The other week I picked up Illzilla’s debut album Wasteland.

It’s pretty good. I don’t like it as much as I like some other skip-hop, and at first I thought this was because they weren’t the style I liked, but after a bit of listening I don’t think that is the case. Illzilla have a full band making their music, however Mista Savona’s production is a lot different to most stuff I listen to. He gives the beats a electronic/funk/reggae/blues/soul infused feel, rather than the rock/etcetera infused vibe in most stuff I listen to. They also have only one MC since the passing of Havalot late last year. He still features on a few tracks, and offsets Bobzilla nicely. Bobzilla (lamest MC name ever?) is pretty sharp, both with writing and delivery. The album also features contributions from TZU’s Count Bounce and Jumps from The Cat Empire.

They tend to go hard on the political and social themes without ever just being normal people, which I don’t like from anyone. But the themes of speaking up against “inappropriately dressed women” and alcohol-fuelled fun, and feeling like saving the environment and stopping the war is a tall ask when all you want to do is look after your family properly, is a welcome change.

The Shirt Song, which was available to download form the triple j unearthed website over a year ago is probably still my favourite. The Water Song is honest and a bit funny, and Streets Is Bloody is just great. If they ran with fewer cuss words I’d be happier though.

You can still download some tracks from their page on the triple j unearthed website.

I like ‘em, and they have huge potential.

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