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Interview
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Ill
Knob has been around longer than most can remember,
coming from the group KGB who were once part of
Wu-Tang Management and Protect Ya Neck records, Ill
Knob, the most known face of the group then, met The
RZA at a record store in the 90s, RZA sent him off
to Mook and he and his group got working with 4th
Disciple, resulting in a couple of released singles. Knob
traveled with the Wu-Tang Clan family to California
to work on albums from such Wu affiliates as Deadly
Venoms, Wu-Syndicate, Shyheim and Sunz Of Man.
Coming from Coney Island, Brooklyn, Knob fell in
love with California's relaxed atmoshpere and
decided to live there.
A
bi-coastal heritage and coming up during the golden
era of hip-hop, Ill Knob has grown as an artists,
been around hip-hop’s elite and studied their
successes, he is applying their strategies,
reinventing his own and using his own unrelenting
drive to succeed with his own musical mission: to be
respected as a true artist. Still managed by his
producer and manager; Storm, who also managed the
likes of Mobb Deep, Deadly Venoms, Sam Scar, Rufus
Blaq, and more.
His latest projects have been a group
project with new group Killah Shark but he has
mainly been focusing lately on his upcoming solo
project, which he says will also be his last as he
got a number of things on his plate, find out where
and what Ill Knob has been up to, a little history
to the formation of his group KGB, and Killah Shark and their current
status, and his plans for the future. Enjoy |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: Peace Knob, its been like 6 years
since we had an interview with you, how have you been?
Ill Knob: I've been great thanks
Wu-International: You were one of the first people I
interviewed on Wu-International, you were about to drop the
mixtape “For the Streets” then, and you complained about Fat
Joe stealing some of your ideas, did you ever resolve that
issue with Joe?
Ill Knob: That's all water under the bridge.
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Wu-International:
Old news it seems, lets talk about your current work
and we will retouch your history again towards the
end, you recently teamed up with a couple of artists
to form Sharks, can you please tell us how the group
got started?
Ill Knob: Killah Shark is a group we put
together amongst three friends who had the same vision
we have been talking about doing it for years...so we
finally got to it
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Wu-International: How well received was the free
mixtape “Testing the Waters”?
Ill Knob: Testing the waters was never officially
released.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, you said
Killah Shark was on hold due to you working on your own
project, can you please tell us more about your project and
its working title?
Ill Knob:
It is
Untitled as of now, but the first single is called "HIP HOP
MUSIC" the video is being edited right now and I'm still
working on it so it's still in the makings
Wu-International: What are the names behind the
features and productions and when do you plan on putting
this out?
Ill Knob:
This project as of
now is focusing mainly on me, I have not thought about
features yet but maybe we may have a few surprises for all
the Hip hop lovers in the world lets see as the story
unfolds...lol and the production is from a host of platinum
hip hop producers that have the real boom bap sound... I
will reveal more when the time is right.
Wu-International: Since our last interview you were
working on “Top of the Food Chain” is this the same project
with a new name or entirely new album?
Ill Knob: No
this is all new material.
Wu-International: If an entirely new album, what
happened to “Top of the Food Chain”?
Ill Knob: That
was a long time ago I still have songs but maybe I will
release a mixtape with those joints.
Wu-International: Why has it taken you this
long to put out a project?
Ill Knob: Timing
is everything...it just wasn't my time yet...basically this
will be my first and last project..I'm transitioning into my
executive status right now.
Wu-International: First and last album? care to
expand please?
Ill Knob: I am transitioning from artist to
executive, I really don't want to do both so now it is time
for the younger artists we have to shine.
Wu-International: Looking forward to this album, is
this something you will be putting out via indie or a major
route?
Ill Knob:
Indie...I believe that is the best way to go
Wu-International: Also on last interview you
said the group was still together as you are all related as
in family, question now is this, does KGB function still as
a musical group and can fans ever expect an album from the
group as a collective?
Ill Knob:
It is possible, I mean, nothing is impossible, but unlikely
at this time because everyone is doing their own thing right
now.
Wu-International: What about collaborations as in
groups, features etc?
Ill Knob:
As of now only the people under Flawless and Purfek
storm Ent. all else is just as much a surprise to me as it
will be to you.
Wu-International: Can you kindly run through the name
and let us know which of the KGB members are still making
music and if they still use the same names from Asiatic,
Infraredda, Hip-hop, to Pro fed?
Ill Knob:
Pro Fed now goes by the name "RAYNE" and he is in Cali
working on his music as well as other things. Kenny Ken is
putting out dvd's called "100 bars and better" featuring
unsigned artists around the world...it is very hot.
Wu-International: How did the Protect Ya Neck/Wu-Tang
situation come about?
Ill Knob:
I asked RZA
to produce a song for KGB and he said he wanted 4th to do
it, he was busy so passed us on to 4th Disciple, I said cool
and that song would become "Bless Ya Life" in the same
conversation he asked did we have management, which we
didn't at the time. He said go see Mook, it just so happened
Mook was from Coney Island too...the connection was there
and we were signed to Wu-Tang management...we actually had a
choice to sign either to Wu-tang Productions or Protect Ya
Neck at that time and we chose to ride with PYN.
Wu-International: So how did you meet The RZA that
lead to you asking him for a beat?
Ill Knob:
I met RZA at Downtown Records a small record shop that
was in New York right across the street from JIVE records we
exchanged #s and kept in touch we actually were getting
booked by the same Booking Agent so we did a lot of shows
together and remained cool when it was time to do another
single for Mascot records I called RZA to do it.
Wu-International: And did the RZA ever give you a
beat from there to date?
Ill Knob:
Unfortunately not
Wu-International: You had a couple of singles out as
well as features on compilations, Was any project
completed for the label and if so why was it never
released?
Ill Knob: Yeah now that I think about it Mook had
songs from us...I guess it was never released due to
creative differences, its been such a long time.
Wu-International: One of my favourite songs
was the one you did with 4th Disciple “Bless Ya
Life”, were there more songs you did with 4th or
other Wu-Tang producers that remain unreleased to
date?
Ill Knob:
Looking back now, 4th did drop me a number of
tracks to use, as in beats, but I never got to
record them.
Wu-International: On our last interview, you
said the group had materials that will fit in 3
albums easily, how do you feel about putting this
out to the fans for free or as a limited edition CD
for those that want the physical CDs?
Ill Knob:
As a
matter of fact me and Storm are gathering songs for
you right now like we discussed already...let's
gooo!!!!
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Wu-International: Whats yours or the group’s current
relationship with WTM, still signed to them?
Ill Knob: The
relationship for business with WTM is non existent ..but
Mook will always be my big homey as far as I know none of
the KGB members deal in business with WTM.
Wu-International: We know your group and you in
particular worked very close with Storm, how did you meet
Storm?
Ill Knob: I met storm through Kenny Kenn in Jersey
City, He was with a group called "Positively Black" we were
all later signed to Select Records together...we rolled
together as a unit and were all the best of friends Storm is
family.
Wu-International: Storm is a great producer,
and it seems he handled the bulk of your productions, who
else aside from him and Russ Prez were responsible for the
productions?
Ill Knob: Now or in the past? Its been Smoking
Joeh, Order, and others I cant really recall but B.K. from
the "XX POSSE" produced HIP HOP MUSIC.
Wu-International: Others you worked close with
were the group Deadly Venoms, Did you record a number of
songs with the group that remain unreleased to date and are
you in touch with any of them?
Ill Knob:
Yes I'm sure they
will pop up one day too! lol and I'm still in touch with
J-Boo and Champ.
Wu-International: An interesting feature with
you on there was with Wu-Syndicate “Burst a slug” that also
featured MMO’s Trigga, how did this collaboration come
about?
Ill Knob: Wow we were just dropping the producer
“Smokin Joeh” off and the next thing you know we were in the
booth...
Wu-International: Fans in quest for some of your
music have compiled all your songs they can get their hands
on and put it out there, as I told you to date I still get
emails from time to time from fans who ask about KGB, your
projects etc, how does it make you feel that fans are still
aware of your group, your name and searching for your work
despite the fact you do not have any album out and have not
been very active in the music industry as such?
Ill Knob:
I feel honoured, thanks to them,. When we put all these
things together it was really for love and money but so much
more love that we didn't even make much money doing it...we
never realized people were actually listening and liking
what we were doing...we were so much more street than
business and we do appreciate the love, it kind of brings
tears to my eyes to see that we may have reached someone who
felt like us..to give them strength to go on...thats whats
up!! we were just some street kids who loved Hip Hop to
death And we still love Hip Hop to death!!!!
Wu-International:
While they might be the hardest to please, Wu-Tang fans have
to be the most loyal fans, some artists in the past distance
themselves from the Wu, some are relevant today because of
their affiliation, how do you see your position in regards
to this as an affiliate?
Ill Knob:
My life has chapters just like any book you read, and
one of my most self rewarding chapters in my life has been
my Wu years...shit I met my wife because I was with the Wu.
I may not have made millions, but I made a life and a family
that has put the greatest peace in my soul...I will never
turn my back on any chapter because that's what makes me the
man that I am today!
Wu-International:
Apart from Storm, are you in contact or better still have
worked with any other affiliates or Wu members recently?
Ill Knob:
I’m a renegade always have been I see who I see when I see
them and thats what it is...shit I barely stay in contact
with my family, my circle is very small.
Wu-International:
Are you still living out in Cali, if so where?
Ill Knob:
Yes I live in Los Angeles.
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Wu-International:
You had an entertainment company responsible for your last
street release, Flawless entertainment; can you please let
us know if what’s going on with this?
Ill Knob:
Flawless
is owned and operated by me and my partner Jahir the artists
on flawless are ILL KNOB and E.COV and we manage R&B singer
AMANI JOHNSON.
Wu-International: Anything else you might like to add
on that has not been covered yet?
Ill Knob:
Look out for "HIP HOP MUSIC" song
and video coming soon compliments of FLAWLE$$
ENT./PURFEKSTORM ENT. any one who knows any thing about Hip
Hop will adore this fucking song ..get at ya boy @ILLKNOB on
twitter @ ILL KNOB on facebook and ILL Knibbly on myspace
and thanks for the interview all respect due to
Wu-International for even caring about the artist this much,
I am not just speaking for myself but for every artist and
affiliate you help promote. P.E.A.C.E. !!!
Thanks for your time.
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Thanks
for your time and we wish you all the best in your future
endeavours.
Keep up to date with Ill
Knob
@Myspace
@Twitter
@Facebook
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