How ILL Bliss Passed The Test Of Time - Written By Amechi Okoli

As I watched ILL Bliss do the traditional Ibo dance in the first episode of Kemi Adetiba's "King Of Boys" Netflix series, I thought to myself - This dude has come a freakin' long way!

From doing the low budget "Street Hop" music video with The Thorobreds, to starring in a Netflix original series worth millions of Dollars.

We can all agree that it's been a long journey for illy Chapo, but how did he manage to last for over 2 decades in an industry where many of his peers have fallen off?

Let me try to analyze this.

We all know ILL Bliss is a staunch hip hop head, which is why you heard him in the early 2000s rapping over heavy boom bap beats alongside Elajoe, Obiwon, Amaka, and B-Elect. Fast forward a few years into the mid 2000s, he's gone solo, and he's putting his debut album together.

By this time, the industry had changed, and it was being dominated by a more commercial sound. ILL Bliss was smart enough to recruit Terry G, one of the forerunners of the commercial era to lace a hook for him.

Aye Po Gan was the end result, and it became a smash hit.

He also understood the power of visuals, which is why he aligned himself with none other than Clarence Peters, who is arguably the most successful cinematographer in Nigeria.

Fast forward a little more into the future, new artistes began to pop, and ILLY did collabos with a lot of them. Including Wizkid, Olamide, and Runtown.

He also spotted new talent like Phyno and Chidinma. Both of whom he helped reach the top of their respective games.

In-between all that, ILL Bliss never lost touch of his love for undiluted hip hop, as he teamed up with producer XYZ to make "Position Of Power". He also teamed up with Teck Zilla to form the illyZilla collective, releasing the self-titled EP in the process.

How about branding?

ILL Bliss scored himself a Hero Lager Beer endorsement, and that alone ensured that you'll see his face on many Hero Lager billboards across the country.

With all these taken into consideration, here's how I think ILL Bliss passed the test of time -

1. Hard work

2. Consistency

3. Affiliation with those who matter

What's your take?

Written by @amechi_okoli for @234hiphop (IG)

Quite factual. Hardworking people aren't always the successful ones, being smart is staying rich

Payperboii:
Quite factual. Hardworking people aren't always the successful ones, being smart is staying rich

True.

Writing gigs