Jilla
Rockford, Illinois, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005 | SELF
Music
Press
21st annual Juneteenth on tap Sunday Juneteenth 2011, the 21st annual event, features art and food vendors, games for kids and live musical performances from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Sinnissippi Music Shell, 1401 N. Second St., Rockford. Rain location is Millennium Center, 220 S. Madison St., Rockford. Juneteenth celebrates African-American heritage by commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas in 1865. It is presented in Rockford by Inner - Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Il) June 17, 2011
Winners announced at Thursday's 19th Rockford Area Music Industry Awards Ceremony at the Tebala Shrine Temple in Rockford: Blues: Steve Ditzell & Blue Lightning Band Cabaret/Broadway: Mike Williamson Trio Choral Group: Rock Valley Community Chorale Christian: Epiphany Classical Ensemble: Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra Classical Instrumentalist: Katie Schulz Country/Bluegrass: Southern Heritage DJ: DJ Jordan Chance Folk/Solo - Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Il) April 30, 2010
Winners announced at Thursday's 19th Rockford Area Music Industry Awards Ceremony at the Tebala Shrine Temple in Rockford: Blues: Steve Ditzell & Blue Lightning Band Cabaret/Broadway: Mike Williamson Trio Choral Group: Rock Valley Community Chorale Christian: Epiphany Classical Ensemble: Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra Classical Instrumentalist: Katie Schulz Country/Bluegrass: Southern Heritage DJ: DJ Jordan Chance Folk/Solo - Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Il) April 30, 2010
Band name: Young Jilla Web site or contact info: myspace.com/jilla815; ejilla1@yahoo.com Members: Solo artist Formed in: 2005 I sound like: Myself What's the inspiration for your name? My godbrother actually gave me this name when I was 13 -- just randomly. How did you start? Watching Notorious B.I.G Coolest story so far from a show: Performed in Beaver Dam, Wis., and chicks tried to pull us off the stage. Where's the worst place you've played? - Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Il) March 26, 2010
Chris "Whiteboy" Riley and Elijah "Young Jilla" Johnson of Rockford headlined a concert Dec. 12 at Bar 3 in downtown Rockford to raise funds for Rockford Rescue Mission. Johnson won the Knockdown Entertainment Bout to Blow Artist of the Year award Nov. 14 at a ceremony in Memphis. He is managed by Rockford native Tim Ferguson, now based in Nashville. Learn more at myspace.com/jilla815. Each Monday in GO, we offer They Went, photo pages of how people had fun over the week - Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Il) December 23, 2009
Chris "Whiteboy" Riley and Elijah "Young Jilla" Johnson of Rockford headlined a concert Dec. 12 at Bar 3 in downtown Rockford to raise funds for Rockford Rescue Mission. Johnson won the Knockdown Entertainment Bout to Blow Artist of the Year award Nov. 14 at a ceremony in Memphis. He is managed by Rockford native Tim Ferguson, now based in Nashville. Learn more at myspace.com/jilla815. Each Monday in GO, we offer They Went, photo pages of how people had fun over the week - Rockford Register Star (Rockford, Il) December 23, 2009
Discography
Welcome to Planet Swag Mixtape (2008 Flexkamp Entertainment)
Tunnel Vision Mixtape (2010 Flexkamp Entertainment)
Success Conscious EP (December 24, 2013)
I Am Jilla EP (March 2015)
Photos
Bio
All black attire with intentions to be great, Jilla brings a refreshing sound and energy to the world of hip hop. Considering himself an artist rather than a rapper, he has the future of music in the palms of his hands. Success doesn't come easy, but Jilla will not let anything or anyone come between the goal of putting out great music.
Raised in Rockford, IL, he began to take rap seriously at the end of his senior year of high school. He enrolled in Jackson State University, a predominately black school, because of its rich culture and history. It was there that he built relationships with other artists and relied on the backpack approach to excel in his newfound "hobby." Music was embedded in him and it was destined that he would be major.
By the spring of 2007, Jilla dropped out of college due to financial woes, and linked up with longtime friend and manager Tim Ferguson. Under Mr. Ferguson and his Flexkamp Entertainment imprint, Jilla dropped his first project Welcome to Planet Swag in the summer of 2007. The release came with limited reviews, so he ultimately decided to get back in the studio and perfect his sound. Not long after, he dropped his second effort Tunnel Vision in early 2008, which gave him the motivation he needed to catapult his buzz to the next level.
With his single "Tonight" in heavy rotation, Jilla had began to receive the attention he had been waiting for. Nominated for two awards, including Knocdown ENT Bout to Blow Artist of the year (Memphis 2009) and RAMI Hip Hop Artist of the Year (Rockford 2010, he won both respectively), he made a name for himself not only in his hometown, but in surrounding cities as well, with the result of his first promo tour.
After doing numerous local and out of town shows, he began to cultivate a following he hasn't seen before. The opening act for the likes of Flo Rida, Juicy J, and Twista, to name a few, Jilla has gotten the opportunity to experience the big crowds and high energy that it brings. It was then that family and personal issues would demise the manager/artist relationship between him and Mr. Ferguson. He took matters in his own hands, and slowly took over his city, one fan at a time.
The year 2013 was promising to be big, and he took advantage of every opportunity quick. Performing at least every weekend during the summer months, including stops in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Madison, WI, he had all the momentum to pursue every goal, all the while gearing up for his next effort Success Conscious. This project is his best work to date, boasting smooth tracks with straight-to-the-point lyrics. Released on Christmas Day 2013, Jilla began to make a strong statement in the area, lyrically and performance-wise.
This new chapter is unfolding right before his eyes, and is the beginning of something great. "I've built my brand from the ground up, and I don't plan on looking back," affirms Jilla. Releasing the club friendly record "Doubt That" in the summer of 2014, the record proves to show a different style that Jilla has yet to display. "I want to inspire people to be themselves, and if my music is the fuel that drives them, then my job is done."
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