iLLAMADi, London Sensation

iLLAMADi: “I always wanted to be a performer from when I was young. I get that from my Dad as he was a musician when he was younger and also had a little stint with me my brothers and sisters in a Jackson 5 like African band called the Flaming Stars.�

 

Where He’s From: London entertainer iLLAMADi, whose Zodiac sign in Cancer, was born in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda to William and Betty Allimadi. He moved with his family to London, UK, in 1986. “I was raised in the East and North London ‘burbs,” he tells The Black Star News. “My pops always told me the three most important things in life are education, education and education.”

iLLAMADi started school in East London Willowfield Secondary before switching to Salisbury Secondary which was right across the road from his home. “I always wanted to be a performer from when I was young. I get that from my Dad as he was a musician when he was younger and also had a little stint with me my brothers and sisters in a Jackson 5 like
African band called the Flaming Stars. More so when I used to read my uncles’ Hip-Hop magazines and listen to their tapes. Big up Ronnie and Colin Allimadi. But I properly launched my career as late as 2005.”

iLLAMADi says he has a four-stage vision for his career. “Stage one is, cliché, but, get my name out there; stage two, more commercial airplay and promotion; stage three, more shows and gigs; and, stage four, world domination—mua-hahahahaha. Stage one is nearing completion so far so good.”

Where He’s At: Ironically, iLLAMADi says sometimes being down with the DJs is detrimental to one’s career. “I have a lot of connects already and I’m quite known in the entertainment circle, but sometimes that’s a bad thing if you’re too well known because a lot of these DJs and promoters, I know as friends and they sometimes won’t take you serious because they think I’m just going through a ‘rapping phase.’”

iLLAMADi won the UK’s Urban Diesel-U-Music Award last year which earned him a good full page article in Hip-Hop Connection. He’s also launched a clothing label with his cousin, Justin Mwaka, C.E.O. of Lyrics4Lyrics in the UK. “In London it’s recognized as a proper urban clothing label for the urban kids and urban artists—basically everyone and anyone associated with music and the urban lifestyle knows about Lyrics4Lyrics.” See www.myspace.com/lyrics4lyrics

Where He’s Heading: iLLAMADi cautions other young entertainers to “always read” between the small print before hooking up with labels or promoters. “It’s a cut throat industry and you need to be smart, clever, wise, and cautious,
if you don’t wanna be left hung out to dry.”
 
So how does iLLAMADi prepare to step out? “I wear Lyrics4Lyrics all day, everyday, up and down, standardly, dandardly.”

iLLAMADi’s Words Of Wisdom: “Keep it real; but not too real.”
iLLAMADi’s Secrets Of Success: “Practice, perseverance, and prayer.”
iLLAMADi’s Favorite Three Movies: “Shawshank Redemption, Boyz In The Hood, Ray.”
iLLAMADi’s Favorite Three Books: “The Old Testament, The New Testament, and my yet-to-be-published-biography.”
The First Three Things iLLAMADi Would Do As President: “Change the flag; Say sorry to Iraq and Vietnam; and, bring Osama, Elvis and 2pac out of hiding.”
iLLAMADi’s Favorite Cars: “The new Audi TT Quattro. It’s an indication of the near future, how cars should really look like.”

For more information about iLLAMADi please visit
www.myspace.com/illamardi.

For bookings please contact [email protected]

For more information about Lyrics4Lyrics please visit
www.myspace.com/lyrics4lyrics or contact [email protected]

 

 

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