iLLPHONiCS is a rare find. The experimental outfit is the kind of elusive group that can make a crowd both dance and think. Using a soulful concoction of hard-hitting and real lyrics wrapped around a symphony of authentic jazzy bass lines, sharp drums, clean guitars, ever-evolving keys, and three-part vocal harmonies, this Missouri collective is more than a band, it’s an identity.
For the past decade they’ve honed their sound on the backs of live performances across the country where they’ve shared the stage with artists like The Roots, RJD2, and Lupe Fiasco which has put them in front of thousands of listeners where they’ve held their attention from first note until the last. On their new single for “96to99,” the group celebrates the golden age of hip-hop that gave birth to an entire generation of inspiration that in many ways, still defines popular music today.
The group’s newest offering, Gone With The Trends, is their 5th studio album and arguably their most mature, cohesive offering yet. According to vocalist Larry “Fallout” Morris, “the focus was on making music the way that we’ve always made it because we’ve always been into music since we were little.” After a decade on the scene and seeing multiple trends come and go, the group was determined to make music that “will be relevant no matter what’s popular or what’s not tomorrow.”
