We’re bringing back the featured iLL-Homies section with dope-ass photographer Andri Tambunan! Back in ‘05 he hooked us up with our first photoshoot, and since then he’s traveled the world making that magic.

Check out his feature in the iLL-Homies section!

Here’s a picture of us mid-air with the folks from the supafresh youth org Yawp! at our Chicago show last night. We’re all jumping, except for Dahlak, who looks like he’s trying to do some variation of a Russian folk dance. And dude, can Ruby’s eyes be any scarier??

Fortunately, we did another take, and more people were able to get some airtime in this one:

This one’s much better, except it looks like Dahlak has his hand…um…nevermind, let’s not talk about it…

Thanks to all the wonderful folks who came through to our show at Depaul University last night! We had a great great great time playing with y’all, and it was a great way to end our tour season.

So here are a couple of excuses for us to post yet another “Flashing Lights” video on this site:

1. Duhhhhh we’re in Chicago.
2. Kanye shows love to our spoken word compadre Saul Williams on his blog today!

Okay, a bit of a stretch, but enjoy this video from our favorite glow-in-the-dark kid anyway. Besides, the whole thing kinda reminds us of how it feels like when we try to eat at the restaurants in some of these bourgie hotels (expensive ass wireless access too!)

Check out more iLL-opinions on “Flashing Lights” here.

Ganked from Nah Right.

Told you, we don’t play! Our iLL-Homie from the Bay Shannon Matesky z.k.a. Shay Butta is hopping on the mic to warm it up for us at tonight’s Depaul show!

Oh, and did we mention that she’s actually a student at Depaul University now? Yup, she had to call in sick to class one day to fly out to NYC to tape her episode of Def Poetry. Pretty gangsta.

After a short month break, we’re back in Chicagooooooo! Dahlak’s on his way to the telly as we speak. Nico’s getting his coffee, Ruby went to run around on Michigan Avenue. Earlier this morning I went out to Corner Bakery (they don’t have those in Cali) to get these delicious chocolate covered caramel toffee thingies that Nico got me hooked on last time, but alas, there was none.

Last night we got in, checked into the telly, and went straight to Giordano’s for some true stuffed pizza. Since Dahlak hadn’t flown in yet, the rest of the three of us were able to quickly agree on spinach and mushroom, with tomatoes on top (Dahlak usually goes for pepperoni with extra olives). Call us hypocritical, but we kinda prefer Berkeley-style-Chicago-style pizza at Zachary’s over the real deal. I know, I know, it’s like saying that you like Panda Express over food from China, but I’m sorry…what you want me to do??

Anyway, as scrumptious as any pizza from anywhere might be, it’s just not the same the morning after, especially when your room doesn’t have a fridge, microwave, or oven. Any takers?

And Chi folks! Don’t forget about our show at Depaul tonight!

Edit: Nico found the delicious chocolate covered caramel toffee thingies.

Paloma is the hardest-working PR person ever. Did we mention that it was after she declared she was taking a break from her duties that she started up her iLL-blog The Papa Lo-Down?? Regardless, her “time off” has already earned her enough experience to write a memoir at one of our favorite sites, Thickwitness.

Read about her tyrades, burnout, and triumphant Green Ranger-like resurgence here.

Look at that, Neex…got a spot right next to Pharrell…soon you shall be on the front of every girl’s binder.

This weekend millions of people throughout the nation are catching Dahlak’s appearance on The Tavis Smiley Show. The only problem is that if they log on to the website, they’ll find a “creative” way to spell his name, plus a picture that’s a little bit off:

Oh well, I guess we all look the same if we’re pixelated enough. Fortunately, Tavis pronounces Dahlak’s name perfectly like a pro, unlike Mos Def.

But beyond that, do check out D’s commentary on the war, and his radio-friendly version of “When It Hits Home.” Damn, he wrote this like in ‘05…how sad that it’s still so relevant.

Check it above or stream it at TavisSmileyRadio.com

Contrary to us Californians’ fantastic procrastinastic tendencies, we started up pretty early in preparation for the 2009 APIA Spoken Word Summit that’s still a year and some change away.

It gets hot in Oakland June 15 at Volume Control 2, and if you went to the first one in San Jose, you know it gets bizzayyy. This one features an array of iLL-Homies, and Ruby and Adriel keeps you company the whole night through. Shadidai.

Kanye’s not quite an iLL-homie yet but we are all pretty juiced about hitting the Glow in the Dark Tour in San Jose in two weeks! That, mixed with the fact that we’re zooming off to Chicago on Tuesday is enough of an excuse to show this newly-unearthed original version of “Flashing Lights” (sans crazy lady with a shovel).

But yes, “Flashing Lights” is kinda the song. More after the jump: (more…)

Greetings Internetlings,
Pvt. Adriel M. Luis, intergalactic cadet of iLL-Literacy reporting live from sector 946O8z. It appears that during our last mission in Chicago at Northwestern University on 18 April 2008, the iLL-Literacy Brigade left behind a valuable orb containing the powerful mineral Funktonium. As it is a vital natural resource for the survival of inhabitants of the planet Shoopshoopiter, the iLL-Literacy cadets have been assigned back to planet Chicago to return this most funkily fatal chemical to its rightful expenders.

All who are interested in being a part of this most exceptional reclamation of hellatightness must report to Depaul University, in the Student Union Starship, Pod 220 at exactly 8pm Central Standard Time (in Earth digits).

Admission is free…just pay attention, and yo’ ass will reach ascension.

Signing off,
Pvt. Adriel M. Luis

Dude, look what Lacey from Newark Memorial High School made from our stickers! So tight, jealous much we are.

PS: We. Love. Our. Fans.

Please make a note of it.

Oh snap son, we’re on Imaginasian Radio’s Center Stage! It’s a celebrasian!

For a full explanasian, click here.

Hillary might be struggling in that race to the Whitey House, but there’s one Clinton that still rules all–that’s right, folks, Georgie! DJ Phatrick’s Devil’s Pie series stampedes into May with a George Clinton tribute, complete with your favorite Parliament, Funkadelic, Parliament Funkadelic, P-Funk All Stars, and all variations of funkily-named bands care of Mr. Star Child. Plus, it’s celebrating Adriel’s birthday! 100,000 light years old and still stomping, baby. Enough of that though–here’s a slightly photoshopped version of the photo above, with a bunch of words and addresses that may be of interest to you:

RSVP here.