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About Lavar

Baltimore City

ILL Conscious is a hip-hop artist based in Baltimore, Maryland.  With a fresh innovative approach, ILL’s style is still pleasantly reminiscent of the authentic 90’s hip-hop era. Since 2007, ILL has been performing along the east coast, mid-west and has sparred in several battle competitions where he would come out as the victor.  He has been featured on numerous rap blogs, online magazines, excerpts, and has been quoted as a mix between a later-in-his-career AZ, a Capital Punishment Big Pun… more

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The Essence

The Essence is Ill Conscious's official debut solo album that was released in Summer 2015.  The album was essentially created for true hip hop heads, thus giving the listeners that underground boom bap sound.  The production team on the album ranges from Copenhagen producer, M.W.P. to Norwegian producers Loop.Holes.  The Essence epitomizes the foundation of the Golden Era, when hip hop was pure and unadulterated.  Every lyric on the album was narrated observing through the scope of a Baltimore native.  Supporters of the Baltimore emcee agree that The Essence is the embodiment of social and political commentary within the urban inner city communities.  The Essence was an important album because it was a response to the Freddie Gray tragedy and other police brutality cases around the world.  The undertones in this project are that of civilians marching against injustices worldwide.  Ill Conscious' The Essence, also acquired his first vinyl deal through the United Kingdom's most notable vinyl record label, Chopped Herring Records.  In turn, this created a business relationship that would serve as promising and benefcial for Ill's future projects.  Ill Conscious has a good contrast of consciousness and street interpretations  that all sides of the hip hop community can appreciate. The Essence is a necessary album for all listeners and it connects all elements of hip hop that have been absent from many projects of this generation. 
  • The Essence album cover
    The Essence album cover
    Artwork by Michael Young. Photograph taken at Penn Station in Baltimore, MD by Brit Mcinnis - Circa May 2013
  • ILL Conscious - What You Need prod. by Marshtini (Loop.Holes)
    This Loop.Holes produced track is one of the most notable from ILL Conscious' debut 2015 LP, The Essence. ILL details his observations and experiences in Baltimore, MD through vivid social commentary on a solemn, melodic soundtrack. The legendary Busta Rhymes sample plays in the hook as the visuals portray the inner city woes. The Essence is available online on all major digital outlets, CD and vinyl.
  • Ill Conscious-The Essence LP
    Snippets of The Essence on Chopped Herring Records for vinyl release http://www.choppedherringrecords.com Ill Conscious - The Essence Tracks: A1 Good Morning Baltimore A2 The Pledge A3 Sheep A4 What You Need A5 Born Supreme A6 When it Sounded Like This B1 The Essence B2 A West Side Thing feat. Dirt Platoon B3 The Ruler B4 Wisdom B5 Subliminal Propaganda B6 When It Sounded Like This Pt.2 A1, A4 & B2 produced by Loop Holes. A2 & A6 produced by Cold Logistics. A3 & B4 produced by TooNorth. A5 & B3 produced by M.W.P. B1 produced by illMeasured. B5 produced by Theology. Cuts on A6 & B1 by illMeasured. Cuts on B2 by Dekstra Large. Cuts on B3 by DJ Modesty. Ill CONSCIOUS/THE ESSENCE LP 2015 BALTIMORE *CHOPPED HERRING*
  • Ill Conscious feat. Cyn Hawkes- The Pledge
    The first single and video for The Essence. The Pledge is produced by Cold Legistics from Rhode Island. The Pledge features another Baltimore artist Cyn Hawkes. Video shot and directed by Jay Mastermind from Baltimore, MD.
  • The Essence: Very Limited Vinyl on Chopped Herring Records
    The Essence: Very Limited Vinyl on Chopped Herring Records
    Ill Conscious landed his first vinyl deal on the United Kingdom's Chopped Herring Records. Very limited Vinyl. 2015
  • Ill Conscious x Loop.Holes - Declare
    Track and video for unreleased ILL Conscious album, Import Export after The Essence campaign. circa Fall 2015 Ill Conscious X Marshtini (Loop.Holes) - "Declare" Feat: Cuts by Kool DJ KC Fly Directed by: Grasshopper Philms Album: "Import Export"
  • Sheep prod. by TooNorth - Ill Conscious
    Single from The Essence. Compilation of visuals not owned by Ill Conscious used for promotional use only. prod. by TooNorth from Oregon
  • Ill Conscious Logo
    Ill Conscious Logo
    The Ill Conscious logo was created as a homage to the ancient Egyptian symbol, the eye of Horus/Ra. It also capsulates Ill's initials, I and C, all while respresenting the opening of the third eye, good health, protection, and supreme royal power.
  • Borm Supreme-Ill Conscious
    The Offcial Music Video for Born Supreme was shot but never released on any platform. It is Track 5 of the album, The Essence. Shot & Directed by Boombap Dlow
  • The Original Ill Conscious T-shirts
    The Original Ill Conscious T-shirts
    This is the first design of Ill Conscious T-shirts. This was the original logo that Ill used during The Essence campaign. Photograph taken by Chris Springer.
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    • The Prerequisite

    The Prerequisite is ILL Conscious's sophomore album that was released February of 2018. On this project, ILL displays his lyrical prowess over a soundscape created by international producers ranging from Scandinavia to South America. Considering that the first album had very serious and conscious undertones, The Prerequisite introduced a different tone from the Baltimore emcee as a insightful bragadocious lyricist who can still spit that raw grit. During The Prerequisite campaign, ILL Conscious and rap counterparts Dirt Platoon & Guy Grams went on a 4 date mini tour in Paris, France, and London, England. It also created a buzz in Chile where ILL later toured in 2019. 
    • The Prerequisite album cover
      The Prerequisite album cover
      Artwork by Skarr Akbar.
    • ILL Conscious - The Testament feat. DJ Audas, Prod. by Kyo Itachi
      Ill Conscious Teams up with French producer Kyo Itachi and Chilean turntablist DJ Audas to create a vivid picture of the upbringing of the Baltimore emcee.
    • ILL Conscious - The Narrative feat. Jay Royale, Prod. by Eyedee & cuts by DJ TMB
      The first single off of ILL Conscious's sophomore project "The Prerequisite". He recruits West Coast producer Eyedee for the soundscape with fellow Baltimore artist and 1/2 of The Tutelage, Jay Royale with cuts by UK turntablist DJ TMB.
    • ILL Conscious - Clyde Drexler Prod. by Loop.Holes
      Single from The Prerequisite, prod. by Marshtini of Loop.Holes from Norway. Loop.Holes is a team of Norwegian producers all with unique & different boom bap styles. Ill has been making music with them since his first album, The Essence.
    • Album, The Prerequisite Vinyl
      Album, The Prerequisite Vinyl
      The Prerequisite landed a very limited vinyl record deal with the United Kingdom's most notable hip hop vinyl label, Chopped Herring Records. Prior to The Prerequisite, ILL's first album The Essence was a part of the Chopped Herring Records collection as well. Today in the underground hip hop circuit, vinyl is validation that your project is certified among hip hop heads. It's the staple that portrays that you have accomplished something that will sustain the test of longevity in a overly saturated market.
    • Flyer for First European Tour
      Flyer for First European Tour
      ILL Conscious promotional flyer for first international tour in France and England.
    • Respect the tagger
      Respect the tagger
      ILL Conscious pays homage to Parisian graffiti writers. Graffiti is one of the four elements of hip hop. Circa April 2018 - Paris, France during The Prerequisite campaign.
    • Y'all don't draw it like yall shooters, y'all cartoonist!
      "Y'all don't draw it like yall shooters, y'all cartoonist!"
      The Ill Conscious animation made its first appearance with the release of The Prerequisite in February 2018. It served as a complimentary sticker with your purchase of The Prerequisite CD. It reads illconscious.com under the boot.
    • The Official Ill Conscious Website
      The Official Ill Conscious Website
      Two years after The Essence release, Ill Conscious does some re-branding and equips himself with an official website with all of his current releases. www.illconscious.com
    • The Prerequise CD & Vinyl
      The Prerequise CD & Vinyl
      Vinyl courtesy of Chopped Herring Records. Cds courtesy of Ill Conscious.
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