Illaj
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Illaj

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"Unsigned Hype (Illaj and Mickey Vegaz)"



Portland, Oregon may be best known as the International show Mecca thanks to Nike and Adidas having headquarters there. But there’s a vibrant rap scene in the city that ranges from street-certified (Cool Nutz, Bosko) to backpacker (Lifesavas). Among the rising acts in this virtually untapped talent pool is the gifted duo of Illaj & Mikey Vagas, who have the potential to extend the Pacific Northwest’s reach, much as Sir Mix A Lot did about twenty years ago. That’s because much of the duo’s music veers in a commercial direction, but contains plenty of thump, energy and edge thanks to Illaj’s wide-ranging production.

The reflective “I Know You See Me” features the duo flowing about their rise from the streets to success. On the harder side of things, the duo takes it to the boulevard for the “Dope Game” and details their floss skill on the mesmerizing “Fire.” Other notable cuts include the undulating “80s Girls,” which echoes Jay-Z, Michael Jackson and the Neptunes. The tune’s playful, innocent vibe makes it smooth enough for main-stream radio, but the pair’s Keak da Sneak-like hushed delivery gives it a demeanor that will surely appeal to the hyphy scene.

The duo’s range is one of its strong points, as they seamlessly shift between sounds and moods without losing musical potency. With a variety of commercially viable styles, Illaj & Mikey Vagas show that they’ve got the kind of potential that should have labels salivating.

-Soren Baker
- Source Magazine


"Illaj, “Use Your Heart,” What Would Picasso Do? (Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes)"

Local MC Illaj (Adam Lewis) and DJ Automaton (Vera Domini, formerly of Portland dance-metal outfit Swan Island) have each had their own romantic hip-hop histories with the city of roses. The two met as teenagers while attending The North West Academy of the Arts, Portland’s prestigious performing arts high school located downtown (where a dozen other talented Portlanders that include Illaj’s brother Malcom Lewis and classical-pop fusion artist Esperanza Spalding also attended school) and while they were both creative types, never crossed paths artistically. Until now. “We were both doing different things back then and just recently ran into each other again. I asked him to drop his new mixtape (What Would Picasso Do?, backed by Portland-centered Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes) at my party,” Domini explained via phone from her day gig at the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls, where she’s the head girl in charge of the camp’s hip-hop wing. The North West Academy is where Automaton first flirted with turntables and beat-matching and where Lewis created his Ill Waters project; a youthful, visionary album that’s still whispered about today in hip-hop circles.

The two will grace one stage tomorrow (Friday, April 24th) at Rotture, where Automaton hosts her monthly dance party, Limited Edition. In addition to playing Illaj’s instrumentals from his Picasso mixtape for him to rhyme over, she’ll be cutting the set up with blended in popular top 40 hip-hop beats from Lil’ Jon, Crime Mob and MIMS. Illaj is excited. “This event will be a fusion of two different social networks. We’re taking a step to break down those barriers”, he explains. He also offers that “we’ll be popping champagne bottles and Pabst tabs and wearing checkered pants and bedazzled sequence half-shirts like it’s a Massive soiree” to pay homage to the hip(ster)-hop crowd collaboration.

Happy, hyper and hyphy most of the time, Lewis is gifting the good citizens of Local Cut an MP3 choice track from his mixtape. Titled, “Use Your Heart”, it’s a fairly good example of what Illaj is up to these days which is slick production in quality studios birthing radio-single ready pop-hop songs about girls, glitteratti, gizmos, gin and the good life. Enjoy! And if, “Use Your Heart” isn’t enough, head to Lewis’ website for the entire enchilada.

- Sara Moskovitz - Willamette Weekly


Discography

From most recent: What Would Picasso Do? the Mixtape, Illaj and Mikey Vegaz: FLI ROCK the Album, 80's Girls the Mixtape, etc.

Photos

Bio

Even before attending the NW High School Academy of Arts and Music in Portland, OR, I was developing my ear and love for hip hop. With an accomplished jazz musician brother, I grew up around jazz and classical sounds and learned how to play the (INSTRUMENT YOU KNOW) fluently. Being able to read and write music has helped me immensely in being able to make a melody I hear in my head a reality once in the studio. I understand word play, the power of catchy choruses and how to write songs that speak to dance floor club life, relationship ballads and mainstream radio. I understand the business side of the music industry and am able to take a participatory role in managing, networking and promoting for myself. I am a dynamic personality which allows me to talk with people, engage in the community and figure out what people are wanting to hear from a hip hop artist.