T.Calmese

By William E. Ketchum III

Considering Detroit's plethora of hip-hop talent, it's easy to overlook top-tier music while keeping up with the more familiar names. Some may know Terron "iLLite" Calmese for his work with One Be Lo's Subterraneous Records crew and The Chosen..., his album with partner-in-rhyme Octane. But his top tier debut Crème De La Crème last year established him as one of the most unjustly slept-on emcees in the area. Listeners to The Champion Mixtape, his new effort with Detroit-bred G-Unit producer-DJ (and Metro Times alum) Nick Speed, may realize that iLLite deserves as much attention as any rapper in the state.

One needs to look no further than the opening track, "Be It," to see that iLLite's primary assets are his effortless, measured delivery and deadpan wit: "Now hurt yourself trying to follow my bravado, you wallow in your sorrow trying to keep up with the kid, nigga better luck tomorrow," he spews over an upbeat soundbed from Vitamin D. But other songs are more substantial. He mulls over decisions he's made in "Time Machine," and the mixtape-closing "Goodbye" finds him recounting his ups and downs in the music industry while praising his contemporaries.

And in true Michigan hip-hop fashion, The Champion Mixtape's beats hit just as hard as the rhymes. While Nick Speed offers several standouts, his layered arrangement of pianos, guitar twangs and drums on "Be Alright" is plenty for iLLite to describe a big man on campus who isn't as happy as he seems. "Off The Heart" sees Ypsilanti producer 14KT resurrecting an offering from his lauded The Golden Hour instrumental album to supplement iLLite's somber narrative about a waning friendship. Magestik Legend, zHAO, and other Michigan beatsmiths offer heat throughout as well.

The Champion Mixtape shows, again, that iLLite has the talent and the ear for beats to place him with the big dogs in Michigan's hip-hop scene. Hopefully, listeners will pay attention.

Download iLLite's The Champion Mixtape here: http://tiny.cc/illite

Download iLLite’s The Champion Mixtape here: tiny.cc/illite
- Detroit Metro Times

by Tom Matich

I love those grimy, gully, gangsta grooves with raw, rugged, ricocheting rhymes and murky, moody, boom bap beats.

Meet Octane & Illite, the dynamic, mic-crushing duo branching off the Subterraneous Crew. Their new album, The Forgotten … Chosen, is a heat rock of rapid-fire rhymes and soulful, pyroclastic production. My favorite cut is "Bang," a shrill, cold steel blast of harrowing harps and bludgeoning breakbeats. The chorus goes, "Turn your system up if you in the whip / Roll the windows down and let it BANG!"

"That was like one of my first actual solo songs ever recorded," Illite says. "I wrote it back in the Waterworld Too days when we was takin' trips to Chicago, Minnesota, Wisconsin riding five deep in a Neon or Jes' Grand Am, man. So I was in a real hungry mind state so that was where the griminess came from. Jes produced it. He let me hear the beat and I had to have it."

Another standout is "Forgotten … Chosen." "Forgotten Chosen is a term that describes not only us but the Detroit/Michigan hip-hop scene as a whole," Illite explains. "We just (got) slept on in Michigan; the talent here is unmatched. It's crazy because the people who know, know — and those who don't, really don't have a clue."

Get familiar. Octane & Illite's The Forgotten … Chosen is available at myspace.com/phrikshundubs. - Real Detroit Weekly

Written By: Crystal McMillian November 7, 2006

"It's the S-U-B-T-E-R-R-A-N-E-O-U-S! Who's next?" Stomping through the streets of Pontiac and Detroit respectively, Octane and Illite's debut album The Forgotten… Chosen brings the best of two of Michigan's grimiest cities. The project has been highly anticipated by hip hop heads everywhere, seeing as how the duo has been rockin' shows under the Subterraneous Records banner (home of Binary Star and Majestik Legend) for quite a while. The Forgotten Chosen is nineteen tracks of pure, unadulterated; 200-proof (read 100%) HIP HOP. No fake thug analogies or booty clap radio joints here. Only complex rhyme schemes, beats that give you whip lash, and clever metaphors that you can't help but to memorize and repeat. I was impressed with how the intro and interludes put you in the mind of an archaeological expedition (Johnny Quest on that ass!) From track one, it's as if we've discovered the Holy Grail of hip hop; locked in some ancient relic in the bowels of a pyramid in a remote part of Africa. They carry the theme throughout the entire album. Its exciting listening to each song as it unfolds. I could honestly push play and let the ENTIRE album ride out, a rarity in the industry of gimmicks and elementary hooks.

Octane and Illite have taken phenomenal beats from some of the freshest producers in the state. Cliff Notes (of the Lab Techs), Big Tone (MoJoe Music), Nick Speed (Nix Productions), Majestik Legend, Zhao-Ski, and Decompoze (all of Trackezoids), contribute their skills on the MPC to what I consider one of the most prolific albums on the Michigan scene this year. There are collaborations with label mates One.Be.Lo and Kodac as well as cameos by Elzhi of Slum Village and Big Tone. "Forgotten Chosen", the title track, was produced by DJ Phrikshun, also known as Octane, and is a great intro to the album. Both lyricists take a verse to familiarize the O. and I. laymen with their skills and make known their vicious intentions for the following eighteen.

"I'm on some sexist shit/ You bitches betta quit/ I rip a show -get the dough/ The flow is effortless/ I'm on some 'Best Of' shit/ it's like my testament/ Its only one word to describe me: Excellent." – Octane

"Leave Me Alone", the ultimate message to the haters, has got this hook ("Haters get ya paper and leave me alone!") that I haven't been able to get out of my head since I watched them perform it back in February. You know no album is complete without the obligatory "chick" track, and "SO BAD" is much more than that. Produced by Decompoze of Subterraneous, it's the story of woman, beautiful on the outside but rotted and wretched on the inside. Her ugly attitude and material requirements are accurately accented by an ill sample and quotables like:

"…remember in the days/ conversatin' crazy topics/ she say she independent / say she not/ she get offended/ end up putting dents in ya pocket/ have you pouring sense out ya wallet/ you ain't got no sense if you fallin' for it." – Illite

Though my personal favorite track is "Let Me Get 'Em", produced by one Mr. Nick Speed, with it's beat bangin' and Oc and Ill hittin' it like only they can, unfortunately, I gotta let you cop it and listen yourself because I CANNOT talk about The Forgotten… Chosen without mentioning "Dunk Low". This is Octane and Illite's tribute to the gym shoe fanatics. In the true spirit of Run DMC, it's like a "how to" for beginning sneaker heads and a "please don't" for the kick-collector perpetrators.

"I'm ya favorite rapper's favorite rapper minus the dumb song/ standing on stage with my Heineken dunks on"
Produced by Majestik Legend, the horns are crazy. If you ever have the opportunity to see this pair live, and I hope you do, BEWARE! The energy during this song is off the Richter. Watch ya head 'cause if you're not careful you may find ya arms up, supporting Octane and his dunk lows in a crazy crowd diving scenario.

Octane and Illite never use their tracks as a crutch. Sticking true to the underground philosophy of quality over big contracts, they are lyrically remarkable. On some tracks, Octane's swagger over powers Illite's cooler delivery, but over all they balance each other out pretty well. You can hear the hunger, without that annoying desperation sometimes present in so many other "underground" projects. And what I love most is that it sounds like they had a lot of fun. You can hear the passion from track one to nineteen. I think it's important that an artist love what they do. It's evident that they do.

If I had to rate The Forgotten… Chosen with platinum mics or gold stars or silver eight tracks, yummy marshmallow moons or whatever, I'd have to give it a solid eight (8), only because to give it a ten would imply that Octane and Illite have reached their pinnacle. The truth is, with tracks like "The Sub Anthem", and "Focus" this album has definite classic potential. I'm sure they've got plenty more where this one came from. - Listd.net

ILLITE: CRÈME DE LA CRÈME RAP.

OK, we ain’t sayin nuthin new if we say the Detroit scene is one of the most blooming rap scenes of the world, but after almost every release from that area we have to underline that statement. Especially with the release of Illite’s debut release ‘Crème De La Crème’ that was issued last July. Attentive fans of the Subterranous crew, have obviously bought Illite & Octane’s ‘The Forgotten…Chosen’, the album that anticipated Illite’s solo record and already showed us a piece of the latter’s talents. Forget Black Milk, Phat Kat or Guilty Simpson for a minute, here’s Michigan’s latest sensation…

At first the album was supposed to be a mixtape right, how did it turn into a full debut album?

Basically, I decided ‘why wait?’ I had been going real hard in the studio for a minute and I finally got the confidence in the work I was doing, enough to put it out as people's first look at me as a solo artist.

Are you still looking for any distribution for the record or you gonna keep pushing it independent?

I'm always looking for more ways to make my music more available but in the meantime we're gonna keep pushing it as hard as we can until someone takes notice.

The album is entitled 'Crème de la Crème': do you think you are making the best music you've ever made right now?

Yeah, but it’s funny because I feel like the best is yet to come. It’s by far the most personal I've been.

Is it your purpose to become the best rapper in the game?

Nope, just the best me.

According to you, who's the crème of de la crème of today's rappers, why?

Man, that’s a good one. Off top I like Common, Jay-Z, Nas, Elzhi, Kanye, Black Thought and Little Brother. I tend to lean towards them because I can tell they put effort into their music, or even if not, it sounds like it and they say some pretty thought-provoking things in my opinion.

Living the best way is that making a lot of money, or in case you'd have to give up your credibility in exchange for the money, would you settle for less?

Nah, I wouldn't say it’s just making a lot of money, I mean don’t get me wrong I like money, who doesn't?! Especially in today's climate! But I believe that integrity should stand above all as an artist. Me personally, I wouldn't give up my credibility in exchange for money. I mean as I've grown I can honestly see why some people do. You never know anyone’s situation or what they even got into music for in the first HYPERLINK "http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGxhY2UuSXQ=" \t "_blank" place. It just depends what you in it for. I think about this ‘ok, so after the money is spent, things are bought, recognition, etc. etc. then what?’ I think who you are leaves a much bigger impression on the world than what you have, granted it does enhance it in some cases, but money doesn't play a part when it comes to my morals and values, things like that. I don't see myself ever settling, I believe being yourself is priceless and long as you have a strong sense of that everything else will fall into place.

At the end, what would you like to have accomplished as a rapper?

To be known as someone who had a dream and followed threw with it.

Is Subterraneous still a crew, since most members went on to make solo recordings?

Sub is where I got my start, that’s where I learned the basics, everything from writing complete songs and concepts to the performance aspect of the game. We'll always be a crew in my eyes even though everybody's doing their solo thing right now.

How would you compare Illite the emcee of then with Illite the emcee of now?

I'm older, I've experienced a lot more of life and I think I've expanded my horizons a little more. I listen to different kinds of music. You might catch me bangin’ some Hall and Oates, some Phil Collins or even some Jon Secada now (laughs)! The 80’s is the shit!!! I've always liked different music man but I'm embracing my ‘inner-nerd’ these days, ha! But seriously, I know a lot more and I'm not afraid to try new things musically anymore either and I'm always open to hear what cats think good or bad, I'll listen but when I'm in my zone, I'm in my zone, I don't care.

You and Octane have been working/performing together since years, how was it like to make an album on your own?

It wasn't too bad actually. Of course it’s pressure because it’s just me on record this time out. But it wasn't bad because everything I did I ran it by him and the rest of the crew to see what they thought. Everybody had their favourites.

Like you mentioned before, you actually got more personal on this album, to what extent can you get personal on a record if it's with Octane?

I can get pretty personal buts it’s only so much you can say within the time span we allow ourselves when we do songs and anyone who knows me knows when I something hits home hard enough I have a lot to say about it.

'Tryin to rap my way back to sanity'; do you write therapeutically or does the writing come much later (after the ups and downs)?

Everytime I write it’s therapeutic but it just depends, I can’t call it, sometimes it comes right then and sometimes it doesn't come till later. Sometimes waaay later.

'Can't Give Up': where there any times in your career that you wanted to stop with the rap game?

Yep!

Some rappers travel, some rappers take a dictionary, some rappers read the papers, some rappers have a very good imagination, what are your techniques to put more depth into your themes and texts?

I would say a little bit of all that. I kinda eased up on the dictionary thing though. I used to do that in high school to ‘sound’ clever (laughs)! But now I just do, watch, and listen a lot. I'm reading more these days though.

'I'm an ace when I face the bass'; do you start off of a beat or do you start with the writings?

Yeah, I like to start with a beat. Every once in a while I might have an idea and then come across the beat later but 90% of the time, the music inspires me.

Like for example the collabo with Nick Speed, how do you start to collaborate, I suppose both of you know each other well, so Nick lets you hear some beats, or you pick a beat from his beat tapes,..?

Both, We use to just record for the sake of having something new. I was times I'd be going threw something. Go over Speed’s crib, he'd play a beat or something and I'd just drop. We got a lot of ruff/unfinished songs and one versers (laughs).

With this rap shit, stack chips independent'; you're launching your new label Movement Kicksounds, how's everything going?

Yeah, Kicksounds got a crazy roster, Octane, Fes Roc, Leef Mayfield, Zhao-ski and myself. Everything is going good. Tryin’ to get everything off the ground and gain this momentum. We'll see what happens. Shout out to D-Roc behind the scenes!

Why did you decide to start a label and what are your goals with it?

I mean basically we've decided to put ourselves on. We needed organization. It was a brainchild me and Fes had. The goal as of now is to put out quality music and make people realize what we have over here as far as the talent is concerned.

Could you tell us more on how you got Vitamin D to work with you?

Basically it was a hook up through Speed, like I said earlier I would come threw there and he would play me joints. One day he was playin me some vitamin D joints and he said dude was tryin to hear more Detroit over his music and dude had some heat so I just dropped to it.

Can we ever expect Black Milk, Guilty Simpson or Elzhi on your album?

Definitely!! We had El on the last joint. I didn't get to work with him this time around because he was recording ‘The Preface’ at the same time but we got some things brewing. Black is down to work on the next project and I'm a get at Guilt when the times right. That’s Detroit right there, so it’s inevitable!

The Michigan scene is blooming more than before, Dilla would be proud right? How would you explain this 'boom' of good producers and rappers coming out of the Michigan area?

Yea, I know Dilla would be proud and I can't explain it, man...I think it’s something in the water or something! (laughs)

You was on Now On's 'Eye Level', how did you connect with Now On?

That’s been fam since day one. I remember them cats from back in the day. They were in a group called Funktelligence that had a crazy buzz in the Ann Arbor area and overseas. We always vibed, so they hit me with the track and it was natural. They killin shit now too!

You are 'Forgotten…Chosen', in what way do you link God with your music? Do you think God chose you to rap?

I link God directly. I know without him there is no me period. As far as him choosing me, that’s funny, I don't know, I know a lot of times I was real close to hangin it up and I'm still creating so....I don't know.

'The Forgotten': do you feel neglected by the crowd sometimes?

Not necessarily, but I do feel the music we do is not accepted by the masses the way it should be, not just me but my circle, Detroit for that matter! But I'm done complaining about it, all I can do is everything in my power to try and get it available as best that I can and see what happens.

Do you wish you'd be an artist releasing records outside the Internet era or with the Internet? In other words how supportive is Internet, and at the other hand what are the disadvantages of it?

I'mma start with these Myspace rappers first! It’s wack to me. The thing is, its easy to ‘rap’ these days and I say that because, everything is so digital, all you need is a couple dollars and a hot beat (if it’s your own) and you can basically put yourself out here as a ‘rapper’ on Myspace (one of the biggest sites around right now). And it’s really false advertisement because you’re not that hot! On the flipside for me and cats like me the internet is providing a lot of opportunities to get exposed to people who probably wouldn't have a clue otherwise. I'm glad I'm in the era I'm in though. And as far as downloading...I don't mind if you download my music, I mean I wanna make money, so please support if you can, I’m nowhere near having as much as I would like right now (laughs), but getting the music out there is my main priority at this point.

What was the first rap album you bought?

I think it was ‘Resurrection’ by Common Sense.

What was the last rap album you've uploaded unto your iPod?

Don't have a iPod yet, need one, I'm horrible with CD’s but I think the last album I got was Nas' last one.

When was the first time you heard a Dilla joint?

I had to be in high school. Either Speed, ML, or Leef, play me some shit. Little did I know then, that that guy would literally change the way I heard music!

What's next for Illite?

More shows, tours, and Kicksounds.

Shout-outs?

To everyone who ever came to a show, bought a CD, gave words of encourage, left a comment, gave a pound etc etc. Thank you, yall keep me at this! And shout-out to PLATFORM8470.com for a dope interview. Peace.
Peace man.

©pf October 2008. - www.Platform8470.com