ILLA STYLES “THE BALANCE” BRINGS OUT A NEW LEVEL OF INTIMACY

Richmond’s Illa Styles is seasoned in this game we call hip-hop. He’s done a lot, seen a lot, and experienced the highs and lows of the industry from the early 2000’s through today’s iteration of the culture. He’s is sharing a lot of his knowledge, and his life’s most intimate moments on his new 7-track project The Balance.

Known more for his gritty, East Coast lyric-driven, content, The Balance is much more personal in its content. The album, which runs just about 30 minutes, has more of a purpose – and is delivered in a more direct style than Illa’s previous release Art Imitates Life, a talented body of work that was truly slept-on by most mainstream media outlets. On The Balance, Illa opens up about his most personal relationship – the one between him and his daughter, and his journey to manhood on the tracks “Unconditional” and “Where Would I Be.” In many ways, the entire album feels like a true form of therapy for a maturing and evolving black man in 2018.

Richmond MC Radio B and ArtLove joined Illa on the head-nodding “Gold Oil & Drugz” which is modeled after the popular dancehall hit “No Letting Go” by Wayne Wonder.  It’s the album’s most commercial single, and yet Illa flips the script – in a genius way – by speaking about the institutional wrongs that make up America.

“Heart of the City” is the pulse of The Balance. It’s the song that frames the entire project and it’s where you learn what the album title The Balance really means. Backed by a Musiq Soulchild “Halfcrazy” sample, the song paints a vivid picture of the work Illa has put in – so that – he can bridge the path forward through his music.

Not every artist can make an album like The Balance; not every artist has the life-experience and ability to paint the pictures needed to clearly express the vision. Illa expresses the vision of the album well – and in a concise manner – with no wasted energy. This may not be the album you want to hear for pure entertainment, but it’s the album you should hear so that you can pick up on game. It’s not quite 4:44 but’s definitely Illa’s grown-man album.

The Balance is available on all streaming platforms. #WESEEIT