Illy (rapper)
Alasdair David George Murray (born 6 September 1986), professionally known as Illy, is an Australian rapper from Ormond, Victoria. Illy first emerged onto the hip hop scene in 2009 and has released five studio albums and has won multiple ARIA Music Awards.[1] Illy has performed at many Australian music festivals including headline spots at Groovin the Moo, Splendour in the Grass, Spilt Milk and Yours and Owls.
Illy | |
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Illy at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Alasdair David George Murray |
Born | Ormond, Victoria, Australia | 6 September 1986
Genres | Australian hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
Years active | 2009–present |
Labels |
|
Website | illyal |
Early life
Alasdair David George Murray was born on 6 September 1986[2][3] in Ormond, Melbourne, Australia.[4]
Career
2009–2011: Long Story Short and The Chase
Before his solo career, Illy was a member of Crooked Eye, but opted to leave the group.
Illy released his first album, Long Story Short in 2009.[5][6][7] Long Story Short reached No. 24 on the ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums chart[8] and the lead single, "Pictures", was placed on national rotation on Triple J.[9] In April 2010, Illy embarked on his first national headlining tour, playing 12 dates nationally.[10] In September the same year, Illy toured nationally alongside Australian rappers 360 and Skryptcha for "The Three Up Tour".[11] Illy featured on the track "Take It from Me" on producer M-Phazes' 2010 debut album Good Gracious.
In 2010, Illy released the singles "The Chase" and "Cigarettes" and in October 2010, released his second studio album The Chase. The Chase peaked at number 25 on the ARIA Charts. The album's third single, "It Can Wait" became Illy's first charting single on the Australian Singles Chart, peaking at number fifty-eight. In February 2011, Illy embarked on his 14-date nationwide "The Chase Tour", with special guest M-Phazes. In October 2011, "It Can Wait" was certified Gold by ARIA after selling 35,000 copies.[12] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2011 The Chase was nominated for the ARIA Award for Best Urban Album.
2012–15: Bring It Back and Cinematic
In May 2012, Illy released "Heard It All", the lead single from his third studio album.[13] In September 2012, Illy released his third album, Bring It Back, which peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Charts.[14] Illy described the album as a "passion project" and a "tribute" to the Australian hip hop scene. A 24-date nationwide tour supported the release, with Australian hip-hop producer Chasm and Skryptcha as support acts.[15]
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, Bring It Back won Illy his first ARIA Music Award, winning ARIA Award for Best Urban Album.[16] In September 2013, Illy left Obese Records to set up his own label, ONETWO records, and signed South Australian hip hop artist Allday.[17][18]
In November 2013, Illy released his fourth studio album, Cinematic. The album debuted at number 4 on the ARIA Charts. In March 2014, the album's fourth single "Tightrope" became Illy's first top 20 single, peaking at number 18.
2016–present: Two Degrees and sixth studio album
In July 2016, Illy released "Papercuts", featuring Vera Blue, which peaked at number 2 on the ARIA charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2016, the song was nominated for four awards. In October 2016, Illy released "Catch 22" featuring Anne-Marie, which peaked at number 11 on the ARIA charts. In November 2016, Illy released his fifth studio album, Two Degrees which debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA charts.[19] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2017, the album was nominated for three awards. "You Say When" and "Oh My" were released as singles in 2017. Illy toured the album and won ARIA Award for Best Australian Live Act at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017.
On 24 May 2019, Illy released "Then What"; his first new release in 2 years.[20] Singles "Codes" and "Lean on Me" followed in 2019. On 13 February 2020, Illy released "Last Laugh"[21]
On 22 May 2020, Australian radio station Triple J premiered a new song by Illy titled "Parmas In June", created as part of a COVID-19 self-isolation musical challenge nicknamed Quarantune.[22]
Discography
- Long Story Short (2009)
- The Chase (2010)
- Bring It Back (2012)
- Cinematic (2013)
- Two Degrees (2016)
- The Space Between (2021)[23][24]
Awards
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
AIR Awards of 2011[25][26] | "It Can Wait" | Best Independent Single/EP | Nominated |
The Chase | Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album | Nominated | |
AIR Awards of 2013[27] | Bring it Back | Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album | Nominated |
APRA Awards
The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards of 2017 (generally known as APRA Awards) are an annual awards ceremony to award outstanding achievements in contemporary songwriting, composing and publishing. Illy has won three awards from eight nominations.[28][29][30]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | "On and On" | Urban Work of the Year | Nominated |
"Youngbloods" | Urban Work of the Year | Nominated | |
2015 | "Tightrope" (featuring Scarlett Stevens) | Urban Work of the Year | Won |
2017 | "Papercuts" (featuring Vera Blue) | Urban Work of the Year | Won |
2018 | "Catch 22" (featuring Anne-Marie) | Urban Work of the Year | Won |
"Oh My" (featuring Jenna McDougall) | Urban Work of the Year | Nominated | |
2020 | "Exit Sign" (Hilltop Hoods featuring Illy and Ecca Vandal) | Most Performed Urban Work of the Year | Nominated |
"Then What" | Most Performed Urban Work of the Year | Nominated |
ARIA Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Illy has won two trophies from nineteen nominations.[31][32]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Lost to |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | The Chase | Best Urban Album | Nominated | Drapht - The Life Of Riley |
2013 | Bring it Back | Best Urban Album | Won | N/A |
2014 | Cinematic | Best Urban Album | Nominated | Hilltop Hoods - Walking Under Stars |
2016 | "Papercuts" | Best Male Artist | Nominated | Flume - Skin |
Best Pop Release | Nominated | Flume - "Never Be Like You" | ||
Song of the Year | Nominated | Troye Sivan - "Youth" | ||
Best Video | Nominated | Troye Sivan - "Youth" | ||
Engineer of the Year | Nominated | Flume - Skin | ||
Producer of the Year | Nominated | Flume - Skin | ||
2017 | Two Degrees | Album of the Year | Nominated | Gang Of Youths - Go Farther In Lightness |
Best Male Artist | Nominated | Paul Kelly - Life Is Fine | ||
Best Urban Album | Nominated | A.B.Original - Reclaim Australia | ||
"You Say When" | Best Video | Nominated | Bliss N Eso - Moments | |
"Catch 22" | Song of the Year | Nominated | Peking Duk - "Stranger" | |
The Two Degrees Tour | Best Australian Live Act | Won | N/A | |
2019 | Then What | Best Hip Hop Release | Nominated | Sampa The Great - "Final Form" |
"Exit Sign"(with Hilltop Hoods and Ecca Vandal) | Best Video | Nominated | Guy Sebastian - "Choir" | |
2020 | "Last Laugh" | Hip Hop Release | Nominated | Sampa The Great - The Return |
"Exit Sign"(with Hilltop Hoods and Ecca Vandal) | Song of the Year | Nominated | "5 Seconds Of Summer - "Teeth" |
J Award
The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
J Awards of 2014[33] | "One for the City" | Australian Video of the Year | Nominated |
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards is an award presented by Viacom International Media Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017[34] | himself | Best Australian Act | Nominated |
References
- "Aria Awards". ariaawards.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- "Illy on Facebook: "Haha, jesus, look at my wall!!! Thank you guys. 25 was the best year of my life, and you guys played a bigger part in that than you'll probably ever realise. You lot mean the world to me, really. So thank you, I'm humbled by the love, I swear it's reciprocated, and I'm going to try and make 26 even better. New album before I'm 27 – crossed heart promise. Catch you at a show, we will drink to the good times! LOVE ILLY AL MURRAY xo"". 6 September 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2020 – via Facebook.
- "Rapper Illy spends his birthday in Howard Springs quarantine". The Daily Telegraph. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020. (subscription required)
- "Illy – The Chase Tour Interview". Girl.
- 3D World, 25 March 2009 Illy – Licensed To Ill by Matt Unicomb
- Stonnington Leader, 10 June 2009, "Keep-it-simple Illy hip hopping to quality"
- Hobart Mercury, 13 August 2009 "Illy communication"
- "ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles". ARIA. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
- "hitlist (by artist): triple j music". ABC. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
- "Illy – Pictures 2010 Tour + New Acoustic CD". All Aussie Hip-Hop. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- "Illy – The Chase (Initial Details) + The Three Up Tour". All Aussie Hip-Hop. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- "Illy Goes ARIA Gold!". All Aussie Hip-Hop. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- "Heard it all by Illy @ J Play". J Play. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- ""Bring It Back", Illy". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- "Bring It Back Tour Announced for August/September!!!". IllyAl.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
- "Aria Awards / 2013 Best Urban Album". Aria Awards. AUSTRALIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION. 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- Paul Cashmere (28 September 2013). "Illy Launches Label And Signs Allday". Noise11. Noise11. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- "ILLY, TUKA, ALLDAY & ELEMONT – HOW FAR". Illy Official Website. Illy Official Website. October 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- "Illy ARIA chart Debut".
- "SOTD: Illy answers the question, 'Then What'?". The Music Network. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- "Spotify – Illy – Last Laugh".
- "Illy's Quarantune is a longing ode to having a parma at the pub". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- Fuamoli, Sose (17 July 2020). "First Spin: Illy shares G Flip collab "Loose Ends", teases new album". ABC. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- "I had a finished album in March, due to release in May. Then September. Then October 24. Now next year". twitter. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- "Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced". tonedeaf. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- "Urban Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- "Urban Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- "Urban Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- "Aria Awards".
- "And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To…". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- "The J Award 2014". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- "MTV EMAs 2017: Rita Ora sported a dressing gown on red carpet in London". news.com.au. 13 November 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2020.