debut album. Live Tommy is a force to be reckoned with - often being piggybacked around the stage by his hype men, tackling audience members, climbing on furniture, and collapsing into a sweaty heap on the floor when it's all over. A Tommy show is never one to miss.
What sort of album influences Tommy Ill?
Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill
One album that's influenced me a lot would be the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill. It was one of the first CDs I bought and some of the first rap music I'd ever heard. I was about 13 years old at school in this classroom at lunchtime and some kid with glasses put this CD on, it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. I went up to him and asked him what it was, I knew nothing about hip hop or music in general really at the time. He told me it was the Beastie Boys so the next day I went out and bought the Licensed to Ill and Sounds of Science (the Beastie anthology). I was obsessed with it and I learnt all the words and pretty soon I started writing my own little raps too. I had no idea what I was doing then, but I think if I hadn't gone out and bought those cds I wouldn't be making the music I am now. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing, haha.
Check out his song "Best Damn Evening"
Tommy Ill - Best Damn Evening by musichype
Tommy Ill on the interweb
The NZ indie label Loop Recordings
LOOP Media Ltd. has been in business since 2001 and is a multi-level medium for new ways of thinking in music and motion graphics. With 30+ releases in CD, DVD and vinyl formats, LOOP is proudly NZ owned and operated. LOOP supports local artists as well as networks with like-minded international artists and business people. Real Groove music magazine in 2004 described the label as "New Zealand's most innovative record label." 

Having established business networks in New Zealand, Australia, the US, the UK, France and Germany, LOOP is now aiming to expand even further in the international market and hopefully reach new audiences with some of the wonderful music and motion graphics currently being created in Aotearoa.
» Loop's Website
