Introduce yourself. Who are you? Where are you from? What is your background / nationality?

I AM “ILL MAT” I’M A VERY GIFTED, PASSIONATE, HUNGRY, AND DEDICATED HIP-HOP ARTIST. I’M FROM MIAMI “DADE COUNTY”. MORE SPECIFICALLY A SMALL HOOD CALLED “GOULDS”, WE LIKE TO CALL IT G-TOWN!!! GOULDS IS DEEP DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA ” WAY DOWN IN THE JUNGLE DEEP”. I AM A VERY PROUD AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN.

How did you get your Artist name?

I GOT MY NAME FROM MY “OL BOY”(DAD). WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I REALLY WANTED TO PICK A SOLID NAME THAT REPRESENTED ME. I DIDN’T WANT TO BET CALLED “LIL MAT” THOUGH I NEVER WANTED TO BE ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH ANYTHING “LITTLE”. I WANTED TO BE A BIG DEAL! I WANTED OTHER PEOPLE TO FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT ME. SO MY OL BOY FLIPPED “LIL MAT” INTO “ILL MAT”…… I DIDN’T LIKE IT AT FIRST, BUT IT SOON GREW ON ME AND I GREW INTO IT AS WELL… NOW EVERYBODY CALLS ME “ILLY”. I LOVE MY NAME NOW. “APPRECIATE THAT POPS”.

What motivated you to get into Music?

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A THING FOR MUSIC. IT’S IN MY BLOOD, MY WHOLE FAMILY LOVES MUSIC. THAT LOVE OF MUSIC REALLY TRICKLED DOWN INTO MY SOUL. NOW MUSIC IS MY THERAPY, MY ESCAPE, MY PERSONAL CREATION. I KNEW I COULD BECOME GREAT AT MAKING MUSIC AT A YOUNG AGE AND EVERYONE AROUND ME RECOGNIZED MY GIFT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MOTIVATED BY THE THOUGHT OF CREATING SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO. I FEEL LIKE MY MUSIC IS AN EXTENSION OF OTHER PEOPLES EXPRESSIONS. I’M JUST ARTICULATING IT FOR THEM SO MY WORDS REALLY RESONATES WITH PEOPLE.

What makes you unique / stand out as an Artist compared to the rest?

I AM VERY PASSIONATE AND GENUINE ABOUT THE THINGS I SAY IN MY MUSIC, I DON’T SOUND OR LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER ARTIST. I AM VERY VERSATILE, I CAN MAKE ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT MUSIC. I’M JUST MADE FROM A DIFFERENT MATERIAL THAN MOST ARTIST.

Let our readers know some of the names of people you have worked with.

HAVE WORKED WITH BRISCO, MIKE SMIFF, D-SHEP, BLOCK BEZZLE, RICHIE-D, OP, BUBBA JR, AND MORE…. THE THING I APPRECIATE THE MOST ABOUT EACH OF THESE ARTIST IS THEIR PASSION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP AS WELL WE ARE ALL SERIOUS ABOUT THIS “HIP-HOP THANG”.

What are somethings you would like to achieve and why?

I WOULD LIKE TO STOP HAIR AND MAKE A LIVING SOLELY FROM MY MUSIC AND ANYTHING MUSIC RELATED. I HAVE BIG PLANS FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE DON’T EVEN KNOW I’M TALKING ABOUT THEM. BUT THEY’LL BE BLESSED BECAUSE THEY DESERVE IT. SO I HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY DOING THIS, BECAUSE I WANT TO BREAK THE MOLD.

What are some past achievement worth mentioning?

GHETTO POPE!!! THE MOST SLEPT ON ALBUM IN THE WORLD. GO LISTEN TO IT RIGHT NOW!!!!

On a personal level, how would you describe yourself in detail?

COOL AS HELL” VERY HUMBLE AND DOWN TO EARTH, I’M VERY LOYAL AND RESPECTFUL, I’M VERY RESPECTED. I LIKE TO KICK IT AND JOKE AROUND AND LAUGH WITH PEOPLE I LOVE. BUT I AM FEROCIOUSLY SERIOUS WHEN I NEED TO BE. I AM VERY HARDWORKING PERSON, I AM MY BIGGEST CRITIC, I AM A GREAT FATHER. I DON’T PLAY ABOUT MY KIDS. I’M NOT TOO FOND OF NEW PEOPLE BEING AROUND ME. BUT I GOT LOVE FOR EVERYBODY. I LIKE TO HAVE FUN EVERYDAY, AND I’M THE BEST RAPPER IN THE WORLD

What is your latest single? What are you working on?

GUNNA!!!! MY SMASH HIT FROM MY LATEST PROJECT “MASK OFF” NOW STREAMING ON ALL MUSIC PLATFORMS. GO LISTEN AS SOON AS THE INTERVIEW OVER. I’M CURRENTLY WORKING ON MORE MUSIC AND VISUALS TO TAKE OVER 2020

In this music industry, what is something you learned the hard way?

WHATEVER YOU THINK IS ENOUGH, REALLY IS NOT ENOUGH ! YOU HAVE TO STAY CONSISTENT, KEEP FEEDING YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT YOUR TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. RE-INVENT YOURSELF, RE-BRAND YOURSELF, LEARN TO IMPROVISE IN ANY SITUATION TO MAKE THE BEST FROM ANY AND EVERY SITUATION. TRAIN YOURSELF TO PERSEVERE THROUGH ADVERSITY AND SETBACKS, STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR GOALS, MAKE DEADLINES AND MEET THEM!!! MAKE THE NECESSARY SACRIFICES WHEN SHIT GETS HARD YOU GOTTA FIND A WAY TO FIGHT HARDER. NO EXCUSES!! KEEP YOUR TEAM STRONG AND YOU’LL KEEP YOUR DREAM STRONG. CHALLENGE YOURSELF DON’T HANG AROUND “YES MEN”. THE TRUTH HURTS BUT IT MAKES YOU STRONGER AND IT HELPS YOU GROW MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU HAVE GENUINE LOVE, AND BELIEF IN YOU. MAKE SURE THEY WORK JUST AS HARD IF NOT HARDER THAN YOU.

How long have you been doing music? What got you into Music?

I HAVE BEEN DOING MUSIC A VERY LONG TIME. EVER SINCE I WAS 8 YRS OLD. BUT THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS I’VE EVER BEEN. THANKS TO MY NEW MENTALITY AND MY TEAM. MY BROTHER ACTUALLY CREATED THE FIRE I HAVE INSIDE ME TODAY. WHEN WE WERE KIDS WE USE TO FREESTYLE AND EVERYONE HAD A BETTER RESPONSE TO HIM RAPPING THAN THEY DID WHEN I WAS RAPPING. SO THAT FUELED ME TO WORK HARDER EVERYDAY, BECAUSE HE WAS JUST NATURALLY BETTER THAN ME AT THE TIME. I LOVE HIM TO DEATH FOR THAT!

In 5 years, where do you see yourself in the music industry and why?

IN 5 YEARS I WILL BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ARTIST IN THE WORLD. GOD HAS GIFTED ME WITH A TREMENDOUS ABILITY TO MAKE PEOPLE LISTEN. SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN. I’M GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. ODDLY FOR A LONG TIME I DON’T THINK I REALLY BELIEVED IN MY OWN CAPABILITIES 100%, FOR PERSONAL REASONS. NOW I BELIEVE WHOLE HEARTILY THAT I HAVE THE TOTAL PACKAGE AND THAT I CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!

Who were some music influences you listened to while growing up? What do you remember when you think about them?

TRICK DADDY, UNCLE LUKE, DMX, NO LIMIT, 2PAC, BIGGIE, HOT BOYS, RICK ROSS, 50 CENT, OUTKAST, T.I, ETC….. THINKING ABOUT IT IN HINDSIGHT, THEIR MUSIC REALLY PAINTED MENTAL PICTURES FOR ME. SO WHEN I HEAR THEIR MUSIC TODAY THAT I GREW UP ON , IT TAKES ME BACK TO CERTAIN MEMORIES. IT FEELS LIKE I’M TIME TRAVELING IN A SENSE.

To close out for your current and future fans, what are some last words and shout outs you want to give?

WHEN LIFE IS HARD YOU GOTTA FIGHT HARDER …. THANK YOU TO ALL MY FUTURE FANS AND THANK YOU EVEN MORE TO MY CURRENT FANS AND SUPPORTERS FOR STANDING BEHIND ME AND WATCHING ME GROW ON MY JOURNEY, THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THIS GIFT. THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE WILL POWER TO KEEP GOING AFTER EVERY FAILURE AND LOSS I’VE TOOK. I LOVE WHO LOVE ME !!! IF YOU DON’T LOVE ME, THE FEELINGS MUTUAL. MOB SOCIETY IS IN THE BUILDING . DOWN SOUTH WE IN THE BUILDING. G-TOWN WE IN THE BUILDING!!!!!!! I’M OUTTA HERE . LOVE 100

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