View source for Ill Bill

{{Short description|American rapper and record producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Ill Bill
| image             = Ill Bill.jpg
| caption           = Ill Bill in 2006
| birth_name        = William Braunstein
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1972|7|14}}
| birth_place       = [[New York City]], U.S.
| alias             = 
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[rap metal]]|[[death metal]]}}
| occupation        = {{hlist|[[Rapper]]|[[record producer]]}}
| years_active      = 1986–present
| label             = {{hlist|Uncle Howie (1998–present)|{{nowrap|[[Psycho+Logical-Records|Psycho+Logical]] (1999–2005)}}|Fatbeats}}
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Non Phixion]]|Circle Of Tyrants|[[Secret Society (band)|Secret Society]]|[[La Coka Nostra]]|[[Heavy Metal Kings]]}}
| website           = {{URL|illbill.com}}
}}

'''William Braunstein''' (born July 14, 1972), professionally known by his [[stage name]] '''Ill Bill''', is an American rapper and record producer from [[Brooklyn]], New York City. Having gained fame in the [[underground hip hop]] group [[Non Phixion]], Ill Bill is known for his diverse lyrics and as the producer, founder and [[CEO]] of Uncle Howie Records. His brother Ron Braunstein is rapper and producer [[Necro (rapper)|Necro]].<ref name="hiphopug.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopug.com/ill-bill.html |title=Ill Bill – Hip Hop Underground |publisher=Hiphopug.com |access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref>

== Collaboration work/groups ==

=== Non Phixion ===
In late 1994, [[MC Serch]] took his protégé [[Sabac Red]] and teamed him up with DJ Eclipse and Ill Bill, thereby creating the group known as Non Phixion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2008/10/06/goretex-goretex-himself/ |title=Goretex – Goretex, Himself |access-date=March 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924103018/http://www.smnnews.com/2008/10/06/goretex-goretex-himself/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Within six months Goretex, a childhood friend of Ill Bill, had joined the crew after freestyling for MC Serch. Non Phixion released a studio album titled ''The Future is Now'' in 2002, numerous singles and two compilations albums. Much of the production work was done by Necro.

[[File:Non phixion-06-mika.jpg|thumb|NYC 1998]]

=== Circle of Tyrants ===
Circle of Tyrants was an underground hip hop group consisting of [[Necro (rapper)|Necro]], Ill Bill, Mr Hyde and Goretex. The group released a self-titled studio album in 2005 on [[Necro (rapper)|Necro's]] [[Psycho+Logical-Records|Psycho-Logical-Records]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ughh.com/circle-of-tyrants-the-circle-of-tyrants/PLR046CD/ |title=Circle Of Tyrants – The Circle Of Tyrants – release date, producers, reviews |publisher=Ughh.com |access-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029205029/http://ughh.com/circle-of-tyrants-the-circle-of-tyrants/PLR046CD/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Necro produced all tracks on the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formspring.me/NECRO777/q/485563817154078423 |title=Spring.me |publisher=Formspring.me |date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=January 4, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130810033925/http://www.formspring.me/NECRO777/q/485563817154078423 |archive-date=August 10, 2013 }}</ref> The four members often collaborated on each other's solo projects.

=== La Coka Nostra ===
[[La Coka Nostra]] was founded in 2005 as a loose collective of artists connected through [[Danny Boy (rapper)|Danny Boy]] of [[House of Pain]]. Having taken time off from rap after the break-up of House of Pain, Danny Boy took to working in video production and fashion as well as mentoring other artists. He met Slaine in Boston and, impressed with his writing, brought him to L.A. to record some tracks. Eventually it turned into more of a group effort including the former members of House of Pain and Ill Bill. It was announced that Everlast would be leaving La Coka Nostra due to his daughter's medical issues.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

=== Heavy Metal Kings with Vinnie Paz ===
[[Heavy Metal Kings]] is a group featuring veteran rappers Ill Bill (Non Phixion/La Coka Nostra) and Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks/Army of the Pharaohs). In 2006, Ill Bill was featured on the single "Heavy Metal Kings" by hip hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks, released through Babygrande Records.

Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz have since combined forces to form a group of the same name, "Heavy Metal Kings", and recorded a full self-titled album that was released on April 5, 2011, through Enemy Soil/Uncle Howie.

Heavy Metal Kings 2 was officially confirmed and recording in 2013. It was announced that the album would be in stores in 2014 however as of March 2015. It was released in 2018 with the official name "Black God White Devil" and has numerous features from Goretex. .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/CLanceEnemySoil/posts/701208429895159 |title=Heavy Metal Kings 2 – currently being... - C-Lance (Enemy Soil Producer) |publisher=Facebook |access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref>

Heavy Metal Kings VS DJ Muggs was posted to be in the works by an associated producer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=232225723460101&id=182608068421867 |title=Heavy Metal Kings VS DJ Muggs + Vinnie... - C-Lance (Enemy Soil Producer) |publisher=Facebook |access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref> on 2011, to this date this album has had no more updates or information released. It is not known if this album is still in the works.

== Solo albums/albums with brother Necro ==

=== ''The Early Years: Rare Demos '91–'94'' (2001) ===
''[[The Early Years: Rare Demos '91–'94]]'' is the first rarities released on September 16, 2001, under Psycho+Logical-Records. The compilation contains 12 demos, an intro, two skits and one remix. Featured guests on the compilation include Gongo Boy and future [[Non Phixion]] and Circle of Tyrants member Goretex. These tracks were recorded between 1991 and 1994.

=== ''Street Villains'' mixtapes with brother Necro ===
Ill Bill and his brother [[Necro (rapper)|Necro]] released two mixtapes named ''Street Villains Vol. 1'' (2003) and ''Street Villains Vol. 2'' (2005). ''Street Villains Vol. 1'' was released originally to build hype for Ill Bill's at the time upcoming album ''What's Wrong with Bill?''

=== ''Ill Bill Is the Future'' Vol. 1&2 (2003–2006) ===
''Ill Bill Is the Future'' was released in 2003 on Ill Bills label Uncle Howie Records and is a mix of pre-released and new tracks with collaboration tracks with EI-P, [[The Beatnuts]] and Problemz.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDtLoJfkic | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621041325/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDtLoJfkic| archive-date=June 21, 2014 | url-status=dead|title=The Beatnuts feat Ill Bill & Problemz – Yae Yo |publisher=YouTube |date=December 22, 2012 |access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref>

''Ill Bill Is the Future 2: I'm a Goon'' was released in 2006 under Uncle Howie Records. The album featured mostly new tracks except for a few preused [[La Coka Nostra]] tracks and featured collaborations from artists such as [[Q-Unique]], [[Raekwon]], [[Psycho Realm|Sick Jacken]], Block McCloud, [[MF Grimm]] and [[B-Real]].

=== ''Howie Made Me Do It'' mixtapes ===
Recorded from 1999 to 2002, ''Howie Made Me Do It'' is a compilation of mostly songs previously released on mixtapes. Howie, the uncle of Ill Bill and Necro, is referenced in lyrics and his voice is sampled in various tracks.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 28, 2010|title=Non-Phixion Affiliate 'Uncle Howie' Tenenbaum Dies|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.10905/title.non-phixion-affiliate-uncle-howie-tenenbaum-dies|access-date=December 30, 2020|website=HipHopDX}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hate Rap?|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hate-v11n4/|access-date=December 30, 2020|website=vice.com|date=December 2004 }}</ref> 

''Howie Made Me Do It 2'' was released in 2011 with collaborations from various artists such as [[Vinnie Paz]] and [[Q-Unique]]. ''Howie Made Me Do It 3'' was released late 2013.

=== ''What's Wrong with Bill?'' (2004) ===
''What's Wrong with Bill?'' is Ill Bill's debut studio album, released on May 4, 2004, by [[Psycho+Logical-Records]]. The album spawned one single, "The Anatomy of a School Shooting", and a music video for "Chasing the Dragon". Ill Bill's brother [[Necro (rapper)|Necro]] produced the entire album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formspring.me/NECRO777/q/485566237846303597 |title=Twoo – Meet New People |publisher=Formspring.me |access-date=November 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130810034446/http://www.formspring.me/NECRO777/q/485566237846303597 |archive-date=August 10, 2013 }}</ref> The album never charted but is widely known as an underground classic from Ill Bill by fans.

=== ''The Hour of Reprisal'' (2008) ===
On September 16, 2008, Ill Bill released his second album on Uncle Howie Records, entitled ''[[The Hour of Reprisal]]''. The album includes appearances from [[Necro (rapper)|Necro]], [[Tech N9ne]], [[B-Real]] of [[Cypress Hill]], [[Everlast (rapper)|Everlast]], [[Bad Brains]], [[Max Cavalera]] of [[Soulfly]], [[Vinnie Paz]] of [[Jedi Mind Tricks]], [[Howard Jones (American musician)|Howard Jones]] of [[Killswitch Engage]], [[Immortal Technique]] and [[Raekwon]] of [[Wu-Tang Clan]]. It also features production by [[DJ Muggs]], [[T-Ray]], [[DJ Lethal]], [[Necro (rapper)|Necro]], [[DJ Premier]] and Ill Bill himself.

During spring 2008, Ill Bill joined [[Tech N9ne]] and [[Paul Wall]] on a nationwide tour. ''The Hour of Reprisal'' was released on September 16, 2008, by Uncle Howie Records and Fat Beats.

=== ''Kill Devil Hills'' (2010) with DJ Muggs ===
''DJ Muggs vs. Ill Bill: Kill Devil Hills'' is a collaboration studio album by Ill Bill and producer [[DJ Muggs]]. The album was released on August 31, 2010, on Fat Beats Records.<ref name="hiphopug.com" /> All songs were produced by DJ Muggs.

=== ''The Grimy Awards'' (2013) ===
His third album, ''[[The Grimy Awards]]'', was released on January 29, 2013.<ref>"OK-Tho.com's Top 20 Albums Of 2013" http://www.ok-tho.com/2014/01/top-of-year-albums-of-2013.html</ref> The album includes appearances from [[H.R. (musician)|H.R.]] of [[Bad Brains]], [[A-Trak]], [[El-P]], [[Jedi Mind Tricks]], [[O.C. (rapper)|O.C.]], [[Cormega]], Meyhem Lauren, [[Q-Unique]], [[Shabazz the Disciple]] & Lil Fame of [[M.O.P.]] and production by [[DJ Premier]], [[DJ Muggs]], [[Pete Rock]], [[Large Professor]], [[The Beatnuts]], [[El-P]], [[Ayatollah (record producer)|Ayatollah]], [[MoSS]] and Ill Bill himself. The first single, "Severed Heads of State", featuring and produced by El-P, came out on October 29, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4dbSsEeUEM  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/I4dbSsEeUEM| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Ill Bill – Severed Heads Of State Ft. El-P |publisher=YouTube |date=October 29, 2012 |access-date=November 14, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== ''La Bella Medusa'' (2020) ===
''La Bella Medusa'', Ill Bill's fourth album, was released on October 30, 2020. Bill announced on social media that it had reached [[Apple Music]]'s top ten for Hip Hop. The album was placed under releases by [[Joyner Lucas]], [[Trippie Redd]] and [[Busta Rhymes]] on this chart. It included features from D.V. Alias Khryst, [[Conway the Machine]], [[Pharoahe Monch]], [[Tech N9ne]], Rite Hook, Lord Goat, Recognize Ali, Jay Royale, [[Kool G Rap]], [[Slaine (rapper)|Slaine]], Little Vic, Crimeapple, Nems, [[Tony Yayo]] of [[G-Unit]], [[Vinnie Paz]] and [[Sabac Red]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://illbill.bandcamp.com/ |title = ILL BILL}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Ill Bill discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[What's Wrong with Bill?]]'' (2004)
* ''[[The Hour of Reprisal]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Grimy Awards]]'' (2013)
* ''Septagram'' (2016)
* ''La Bella Medusa'' (2020)
* ''Billy'' (2023)

'''Collaborative albums'''
* ''[[The Future Is Now]]'' (with [[Non Phixion]]) (2002)
* ''The Green CD/DVD'' (with Non Phixion) (2004)
* ''The Circle of Tyrants'' (with Circle of Tyrants) (2005)
* ''[[A Brand You Can Trust]]'' (with [[La Coka Nostra]]) (2009)
* ''[[Kill Devil Hills (album)|Kill Devil Hills]]'' (with [[DJ Muggs]]) (2010)
* ''[[Heavy Metal Kings (album)|Heavy Metal Kings]]'' (with [[Heavy Metal Kings]]) (2011)
* ''[[Masters of the Dark Arts]]'' (with La Coka Nostra) (2012)
* ''[[To Thine Own Self Be True]]'' (with La Coka Nostra) (2016)
* ''Black God White Devil'' (with Heavy Metal Kings) (2017)
* ''Split'' (with Ghoul) (2018)
* ''Cannibal Hulk'' (EP) (with Stu Bangas) (2019)
* ''Pulp Phixion'' (EP) (with Sunday) (2019)
* ''Gorilla Twins'' (with [[Gorilla Nems]]) (2020)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ill Bill}}
{{La Coka Nostra}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American hip-hop record producers]]
[[Category:American male rappers]]
[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:American people of Israeli descent]]
[[Category:American people of Romanian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from New York City]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Horrorcore artists]]
[[Category:Rap metal musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish American rappers]]
[[Category:People from Canarsie, Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Rappers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Underground rappers]]
[[Category:Jewish hip-hop record producers]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:La Coka Nostra members]]
[[Category:People from Flatlands, Brooklyn]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]