When the time is right, illfigure plans to slow his roll and delve deeper into each release, further expanding the intricacies of each track and incorporating more features. His recent 17-track EP Mindful But Inactive seems to be a foreshadowing of what this more meticulous methodology will bring. With a plethora of potential projects he's primed to employ, the future looks promising for illfigure. Read on to learn more about the development of illfigure's creative process, his experience working within the Left Field Theory, and the forthcoming cassette release of Mindful But Inactive.
OK-Tho:
What are your inspirations both within and without hip hop?
illfigure:
I could name a lot of things I'm inspired by off the top but the main source of inspiration I'd have to say is life in general. Whether I'm out doing things, watching something on TV, hanging with my friends or family and creating music/art or looking at it, whatever it may be I'm just infatuated with life and the whole experience of it.
OK-Tho:
What are you looking to get out of your music?
illfigure:
Ever since I started taking this more seriously I think I've really been digging deeper within myself somehow. I love the feeling of getting some frustration off my back by making tunes so basically I'm just looking to get deeper and more experimental with it. Hopefully, people stick around for the ride and once I get the resources I need I think ill make something very personal/special. I plan to spend more time on a project when the time is right.
OK-Tho:
What about your past work do you think will improve as a result of spending more time on a given project?
illfigure:
I have a lot of ideas already pre-planned in my head just tucked away for when the time is right. Lately, I've been connecting with more and more great hidden talents and with good timing I can get together with them to do more. I think that getting together with other people is something that the listeners like. My usual output of projects don't often feature other artists. So basically more layers and more features that people enjoy.
OK-Tho:
Describe the path that led to your decision to become a Hip-Hop producer.
illfigure:
I guess you could just say it was unexpected to have made it my main focus because I started off as just being an emcee many years ago. Over time I found that my true love was in the beats.
OK-Tho:
Why did you elect to label yourself an emcee and not a rapper?
illfigure:
I was in no shape or form of a rapper lol. Plus I was always into the essence of true hip hop. Kicking raw ass freestyles over hard sampled beats with "lyrical (if you will) content."
OK-Tho:
So you were a legitimate emcee in the traditional sense. Thats dope. What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
illfigure:
Yessir, but that's not my forte haha... but I'm happy with what I am today. My greatest accomplishment or accomplishment(s) to-date would have to be all the latest tapes I've been dropping. Mindful But Inactive (which featured many great talents) has been getting a ton of recognition which I am thankful for and, it will be dropping as a limited-run of 35 cassette tapes. 25 regulars, 10 limited. Morning Glory dropped on the Left Field Theory Bandcamp which featured the homies Blue November & Alfonso X and lastly I had an amazing show in Allston the other day. So many things to name lately.
OK-Tho:
Tell me more about the creative process behind your EP Mindful But Inactive and the decision to release a limited run of cassettes.
illfigure:
It was a lot of fun making the tracks. With that tape I just wanted to have something out that the small community of upcoming artists can enjoy. So I would dig a record out or make something from scratch and send it off to someone who I thought would fit well on it. It was basically a lot of sending back and forth and building/vibing to the tracks themselves. Everyone was just in it, I'm very proud of it. It started off as a real EP, 4 or so tracks, but then it turned into much more. And as for the limited run, I didn't expect it but I got hit up through Bandcamp to work out a limited run of cassettes and I'm very pleased with it & how it's coming about. s/o to Jeremy Cujo.
OK-Tho:
You also mentioned Left Field Theory, what’s up with those guys? How you got involved with them?
illfigure:
Those my bros. Its a long story but basically we were in a temple with hoods on around a fire, when I got jumped in by the gang leader...then he yelled "YOU IN FOO!" haha joking but we basically shared mutual love for each other's music and now we build every day. There's a lot of talented muhfuckas in the theory. We like death, you don't want it to come but its still gonna be there no matter what.
OK-Tho:
Hahah, I kind of wish that was how it really went down. How does the collaborative process work within the Theory?
illfigure:
Honestly man, me too...but our collaborative process is beautiful. We have a good communication with each and every member. We keep in touch every day and there's a good majority of us so basically everyone's always plotting to work on something then we just bang it out. Everyone sees the bigger picture and it's amazing. I'm glad I know these dudes.
OK-Tho:
Top Five Albums?
illfigure:
Please dont make me do this man... PLEASE NO. lol fuck...I'll just say Madvillainy, Donuts, Malibu by Anderson Paak, Until The Quiet Comes by Flying Lotus & a tie between anything from Hiatus Kaiyote or The Internet.
OK-Tho:
Haha sorry, its a must ask. Walk us through your process of making a beat.
illfigure:
It's different literally every time or I at least try to do something new every time I go to make a beat. I'll hear something I like and want to chop it up whether it be a vinyl record or something I come across online or I play synths/keys from scratch. Maybe I'll just play something and chop it up. Just always different, I love switching it up.
OK-Tho:
Favorite track you’ve produced?
illfigure:
They're all my sons... but probably the track entitled "limitluss" featuring the homie Ny Odus off Mindful But Inactive. He played trumpet on it and, Oh man it's just beautiful. Plus it is an-insight on what I plan to do in the future with artists.
OK-Tho:
You’re about to drop your 40th beat tape. That’s a lot of beats. How the fuck did you make 40 beat tapes? What makes this beat tape unique?
illfigure:
Yessir, I don't even think a lot of people realize lol. I forget sometimes too... I'm just always working on music, everyone around me knows that's my main focus so they don't even trip when I'm working on something. Doesn't take long usually anyhow. I work fast but not intentionally, I just don't want to lose the feeling I felt at that moment of creating. I'm sticking by my thoughts and ideas and I'm gonna see where it takes me. I do this for my own health you know and, this next one dropping is going to be unique because I'm gonna be messing around with more sounds from the 80s.
OK-Tho:
If someone wanted to get an idea of your sound but could only listen to three of your tracks, which tracks should they listen to?
illfigure:
Listen to any 3 tracks on that tape and I think they'll have a good idea of what I do. Listen closely to the beat of the opening track featuring the homie Nelson. That sample flip is crazy I surprised myself.
OK-Tho:
It says on your SoundCloud that you are a visual artist in addition to being a beatsmith.
Two questions: Do you sell your visual art anywhere? What is the difference between beatsmithing and producing?
illfigure:
I don't usually sell any of the art. It's just something I do for my own cover art or for other purposes. It's just another fun thing to dabble in besides music. And I don't believe there is a real difference but I feel like a beatsmith is someone who some may consider to be too consistent with it haha.
OK-Tho:
what do you mean too consistent?
illfigure:
some people in the past have voiced their opinion about it but some feel that some producers drop too many beats and over-sample. I personally don't care. I drop a project a week if I want. No announcements.
OK-Tho:
Yeah, it's best to just do you. I do feel like you alluded to taking more time with each release in the future. I'm excited to see what comes of that. But I also hear what you are saying about just getting in a vibe and banging a project out. Some of the tracks on Mindful But Inactive don’t feature anyone. Is that because they were never intended to have vocals? How do tracks that you plan to have vocals on differ from those that you don't?
illfigure:
I'm very excited too. I do intend to slow the output one day once I feel like I have a good enough following. Sit back and make something special for myself and the listeners. And I'll be honest a few of them were planned to originally feature other artists but it's alright they'll be on future projects. And sometimes I have a beat that I feel doesn't need vocals or other times artists really like the beats but they cant find the right way to flow to it so I try to not force things and keep everything organic.
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