* En anglais uniquement
London-based production duo
iLL BLU have been at the vanguard of U.K. dance and hip-hop since the late 2000s. Initially associated with the U.K. funky and garage scenes, the duo released singles on
Hyperdub and Numbers. during the early 2010s before switching to a more mainstream dance sound during the middle of the decade, working with singers like
James Morrison and
Bibi Bourelly. The duo have also produced tracks by British rappers such as
Shystie and
Sneakbo, and they embraced U.K. drill during the early 2020s with singles like "Magic" and "Dumpa."
James Grant and Darius Ellington first started working together as
iLL BLU in 2008. Their remixes and productions for artists like
Shystie, Princess Nyah,
MJ Cole, and
Roll Deep established the duo as one of the hottest forces in the U.K. funky scene, and they made their debut on
Kode9's vaunted
Hyperdub label with the 2010 single "Bellion."
Meltdown EP appeared on Numbers. in 2011, followed in 2012 by Illusions (Madtech Records) and a second
Hyperdub single, "Clapper." The duo made more mainstream moves during the mid-2010s, releasing the
James Morrison-featuring single "Lonely People" in 2015, and co-producing
Nick Brewer and
Bibi Bourelly's "Talk to Me." They released several big room house singles in 2016, including "Win or Lose" (with former
Inner City member
Ann Saunderson) and "Antidote" (featuring Kahlia Bakosi), both on Armada Deep. The duo moved closer to hip-hop and Afroswing with singles like 2018's "Chop My Money" (with
Krept & Konan,
Loski, and
ZieZie), then produced several U.K. drill tracks, including 2020's "Magic" (featuring OFB,
Bandokay, and Double Lz), "Dumpa" (featuring
M24 and
Unknown T), and 2021's "Routine Check 2.0" (with
the Mitchell Brothers and
Sneakbo). ~ Paul Simpson