Ill Semantics are New Zealand Hip Hop pioneers from east Auckland with a decade of experience in the music industry. The group’s members – MC Patriarch, Nemesis and DJCXL - have been inspirational in the local scene and many of their pioneering ways have been foundational influences in New Zealand hip hop. They are renowned for their live performances – having the ability to rock the crowd allows them to put this experience to good use in building and developing their new artists using the tricks of the trade and fast tracking their arrival in the live arena.
Ill Semantics signed to the Dawn Raid label in early 2000, releasing two albums and chart topping singles, Highway, and Watching You (a remake of the famous Ardijah single).
Their first single, Highway, was nominated in the top 5 finalists at New Zealand’s top songwriters awards: the Silver Scrolls 2003.
Their first album, Theory of Meaning, was packed with cutting-edge, original New Zealand hip-hop and is regarded by many as one of New Zealand’s best hip-hop albums.
The team stepped it up a notch on their sophomore album Good Musik; released 2006 the album is a well-polished, international sounding effort, with hits such as On and On, Take it Slow, and Fiasco. After this achievement, the group – led by MC Patriarch (Mark Arona) – decided to create their own independent music label.
Illegal Musik was formed and set up in 2007, inking a P&D deal with Warner Music NZ MD, Phil Howling. The first signing to the foundational label was multi-platinum selling artist J.Williams.
Focusing on a music label – and, in DJCXL’s case, a successful solo career – doesn’t mean the group’s musical aspirations are terminally on-hold. Keep an eye on IllegalMusik.co.nz for news on the as yet untitled Ill Semantics III!