“I find that the effects of love, whether that be good or bad, we all share as humans.”

I.L.L, a Chicago born artist, feels that something that connects the scene in his city is the fact that Chicago artists tend to document both the highs and the lows of their lifestyle, directly through their music. For I.L.L, the emotion that he tends to address is love, even embodying that very sentiment in his name (I.L.L being an abbreviation for “I Like Love”). In September, I.L.L released his track “Walk Away,” which he acknowledges as one of the more vulnerable pieces of music in his catalog. The track addresses I.L.L’s feelings of monotony, hoping that his fans can relate. In the lyrics of this song, I.L.L continuously refers to the sense of numbness that stems from the repetitions of life. He eagerly searches for a way out, in an internal battle with himself to find joy in the trivial aspects of his routine. The hooks feel raw, making it obvious to the listener that there is emotion being poured into these records. As for the verses themselves, the more up-tempo bars are riddled with the thoughts that seem to be occupying a lot of I.L.L’s mental capacity. I.L.L makes it apparent to the listener that this is not just a casual conflict, but something that seems to be chipping away at him day by day, and the feeling of desperation is evident. While a lot of songs that touch on similar issues end in resolution or some sort of clarity, I.L.L’s does not. This seems intentional, demonstrating that he is stI.L.L on his journey to finding the answer that he is looking for, allowing him to truly “Walk Away” from the confines of a draining routine. While I.L.L’s take on alternative hip-hop may not be everyone’s personal preference, there is no doubt that most anyone can relate to the feeling of solitude and entrapment that overshadows the entirety of this track. Whether it be in a physical or mental sense, we all go through these periods in life, and by showcasing it in such an explicit manner, I.L.L is allowing his fanbase to feel heard, which is something that a lot of other artists can learn from.