In 2012, Ohio artist Ill Poetic released his last solo project “The Synesthesia Yellow” EP. Plans for a video to the EP’s single “Silhouette” were underway, complete with a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2013 for the song’s video. In the two years that would follow, Ill Po and his team turned the video into a short film and built an entirely new project around the original song, even rebuilding the song itself. Thus we have “The Silhouette Project”, an EP + short film combo that acts as a companion-piece to Synesthesia Yellow but exists in a universe of it’s own. These past two years also saw Ill Poetic make the move to San Diego, CA, co-running a record store, Beat Box Records, with Ohio-Transplant DJ Inform, a move that came to inspire the new project’s sound and subject matter.. 

“These are my words about love” says Ill Po about the new project. “The record store opened me wide open to genres of music I’d never been aware of but quickly fell in love with, greatly influencing my production. So the music is inspired by what I imagine my favorite artists and producers interpret love to be when they create. Each song is inspired by how I feel love translates through their music.” 

This EP is available via Definition Music and will be supported by a US Tour (midwest dates below). The album can be purchased on all streaming + downloading platforms, including Bandcamp which includes all instrumentals, bonus songs and package options with signed posters, CDs and T-Shirts.

https://illpoetic.bandcamp.com/album/the-silhouette-project

TOUR DATES:
04.29.16 - Cincinnati, OH @ Urban Artifacts 
04.30.16 - Rock Island, IL
05.01.16 - Columbus, OH @ Ruby Tuesdays
05.04.16 - Evansville, IN @ PG
05.06.16 - Columbia, MO @ Rose Music Hall
05.07.16 - Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room

The Silhouette Project

An Idiot's Guide to Anarchy

This will be the corniest love sh*t you will ever hear me write. So enjoy it. I wrote it when I met
the woman who I'm about make my wife this weekend, unless she runs away. As lame as it is, I still feel thisway about her, so enjoy. I'm off to get married and honeymoon for a week. When I get back, I'll have officially committed to share the rest of my life with another human being. Because I'm crazy.

As far as the track, I mashed up The Weeknd's "Thursday" with some NIN, with additional keys from Dean Hummons, Sr. and bass by Donnie Mossman. ENJOY.

Last Day to Donate to The "Silhouette" Project HERE
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ill-poetic-a-part-of-the-art-the-silhouette-project/x/1845948

Thursday (Loveshxt)

"Sketches in Spain"

Inspired by a long-stretch Miles Davis obsession, "Sketches in Spain" is my attempt to articulate the life-long acid trip that is sight-sound synesthesia.

I originally wrote this record 10 years ago at a JCPenney Call Center in Columbus, Ohio and had no idea what to do with it - a song about Spain, sound, colors and synesthesia. Cut to a decade later: I've returned from a month-long stay in Madrid and am about to head into a doctoral program where I'll be learning/creating the very things I imagined in that call center.

Thank you to my guy Jesse Clayborne, the producer of the song, for a decade of patience on this track. He killed it and I'm honored to float on top of it. "Sketches in Spain" is available on all streaming platforms.

Credits

Produced by Jesse Clayborne for Clayborne LLC
Written by Timothy "Ill Poetic" Gmeiner

Sketches in Spain

Sketches In Spain

The first record I ever fully produced was for my roommate. My roommate also happened to be the greatest spoken word artist I'd ever heard in my life (and I've seen Saul Williams and Jessica Care-Moore a few times now).

His self-titled LP stands as my favorite piece of music I've ever contributed to. I'm uploading this specific song because it's so fuckin' relevant (sadly). Just as relevant as it was when Timothy Thomas was killed in Cincinnati in 2001. This LP captured that vibe better than anything I can think of. This song used to make me tear up while I was mixing it.

Fatal Prose doesn't have IG or Twitter. He re-dedicated his life to his family and church. He's one of the most awesome human beings I'm proud to say I know. And he made this song.

Black Soap (by Fatal Prose, Prod. by Ill Poetic)

In 2012, Ohio artist Ill Poetic released his last solo project “The Synesthesia Yellow” EP. Plans for a video to the EP’s single “Silhouette” were underway, complete with a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2013 for the song’s video. In the two years that would follow, Ill Po and his team turned the video into a short film and built an entirely new project around the original song, even rebuilding the song itself. Thus we have “The Silhouette Project”, an EP + short film combo that acts as a companion-piece to Synesthesia Yellow but exists in a universe of it’s own. These past two years also saw Ill Poetic make the move to San Diego, CA, co-running a record store, Beat Box Records, with Ohio-Transplant DJ Inform, a move that came to inspire the new project’s sound and subject matter.. 

“These are my words about love” says Ill Po about the new project. “The record store opened me wide open to genres of music I’d never been aware of but quickly fell in love with, greatly influencing my production. So the music is inspired by what I imagine my favorite artists and producers interpret love to be when they create. Each song is inspired by how I feel love translates through their music.” 

This EP will be released on April 27, 2016 via Definition Music and supported by a US Tour.

Love Is (Part 2)

It's All Around

LoveShxt Interlude

Silhouette

A Love Supreme (Part 1)

"Mermaid"

Produced, written, recorded, mixed, mastered & art layout by Ill Poetic for SoundRzn Graphic & Sound-Design.
Additional Vocals by D1 for D1 Productions LTD.

"After getting Kendrick Lamar's "LUST" stuck in my head, I found myself humming the hook to Andre 3000's "She Lives in my Lap" alongside it. I thought it could be cold to cover this live. This turned into re-producing, adding keys, writing and re-recording a cover/mash-up that just turned into it's own thing, so here we are with "Mermaid". This song is also a prelude to my next full-length album (my first official since 2007's "The World is Ours") to be released this Fall."

"Lastly, I'm throwing an event in San Diego, CA on Wednesday May 24 alongside a host of amazing musicians, producers & artists from the Hip-Hop, Electronic, Funk/Soul, Boogie, Deep House & Latin Jazz scenes. My drummer Ill Atmospherics & I act as house band as we create live experiences on stage, inspired by the eras of P-Funk, Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock." 

"SEANCE @ The Merrow" Event Info HERE
https://www.facebook.com/events/1722272364732254/

RSVP for free HERE.
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=7368025

Mermaid (LUST Re-imagined)

Nes Wordz is a lengendary emcee from Columbus, OH who passed away unexpectedly 2 days ago. He was a genuinely amazing human being in all the ways any of us hope to be. He was a monster on the mic and a freak of nature on stage. I envied everything about his artistry & humanity in all the best ways. He drove me constantly to perform better as an artist and a human, as it seems he did to most everyone else around him.  Nes left nothing on the table in life and on stage. 

"Slow Burn" is an unreleased song from myself & Nes. I'm releasing this because I can't afford to leave anything on the table. I've learned that from him these past 48 hours. This song was unfinished, intended to have a 3rd verse from a 3rd artist, but on the day of his passing I remembered this sitting on my hard drive and felt (and feel) compelled to get his energy out into the world as much as possible. I get into my own head way too much, trying to take some lessons from this man and let go. Thank you Nes. I'm happy we got to share mutual respect for each other's artistry. I'm glad we left nothing on the table in our short but poignant times together. I'm disappointed you'll never reach where you deserved to be in the physical, I'm ecstatic you are no doubt smiling at the love reciprocated back to you. I pray you and your people are OK with this release; it's for the love and for the sport. 

"When's the last time you told a black man you loved him?"
Now.
I love you.
Rest easy.

**EDIT**
GoFundMe is up, please support:
https://www.gofundme.com/nes-wordz-funeral-memorial-fund

RIP Nes Wordz

Slow Burn (Ill Poetic & Nes Wordz)

"I slept in a lot of cars, buses and even a couple NYC subway stations to create this album. Nobody owes me anything for my sacrifices, and I don't deserve success because of them. But I will say that sacrificing for something you truly believe in gives you strength to push longer and harder than most in all avenues of your life. The cousin to survival mode is beast mode; this song embodies both."

"Ill Communication (Get Busy)" is the second single from Ill Poetic's forthcoming album "An idiot's Guide to Anarchy" set to drop on November 21, 2017 via Definition Music as both a digital and 2xLP vinyl release. "Get Busy" will be available on all streaming platforms as well within the week.

Pre-Order "An Idiot's Guide to Anarchy HERE: https://illpoetic.bandcamp.com/album/an-idiots-guide-to-anarchy

Ill Communication (Get Busy)

"Bleach" has a story behind it, and it goes like this: 

Years ago, My friend was at a club with a girl. At the end of the night, the girl was drunk and saw another girl she didn't like and told her to "drink bleach and die". My friend & I both thought this was hilarious, but also appalling. The phrase stuck in my head, and I knew I wanted to make a song that felt equally appalling and hilarious; something that was sort-of a critique on American pop-culture but with the skin of a pop song. But as I started performing the song, people's connections were much more intense and emotional; the song was hitting a raw nerve in people who'd been damaged by others in their life. I started seeing how much deeper this song hit and so it turned into an emotional piece. I'm honestly nervous, scared and excited to put this song and upcoming video out. I've never made a statement or song like this in my career. This is "Bleach".

"Bleach" is the 3rd single from Ill Poetic's "An Idiot's Guide to Anarchy", out this Tuesday November 21 on Definition Music.
Written & produced by Ill Poetic and features amazing guest vocals from The Ingrid Rachel Project. "Bleach" will be available on all streaming platforms this week.

Purchase "An Idiot's Guide to Anarchy" HERE: https://illpoetic.bandcamp.com/album/an-idiots-guide-to-anarchy

Bleach

8:44

Yesterday

Billie Holiday

I haven’t dropped an official album in five years. There were (and are) many times when I assume not too many people care whether I drop another song or album.
Which made me comfortable in the decision to just make what the fuck I want to make.

When people asked me why it took so long, I told them “we’re building our sound and vision so that when we’re all prepared to release music and define our vision, there’d never be an extended break in our output”

…that was part of the reason I haven’t released an album in five years.

The other reason that only a few people knew about had to do with my mom’s health issues. Which created 3 of the most difficult and painful years of our families life.

That’s all I’ll say about that.

I never planned to tell a group of strangers about this part of my life. But then I wrote a song this past Thanksgiving called “Pretzel Logic”. And I liked it a lot, so I decided I’d release it.

“Pretzel Logic” is the name of a Steeley Dan album. That’s the first band my Dad & I bonded over musically. Which is important because he’s been a great father to me & husband to my mom, but the lengths of dedication he went through these past few years for her & our family made me see him as a man I can only hope to be half of if I reach his age. This song is about a lot of things, but mostly it’s for him…

"Pretzel Logic" Free Download

Ill Poetic 'Pretzel Logic'

One of my biggest mistakes a few years ago was caring more about where my music got posted than the genuine responses I got from people.

Which is pretty stupid really. Because 10 people who LOVE & FEEL your music is more effective than 10,000 who skim it briefly w/ no response.

"So Now I Make the Shit I Wanna Make..."

#Autonomy

Produced & Arranged by Ill Poetic. Addt'l vocals by Angelica Lee. Addt'l bass by Terry Cole. Addt'l synth by Dean Hummons, Sr.

Ill Poetic 'Autonomy'

"Culture is Currency (Pt I)" is inspired by my life in Cincinnati, Ohio and San Diego, CA. As a younger white artist in the Ohio hip-hop scene through the 2000s, I've been an unknowing passive participant in gentrification, often a part of the first wave of poor artists looking for a communal space we could collectively afford to create from. As an adult, I watched the cycle repeat itself like a drum loop, learning more and more about each systemic element involved.   
 
"Culture is Currency (Pt I)" grapples with all of this and is especially inspired by my time spent at Beat Box Records in Barrio Logan, a Chicano neighborhood that took decades of shit from the city of San Diego and planted a garden from it. They grew art, culture, community, fierce activism and an autonomous local economy based solely on their heritage and culture and they did it with pride. If I could, I would plant Barrio Logans all over this country and watch them grow like wildflower. 

I've never made a song like this. I've never rapped like this. It took me a long time to articulate and evolve my perspective on systemic racism and gentrification in a way that I would be proud of in 20 years. This song isn't a lead single to anything, but I'm far from through with this concept, as there's so much more to explore. "Culture is Currency" will show itself in a different form down the road. this song is just too dope for me to sit on much longer.   

It's a constant challenge to not only balance both self-improvement and social activism but to see one's social activism AS self-improvement. This record is inspired by visionaries, entrepreneurs and activists who understood this concept both for themselves and their communities. All that said, I snapped on this shit and I need to give it to all of you:  "Culture is Currency (Pt I)".

Produced by Tyonthe Track

Culture is Currency (Pt I)

Culture Is Currency Pt. I (Prod. by Tyonthe Track)

New single from Ill Poetic's latest EP "Synesthesia: The Yellow Movement". 

Produced & Written by Ill Poetic
Additional Vocals: Reggie B, Tyler Francis & Smoov Confusion
Additional Keys & Bass: Dean Hummons, Sr. (SUN)
Trombone & Trumpet: Dean Simms (touring Ohio Players) & Stan Middleton

This song is the centerpiece of our new venture:
A Part of the Art: The "Silhouette" Project

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ill-poetic-silhouette-music-video


Silhouette (f. Reggie B)

Ill Poetic builds upon the success of his 2012 EP "Synesthesia: The Yellow Movement" with the release of the "Synesthesia Yellow" instrumentals. Stripped of all vocals, listeners now have the opportunity to hear a record filled with lush keys, live horns, moog basses, talkbox and other trademarks of Ill Po's Ohio Funk birthplace. 

With an EP built to inspire artists and take listeners on a ride through outer space, the "Synesthesia Yellow" instrumentals are a vital addition to the instrumental scene.

Be Cool (Instrumental)

Portfolio I: As Serious As Your Life

Scrape (Brandon's Theme III)

Lost Words

Owensvsv (Devin's Groove)

Cyan (Brandon's Theme II)

Byrd (ft. Devin Burgess)

Otherworlds

Hip-Hop fans may recognize Ill Poetic as the man behind the boards of Detroit artist Red Pill’s 2016 album “Instinctive Drowning” (Mello Music Group). Praised not only as a powerful and emotional project, Ill Poetic was highlighted by numerous national media outlets for his progressive, boundary-pushing production on the record as well. Those familiar with Ill Po’s career wouldn’t be surprised by these descriptions; he’s built a career unbound by genre, or even industry. 

From his early days of emcee-battling at Cincinnati, Ohio’s famed Top Cats and Scribble Jam, to establishing a career self-producing two solo albums in the late 2000’s, Ill Po became a recognizable name in the underground hip-hop scene and tour circuit. It wasn’t until 2008, when he’d release a mash-up album of Portishead & Joe Budden (“Mood Muzik’s Third”) that his career would elevate beyond the typical rapper/producer narrative. After receiving cosigns from Rolling Stone, as well as both Portishead and Joe Budden Ill Po would go on to release two more successful mash-ups.

The late 2000’s would also bring Ill Poetic into business with manager Micshon Harper, forging a partnership to launch VoiceOfRzn Management & Consulting. This venture would lead to the launch of their team’s multimedia platform, Definition Music, as well as Ill Po’s graphic and sound-design company SoundRzn. This foundation allowed for Ill Po and various accompanying artists, musicians, and film-makers to release their art on a growing but structured platform.

Ill Poetic’s most recent releases, “Synesthesia: The Yellow Movement” (2012) and “The Silhouette Project” (2016) brought him into the world of live instrumentation. After years of studio work with an array of both legendary and up-and-coming musicians, Ill Po brought the live aspect of his music to the stage, joining with legendary Columbus, OH drummer Don Carlos, members of his band Playhouse and various musicians and singers from the Ohio region to create a live show that pulls from hip-hop, drum-and-bass, deep house, electronic, gospel, funk, soul, and jazz.

Bravely undertaking a completely new creative process for each project, Ill Poetic has again meticulously crafted a unique new sound, shedding the typical hip-hop producer aesthetic he was once known for. He continues to evolve, diving flawlessly into rich and layered production, live instrumentation, vocalists, and exciting new songwriting structures.

Backed by this bold and innovative sound, Ill Poetic continues to push his career in fearless new directions, creating music he describes as “a soundtrack to the imagination”.

Ill Poetic

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