Ill Blu (stylized as iLL BLU) are a British record production duo, consisting of James Grant and Darius Ellington-Forde.
Career Ill Blu began their career in 2008 following the release of "Frontline" by Princess Nyah; at the time, the members of Ill Blu went under the names J-Reel and Def1, respectively. Following the release of "Frontline", the two would adopt the name Ill Blu; in an interview, they would note that "iLL" represented the rawness of their beats and "BLU" represented their cool approach to making them.
Following their well received remix of Shystie's 'Pull it' in 2009. iLL BLU quickly became sought after remixers and staples of the UK Funky House sound remixing for the likes of Roll Deep, Cheryl and Hot Chip, amongst many others.
They would go on to cement their underground foundations releasing the "Blu Magic Riddim" and EPs Bellion/Dragon Pop on Kode 9’s Hyperdub and Meltdown on Jackmaster’s Numbers record label, the latter of which was named one of Pitchfork's Top 100 Tracks of 2011.
In 2012, iLL BLU released an EP 'Illusions' on New York House DJ Kerri Chandler Label Madtech.
In 2014, Ill Blu signed to Island Records, releasing 2 EPs The Blu Magic Project & The Blu Oceans Project.
In 2018, iLL BLU signed to RCA. Their first single was "Chop My Money"; it featured Krept & Konan, Loski and ZieZie. The song was successful and was certified Silver by the BPI.
They also produced ZieZie's "Fine Girl", which was certified Platinum by the BPI, and MoStack's "What I Wanna", which was certified Gold that year.
Ill Blu spent a large part of 2019 behind the boards producing for artists such Headie One, Hardy Caprio, C. Tangana, Young T & Bugsey, Not3s & IAMDDB; they also produced Mostack's single "Shine Girl" featuring Stormzy & majority of his debut album Stacko, which peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.
In 2020, the duo released “Magic”, featuring OFB, Bandokay & Double Lz. Blending UK garage and drill, the track samples the motif from Sticky's “Triplets”. "Magic" was certified Silver by the BPI. Following the momentum of “Magic”, they released “Dumpa” featuring M24 & Unknown T, fusing the elements of Drill, UK Garage & Dancehall. The chorus borrows vocals from Vybz Kartel's “Dumpa Truck”.
Following the tragic murder of George Floyd at the police brutality in America, iLL BLU felt compelled to highlight the injustice black people faced when dealing with the police in the UK. In January 2021, Ill Blu released "Routine Check 2.0" featuring The Mitchell Brothers & Sneakbo alongside a documentary; the documentary gave several testimonies regarding racial profiling from black people, including Sneakbo.
On 2 April 2021, Ill Blu released The BLUPRiNT, their debut mixtape, which included features from Wretch 32, MoStack, Donaeo, Jillionaire, Geko, 169, Loick Essien & Aida Lae.
Discography Mixtapes +List of mixtapes, with selected details Title DetailsThe BLUPRiNT Released: 2 April 2021 Label: RCA Records Format: streaming, digital download
EPs +List of EPs, with selected details Title DetailsBellion/Dragon Pop Released: 19 July 2010 Label: Hyperdub Format: 12" vinyl, streaming, digital downloadMeltdown Released: 14 February 2011 Label: Numbers Format: 12" vinyl, streaming, digital downloadClapper Released: 14 May 2012 Label Hyperdub Format: 12" vinyl, streaming, digital downloadIllusions Released: 22 October 2012 Label: Madtech Format: streaming, digital downloadThe BLU Magic ProjectReleased: 30 May 2014 Label: Island Records Format: streaming, digital downloadThe BLU Oceans Project Released: 14 September 2014 Label: Island Records Format: streaming, digital download
Singles + List of singles, with selected peak chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK"Lonely People"(featuring James Morrison)2015— Higher Than Here (Deluxe)"Win or Lose"(featuring Ann Saunderson)2016—rowspan=4 "So Deep"—"Antidote"(featuring Kahlia Bakosi)—"Tribalist (Get to Know)"(featuring Glowie)2017—"Chop My Money"(featuring Krept and Konan, Loski and ZieZie)201864 BPI: SilverThe BLUPRINT"Go Time"(featuring Ay Em, Geko, ZieZie and C.Tangana)2019—"Magic"(featuring OFB, Bandokay and Double Lz)202046 BPI: Silver"Dumpa"(featuring M24 and Unknown T)70"Routine Check 2.0"(featuring The Mitchell Brothers and Sneakbo)2021—"Eyes On Me"(featuring Danny Byrd)2023—Non-Album Singles"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Guest appearances +List of guest appearances, showing song title, year released, other artists and album nameTitleYearArtist(s)Album"Gods Work"2020IAMDDB"Chocolate Darling"2021Poundz, Backroad GeeNo Smoke With Out Fire"Sugar & Spice"2024Dizzee Rascal Don't Take it Personal
Production credits +List of production credits, showing song title, year released, artists, certification and album nameTitleYearArtist(s)Peak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumUKUK R&BSPA"Frontline" 2008Princess Nyah———Diary of a Princess"Big Boys"2009———"Stick Up"Dotstar———"Hooligans"2010Princess Nyah, Ghetts, Griminal———Diary of a Princess"Wave"2011Sneakbo48——BPI: SilverNon-album singles"Zim Zimma"201235——"Ring A Ling"201327——"Ring A Ling" (Remix)Sneakbo, Wiley, Krept & Konan———"Her Name"Sneakbo, L Marshall———"Yolo"Jacob Banks———The Monologue"Move Back"Stylo G81——Non-album single"Oceans 2"2014JP Cooper———Keep The Quiet Out"Dr Who"Tujamo, Plastik Funk, Sneakbo21——Non-album single"Take Me Home"Nick Brewer, Ruby Maze———Warning Light"Talk To Me"2015Nick Brewer, Bibi Bourelly19—— BPI: SilverNon-album single"Colour Trip"Iris Gold———Non-album single"Right Now"2016Sneakbo, MoStack, J Spades———Non-album single"Murder"MoStack, Moelogo———Gangsta Wid Banter"Tool Cool"(Right Here)Sneakbo, Nyla,———Non-album single"Too Cool" RemixSneakbo, Nyla, Popcaan, Beenie Man———Non-album single"Y"Geko, Afro B———Non-album single"Liar Liar"MoStack——— BPI: SilverNon-album single"Liar Liar" RemixMoStack, Krept & Konan, J Hus———‘Whats That (Its A Monsta)"Young T & Bugsey———Non-album single"Let It Ring"2017MoStack———Non-album single"Drunk On You"Geko———Lionheart"Let Go"———"You Aint Mine"Kyla, Popcaan———Non-album single"Ussy Ussy"MoStack———High Street Kid"I Like It"———"Explore Ya"MoStack, Krept———"What I Wanna"2018MoStack31—— BPI: GoldStacko"Fine Girl"Zie Zie——— BPI: PlatinumNon-album singles"Sensei"——— BPI: Silver"Persian"———"Litness"MoStack74——Non-album singles"Got"Not3s———Take Notes II"Living Gravy"Young T & Bugsey, Not3s———Non-album single"Shine Girl"2019MoStack, Stormzy134— BPI: SilverStacko"Stinkin Rich"MoStack, Dave, J Hus199—"Make Me Fall In Love"MoStack, Dolapo———"Respect & Love"MoStack—33—"Girl Diary"—39—"Rock with You"———"Take Em Down"———"Home"Headie One———Music x Road"Pronto Llegara"C. Tangana, Darell——41Non-album single"Rotate (Clockwise)"Rak-Su———Non-album single"Sponsored"Hardy Caprio70——Non-album single"Cages 2 Stages"Tion Wayne———T Waynes World 3"Famous"IAMDDB———Non-album singles"Gods Work"2020———"More Than Me"Young T and Bugsey———Plead The 5th"Staqdo"MoStack54——Non-album single‘Signs"Aida Lae———Non-album single"Chocolate Darling"2021Poundz, Backroad Gee———"No Smoke Without Fire""Dennis Rodman"Blanco———City of God"Sugar & Spice"2023Dizzee Rascal———Don't Take It Personal"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Remixes Year Title Artist 2009 'Pull It' Shystie "Trippin'" Platnum "Battle Cry" Shontelle"Gotta Have It"MJ Cole"Watching Her Move"Donaeo"Boxes & Locks"Mpho 2010 "Good Times" (featuring Jodie Connor) Roll Deep "Greenlight" "Parachute" Cheryl "I Feel Better" Hot Chip"Standing In The Shadows"Craig David"OMG"Sabrina Washington"Woman World" (featuring Mz Brat & Sadia Ama)Selah"Are You Gonna Bang"Funky Dee2012"What Can You Do for Me"Utah Saints2014 "Bang Bang" (featuring Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj) Jessie J "Like I Can" Sam Smith "Kisses For Breakfast" (featuring Popcaan) Melissa Steel2015"Only Human"Cheryl "Mami No Like" Donaeo 2017 "One Way" (featuring Noah Cyrus) One Bit"One Chance To Dance" (featuring Joe Jonas)Naughty Boy "No Good For Me" (featuring Jeremih, Yungen & Not3s) ADP 2018Photographs (featuring Rag'n' Bone Man)Professor Green "Baby" (featuring Kid Ink, Maleek Berry, RAY BLK) Yogi"Tracksuit Love"(featuring Headie One)Kenny Allstar"Will Smith" (featuring Not3s)Geko2019 "Simmer" (featuring Burna Boy) Mahalia2020"Seen it All"Everyone You Know
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