Illmana Profile

Where were you born?
Nottingham

Your favourite hobby and/or present as a kid
Watching Wrestling 'WWF' from TV to the action figures I was a die hard fan lol! That was until I found out it wasn't real :( Broke my heart more than finding out it wasn't Santa who ate the milk n cookies at Xmas...

How you got into being a DJ/presenter
A lot of people won't know this but I used to MC and rap, I was a part of a UKG collective called 'Genervessy'. Our main DJ Nico D showed me the ropes on some Technics belt drive decks, we had to blu-tack two pence pieces to the needles to stop them jumping lol! From there the basics never left me. In '06 I started getting bookings off the back of my Bassline productions and as they got more and more frequent, a hobby turned into a passion and I've been at it ever since.

Your biggest influence(s)
Heartless Crew and Dizzee Rascal... Why? They are both great examples of creative entertainers who have done more than was ever expected of them.

Biggest achievements
Becoming a father...

Key tune that you love or inspired you
Wow were taking it back!
1st 'Onyx - Slam', 1993 - I used to go mad to this tune and loop it up for hours, it was worse than too much sugar! This turned my interest from sports to music!
2nd 'MC Luck & Neat - Little Bit Of Luck' - in 1997 this tune diverted all my interests to underground music which at the time happened to be Old Skool Garage.
3rd 'Musical Mob - Pulse X' - The talk on road was that the tune was made on a game called 'Music 2000' for the playstation - me like a muppet ran down to cash exchange with 'Tekken' and 'Grand Tourismo' to trade them in for the 'Music 2000'. After a few months of playing with the game my passion for production grew... Thank you 'Music 2000' lol!

Favourite lyric?
2Pac Dear Mama "Got to appreciate your mums" / Lady... / Don't Cha know we love ya? Sweet Lady / Dear Mama / Place no one above ya, Sweet lady / You are appreciated / Don't Cha know we love ya?

What's your dream gig or collaboration?
Me and Swizz Beats on production, Alicia Keys & Aaliyah on vocals WOW!

What's for breakfast and how do you start the day
iTunes Playlist - tick!
Shower - tick!
Frosties/Coco Pops Rocks FULL FAT MILK 'blue lid' - tick!
Ribena 'Blackcurrant' - tick!
Great, we're good to go!

Interests / hobbies outside music
Kicking back with my peoples and enjoying life.... I'm an easy going guy point me in the direction of Nandos and I'm smiling all day

Three rules you live your life by
1. Dream a lot! It's your blueprint to success without dreams we have no ambition make your 'Plan', stick by it and make your dreams reality.
2. Loved or hated it's important to only ever be yourself.
3. Set your targets, devise a plan, apply yourself until they're complete, then simple ask yourself "what's next?" keep it moving.

If you ran the country what would you change/initiate?
I'd make Nandos deliver... Then wipe out council tax and any other form of tax that makes you look twice at your pay slip wondering why you bothered working for the month lol!
VOTE ILLMANA

What's your weakness?
I'm a sucker for a pretty face and nice smile! Put Lauren London in front of me and I'd probably do a cartwheel! Lauren if you're reading this holla ; )

What has been your favourite year so far? And why?
2002 being on the Blues and Soul music tour with 'Raw Talent' alongside acts like Shola Ama, Keisha White and Lisa Mafia to name a few. This was my first taste of life on the inside of the industry, at the age of 15 I can say this experience woke me up, inspired me and helped get my mind into gear to pursue my dreams!