ILL E. GAL INTERVIEW: DRC "FROM THE GROUND UNDA" MUSIC SERIES BY SHEMROK CHRIST

ILL E. GAL  female MC and Pot Star hails from New England. She has been holding it down for the underground since she began rapping in 2002. In 2005 she started tearing up the stage, teaming up with Miss Tress and released "T.H.C. "Wings" in 2007. Since then she has become the "Queen of the Underground." Her debut solo album "The Grass Is Always Greener..." is available now featuring "Super Sonic Chronic" with Daddy X of Kottonmouth Kings.ILL E. GAL has performed at the past 4 Gathering Of The Juggalos, as well as opening for the likes of Tech N9ne, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, ABK, Potluck, Tila Tiquila & more. She has also been featured in High Times & Murderdog Magazine. This is true High Hop at its finest!

 DRC :FIRST OFF, TELL THE FANS OUT THERE WHO ILL E GAL IS AND WHAT YOUR MOVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT?

ILL E. GAL:Whats up Party People?! I am ill e. gal, an underground female MC & producer. Ive been rapping for 8 years and performing shows for 5. Ive released two full length albums and done shows all over the country. My original movement was to be a voice for women in the underground/juggalo scene. I feel like I have accomplished that goal and then some. Now I am branching off into a whole new movement in music which you will know about later in your lives ;)



DRC:.IN A MALE DOMINATED GENRE SUCH AS HIP HOP, DO YOU FIND IT HARDER TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE BEING A FEMALE EMCEE?
AND WHO ARE YOUR TOP FIVE FEMALE RAPPERS OF ALL TIME?

ILL E. GAL:I used to feel it was harder being a woman in the beginning. People tend to not take you seriously. But I overcame many obstacles and proved myself to be a strong contender in a world of men. Now I feel like being a female is a HUGE advantage, because even now, years later, its STILL rare to see. Honestly, its hard to name even 5 favorite female rappers. I've always admired Left Eye (R.I.P.) but thats about it.

DRC: ARE THERE ANY FEMALE ROCK SINGERS OR BANDS YOU WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH?

ILL E. GAL:Maybe Gwen Stefani? Lady Gaga? There really arent too many strong female artists in the mainstream these days....

DRC:HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? DO YOU FEEL THERE ARE MORE DOORS OPEN FOR INDIE ARTIST SUCH AS YOUR SELF?

ILL E. GAL:Ugh, its tough. Like the economy, the music business is suffering BIG TIME. Because of the internet and technology people don't want to buy CD's anymore. People burn cds, download tracks and the musicians are the ones paying the price. There is a huge shift going on and I really hope things start to change for the better. I feel like there aren't too many open doors for indie artists these days. Its cutthroat and everyone is a rapper these days. There is a lack of originality, heart and drive and it makes it harder for the real artists to rise above. I still believe, if you are original and your heart is in the right place, those doors will open. Even if its just a crack....

DRC:CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF ONE OF YOUR TRACKS? WHAT INSPIRES THE TOPICS YOU WRITE ABOUT? WHO HANDLES YOUR PRODUCTION?

Usually I just get a a concept for a song and write, weather I have a beat or not. Sometimes I find a beat I love and write according to how it makes me feel. Theres no certain way to make a song, it just happens naturally. And I usually write about my experiences in life. I can only write what I know. And what I feel. It's a pure emotional release. As for producers, I've had many over the years. I have even made some of my own beats, which I am doing more now. I am also expanding into a new genre called Dubstep and I have found many awesome producers and DJ's there as well.

DRC: YOU RECORDED A SICK ASS COLLABORATION WITH DADDY X FROM KOTTONMOUTH KINGS CALLED "SUPER SONIC CHRONIC" HOW DID THAT TRACK COME ABOUT?
ANY OTHER RAPPERS OR GROUPS YOUR PLANNING TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?

ILL E. GAL:I have been lucky enough to gain support from my hero's in the underground such as Daddy X and Violent J. So I asked X if he would be interested in being on my album, sent him the song and he loved it! I was thrilled when I got it back. One of the best songs I've done to date. Its a fun stoner jam, with one of my favorite artists, whats better then that?! I plan to work with many other rappers and producers in the future. You'll have to wait and see! ;)

DRC:WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SUB-GENRES OF HIP HOP?

ILL E. GAL:Well, I have always been into wicked shit, but not really horrorcore so to speak. I love artists like Tech N9ne and the Jokerr for their triphop flows. Living out in Minnesota gave me a taste of the backpack scene. But what I am most excited about is the cross breeding of genres. Like Hip Hop mixed with electronica. Its going to bring some fun and life back into a cold world.

DRC:WHAT TYPES OF MUSIC BESIDES HIP HOP INFLUENCES YOU ? WHAT ARE YOUR NON- MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

ILL E. GAL:I love music in general. And I can respect every genre for what it is, and every artist for who they are. I was heavy into the punk rock scene before the juggalo scene, and now I am moving more into the electronica scene. I will always love classic rock and do-wop due to my parents. They are music lovers as well. And we all feel like life wouldn't be the same without it.

As far as non-musical influences, legalization of marijuana has always been a big one for me. I am a pot head and so are many people I know. But we are criminals!? I think not. Thats why the name ill e. gal holds so much signifignace. Things are not always what they appear to be. I also take influence from life in general. The good times. The bad times. Love. And broken hearts. My family and friends inspire me everyday. The world is a hurting place right now, and if I can make music to help people get through it, whats better then that?

DRC:YOU'VE BUILT UP A STRONG RESUME OF LIVE PERFORMANCES! WHAT IS THE ILL E GAL LIVE EXPERIENCE LIKE? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS YOU'VE PLAYED SO FAR AND WITH WHO?

ILL E. GAL:Its hard to say what the experience is like since I am the one on stage, but I have been so well received over the years I feel like I must be doing something right! I basically just get up there and do my thing. I feel like I have a good energy and stage presence. Its been simple but I am looking to expand my live shows to make them more entertaining for the audience. I have played some remarkable shows at great venues with artists that inspire me.

Opening for Tech N9ne in Minneapolis is 2006 was awesome. Performing 2 shows in California with Blaze Ya Dead Homie in 2008. Opening for ABK in New England Potluck in 2009. And then performing at the Worcester Palladium opening for Twiztod at Rock and Shock this past October was a dream come true. Performing at the Marijuana Music Awards in Brookyln, The Boston Freedom Rally and The Gathering of the Juggalos 2007-2010 also top the list. Especially this past year, they had Ladies Night and I basically stole the show. We all know what happened to Tila Tiquila...

DRC:HAVING TRAVELED SO MUCH ACROSS THE U.S SPREADING YOUR MUSIC , WHATS YOUR BEST WEED INFLUENCED ROAD STORY?

LOL! There are so many. One that sticks out to me inolves DJ Bobby B of Kottonmouth Kings. At the Gathering of the Juggalos in 2003 (in Ohio) I met KMK and smoked some lemon weed with Bobby B. Just as a fan and aspiring rapper. This past year (in Illinois), I was able to chill with im. He smoked with me and told me how proud I should feel for what I've accomplished. He later went on to give me the bowl we were smoking out of! Its a great memory and proved to me 8 years of hard work and dedication had finally paid off!     

DRC: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FANS DOWNLOADING MUSIC FOR FREE? DOES IT MAKE YOU GRIND HARDER WITH LIVE SHOWS AND MERCH?

ILL E. GAL:You have no choice but to grind harder. The shift is taking place like I said earlier. So you have to adapt to survive. It really has gotten to the point where the music should be free. And money can be made off tours and merchandise instead. It's really been a struggle for me. Im enthralled with the fact that if people want my music bad enough they can get it for free. The more people that like it the better, but its also hard to make a legitimate living off music alone.



DRC: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR ILL E GAL?

ILL E. GAL:I am taking some time off from doing shows and focusing on a few new projects for 2011. I have so much I want to do and say, but time will reveal it all. Keep a look out for the Princess Bright Bird EP!

DRC: THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US HERE AT DRUGRATZ.COM, ONE LAST QUESTION, IF YOU COULD DO A COLLABORATION WITH ANY DEAD MUSICIAN FROM ANY GENRE OF MUSIC ,WHO WOULD YOU ROCK A TRACK WITH WALKING DEAD STYLE?

ILL E. GAL:Right now I would say John Lennon or Bradley Nowell. 2 amazing artists who left this world too soon, but made beautiful music while they were here. Thanks for doing the interview with me and thank YOU for reading it :)

TO HEAR SOME DOPE ASS UNDERGROUND HIP HOP VISIT ILL E. GAL AT WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/ILLEGAL

DRC X-MAS WHAMMY 2

HEY D-RATZ!

THE SECOND ANNUAL HALLOWEEN WHAMMY JUST DROPPED. DOWNLOAD DIRECTLY FROM THE TOP OF THIS PAGE. THIS YEAR WE PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS, SANTA EVEN CAME BY TO HOST IT FOR US.

28 TRACKS INCLUDING NEW AND REMIXED SONGS FROM COOLER THAN SMACK, B.O.D.. OTTOMIC BLUE & BLEACH THE BEAST. ALSO FEATURING JAMS FROM OUR FRIENDS LOOSE ENDZ, RUMORZ, BBG, D-ZINE-X, SIKKA THAN MOST, HOLLOWZGLOOM, & REKT HEARSE.

TRACK LIST:

1. X-MAS WHAMMY 2 INTRO

2. CTS- IT'S XMAS BITCH

3. CTS- JESUS VS SANTA (DUSTED JAZZ MIX)

4. B.O.D. - HAND OF GOD

5. OTTOMIC BLUE FT SHEMROK CHRIST - I'M A GEEK! (GOLD ROPE HIP HOP MIX)

6. ELFY MCELF SAW MOMMY FXCKING SANTA CLAUS

7. WHAMMY BREAK 1

8. BLEACH THE BEAST- READY FOR WAR

9. HOLLOWZGLOOM- BLiNDiD

10. REKT HEARSE- THAT WICKED SHIT

11. CTS- BETTA WATCH OUT (MERRY XMAS MOFO)

12.THE FUNKY BEACHCOMBERS- FUNKY BEACH (8 TRACK MIX)

13. WHAMMY BREAK 2

14. RUMORZ- GRAFFITI

15. BBG- SIP SIPN

16. D-ZINE-X- NO DENYING

17. LOOSE ENDZ- CURTAIN DROPS

18. CTS- DEAD HORSES (ADMONEY'S OVERDOSE MIX)

19. DR ELLIS DEE- SMOKE OUT DUB W/ CHEESE)

20. PROZAK FROM STRANGE MUSIC DROP

21. CTS- MISTLETOE

22. WHAMMY BREAK 3

23. WAYNE DA PAIN- RAIN SLEET OR SNOW

24. SIKKA THAN MOST - WE KINGZ

25. CTS- A TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON (EXTENDED MIX)

26. WHAMMY BREAK 4

27. DR ELLIS DEE - DUNE BUGGY

28. RYAN LESSARD- BEGINNING TO THE END

BACK IN THE DAY WITH SHEMROK CHRIST:FORCE FIVE

* NEW ON-GOING RANT ABOUT THE FRESHEST CARTOONS ,TOYS, AND SHOWS  WE HAD GROWING UP*

 OUT OF ALL THE FRESHEST CARTOONS GROWING UP, NOTHING QUITE BEATS GIANT ROBOTS! BUT BEFORE THE AUTOBOTS ROLLED OUT IN TRANSFORMERS,OR VOLTRON  WAS BATTLING ROBO -BEASTS, THERE WAS FORCE FIVE. IF YOU GREW UP IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA YOU WERE IN ONE OF THE FEW LUCKY MARKETS THAT THIS INCREDIBLE SICK ASS SERIES WAS SHOWN.(VIRGINIA,TEXAS,AND CALIFORNIA BEING SOME OTHERS).CREATED TO PROMOTE THE POPULAR SHOGUN WARRIORS  GIANT ROBOT TOYLINE AND COMICBOOKS  FROM MATTEL AND MARVEL COMICS
EACH WEEKDAY BROUGHT A DIFFERENT ROBOT ACTION ADVENTURE JAMMY.

ON  MONDAYS  DANGARD ACE WAS SHOWN.
{Danguard Ace takes place on a future Earth in which nearly all natural resources have been depleted. People have begun looking toward other planets to survive, in particular the fictional tenth planet, Promete. Although people had hoped to peacefully begin settlement there, disaster strikes as the first explorers are destroyed by betrayal.
After this event, an individual named Mr. Doppler leaves toward Promete on his own ship, and declares himself Chancellor of the planet. Using Promete's resources, Chancellor Doppler constructs a vast military force greater than that of Earth's. He forbids anyone approaching the planet, under the insane belief that only he is entitled to it.
To gain control of Promete, the governments of Earth begin constructing massive combat robots. Doppler is able to attack and destroy all robots before they are completed, except for Danguard Ace. The forces sent to attack Danguard's base were destroyed because of the efforts of Captain Dan. Nothing is known of this mysterious man, save that he previously served Doppler while under mind control.
Takuma Ichimonji, son of the man who betrayed the initial Promete exploration team, becomes a cadet at Danguard's base. Ichimonji hopes that he might restore his fathers honor by fighting against Doppler's forces.}

  ON TUESDAY WE FOLLOWED THE ADVENTURES OF THE STARVENGERS , WHICH GAVE US NOT ONE BUT 3 GIANT ROBOTS  WHICH WERE FORMED BY 3 DIFFERENT SPACESHIPS
{ Dragon is the red jet, controlled by the pilot of Getter Dragon. Liger, the blue jet, is used by Getter Liger's pilot. Getter Poseidon's operator uses Poseidon, the yellow machine. All three are armed with missiles, but are generally very weak and never used in combat unless absolutely necessary. They also appear when the pilots use the Break Formation verbal command to break up the current form, so that they can change into another or so they can dodge an enemy's attack.}

WEDNESDAYS  BELONGED  TO GRENDIZER , A GIANT ROBOT/SHIP  THAT WAS CARRIED IN A U.F.O. SHELL AND LAUNCHED DURING BATTLE
{The Vega homeworld has become unstable due to the exploiting of Vegatron, a powerful radioactive ore. Seeking to expand his militaristic empire and find a substitute planet to settle upon, the ruthless King Vega unleashes his armies — composed of flying saucers and giant robotic monsters — and turns first against neighbors such as Fleed, a highly advanced but peaceful world. In a tragically ironic twist, the invaders' blitzkrieg turns against them: the once verdant, idyllic Fleed is turned into a radioactive wasteland. Too late, the only known survivor of the royal family, Prince Duke Fleed, manages to steal the Grendizer, the robotic embodiment of the Fleedian God of War, from the Vegan invaders who plan to use it to spearhead their invasion fleet. Grendizer is a giant robot that interfaces with Spazer, a flying saucer that enables the robot to fly.
Fleeing Vegan space by flying at faster than light speed, Duke enters our solar system and switches course to Earth, making a rough landing in Japan, on the slopes of Mount Fuji. He is befriended by Doctor Umon, a noted scientist who oversees a research laboratory called the Space Science Lab near a small ranch. The kindly Umon takes in the young humanoid alien as his son, under the assumed name of Daisuke, and assists him in hiding Grendizer. Taking the name Daisuke Umon, Duke Fleed works at the ranch run by Danbei Makiba
Roughly two years later, Kouji Kabuto returns to Japan after studying abroad in a flying saucer he personally designed and built (called the TFO). He heads to the Space Science Lab after hearing of multiple sightings of "flying saucers". He plans to contact the aliens if possible and make peace with them. Daisuke, however, scoffs at the notion and fears that these aliens, the Vegans, led by generals Blaki and Gandal, are preparing to attack Earth. Kouji ignores his warnings and flies out to meet the incoming saucers, only to discover the horrible truth. In order to save Kouji and protect his adoptive homeworld from destruction, Daisuke is forced to return to his true identity as Duke Fleed. He unearths Grendizer from its hiding place under the lab and sets off to fight his enemies.
The Vegans establish a base on the dark side of the moon and start to attack Earth from there. Kouji discovers Duke Fleed’s true identity and their bitter rivalry soon turns to friendship. The daughter of Danbei Makiba, Hikaru, also discovers Daisuke’s secret and becomes a pilot in order to assist him despite his objections. Later on, it is revealed that there were two more survivors from planet Fleed: Duke’s younger sister Maria Grace Fleed and a man who had rescued her and fled to Earth, raising her under the guise of her grandfather. Caught in a crossfire between Grendizer and a Vegan beast, he reveals to Maria that she is the last survivor of the royal family of Fleed (under the belief that Duke was killed) before dying from his wounds. Maria swears revenge on Grendizer and its pilot. She tries to ambush Duke, Kouji and Hikaru at the Space Science Lab, but the fight is short lived. Maria’s attacks brings Duke’s necklace (which is the same as the one she wore) into view and the truth is revealed. The lost siblings are reunited at last and Maria becomes the last addition to the team.
As the conflict nears the end, it is shown that Duke Fleed was engaged to King Vega’s daughter, Princess Rubina, prior to the attack on Fleed. When Rubina discovers that planet Fleed is no longer polluted with Vegatron radiation and that her fiancé is alive and well, she rushes to Earth to bring him the good news. Unfortunately, one of King Vega’s generals uses this opportunity to ambush Duke Fleed, and Rubina is killed when she takes a shot aimed at Duke. This makes Duke even more determined to wipe out the Vegan menace once and for all.
King Vega decides to gather his remaining forces and make an all-out attack on Earth, destroying the Moon Base to coax his troops into fighting to the end and finally succeed in invading Earth and taking it as their new home planet. Duke and company go out to intercept them in Grendizer and the newly-designed space combat Spazers. After a fierce battle, they finally manage to destroy the Vegan mothership along with King Vega himself. Soon afterwards, Duke and Maria bid a tearful farewell to Earth and their friends and return to help reconstruct planet Fleed.}

 THURSDAY CONTINUED THE SERIES WITH THE SPACEKEETERS, WHO DIDNT  USE GIANT ROBOTS AND BATTLE BUT HAD AWESOME WEAPONS THEY USED TO FIGHT GIANT MONSTERS(WITH A TEAM TEMPLATE LATER USED BY VOLTORN AND POWER RANGERS ECT.)
{The story revolves around the Princess of the Moon, Aurora and her three cyborg companions (Kugo, Djorgo, Haka) who must travel to the Great King planet and restore the Galaxy Energy. The universe is becoming more and more unbalanced as the Queen of the great Planet grows older. Their adventure includes battling the starmen who are transformed from the unbalanced minerals and planets.}

WHICH BRINGS US TO FRIDAY ,AND LIKE MANY OF MY FRIENDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS WAS THE DAY WE WAITED ALL WEEK FOR. THE REASON WAS BECAUSE FRIDAYS WAS THE DAY THEY SHOWED  GAIKING!  GAIKING WAS BY FAR THE FRESHEST, ILLEST GIANT ROBOT OF THE FORCE FIVE SERIES AND HE JUST STRAIT UP OWNED SHIT!
{The story chronicled the battle between the crew of the semi-transformable carrier Daikū Maryū  and the Super Robot Gaiking invented by Prof. Hightech against an invading race of aliens called the Dark Horror Army from the planet Zela whose home planet is facing destruction by a black hole as their population starts to mutate (the fact that their bearded ruler now wears his face on upside-down is considered only a minor mutation). Notable aspects of the series include the dinosaur-based designs of the Daikū Maryū and its support machines and the use of part of the carrier to form the main robot. The robot Gaiking was piloted by former baseball star named Aries Astronopolis with the carrier being called the "Great Space Dragon, who was drafted for the job because his latent psychic powers made him the only one capable of doing so, all other similarly empowered candidates having been assassinated by alien agents with he himself having been injured in an attack that ended his sports career. Gaiking is most easily distinguished from other mecha by its skull-shaped golden torso formed from the head of the Daikū Maryū and its golden horns.}

ON TOP OF THE SHOW ,THERE HAVE BEEN MOVIES DEDICATED TO EACH OF THE ROBOTS FROM THE FORCE FIVE SERIES, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE TOY LINES. AS ONE OF THE FIRST GREAT CARTOON  ROBOT SERIES FROM JAPAN TO HIT U.S. TELEVISON SETS,YOU CAN SEE THE INFLUENCE IT WOULD HAVE ON OTHER SIMILAR SHOWS IN YEARS TO COME LIKE STAR BLAZERS,ROBOTECH ,TRANZOR  Z ,AND ALL THE REST!

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