This year’s ILLfest was one that will be talked about for decades to come… Creating a vibe all its own, ILLFest 2025 was a high-intensity thrill ride from start to finish! Three days of non-stop music and mayhem, it was one of those encapsulated pieces of time where you just had to be there. Kind of like when John Lennon said you just had to live in New York in the 1970s; well, if you’re a headbanger, you just had to be at ILLFest in 2025.
Pinning down the vibe of ILLFest remained quite a difficult task, as there was so much going on throughout the weekend that it was almost impossible. At certain times of the day, it felt a bit wavy and grooved you into the night. A few moments later, it became totally unhinged, causing you to bounce off the rails and take two aspirin with your morning cup of coffee. Then, in the blink of an eye, it got really hood really fast, throwing up your set and getting down with Texas’s two leading forces of Hip-Hop.
Regardless of the circumstances, IWANTEDM was there to explore this intrinsic weekend of music, art, good vibes, and pure chaos.
Let the games begin!
Day One started with full energy and plenty of Vigor! Curious about this new 360 Illusions stage located right in the center of the Expo, I decided I’d better take a gander at that first. After entering the grounds and grabbing a quick bite to eat from this amazing Korean BBQ place, I made my way to the 360 stage. OkayJake was just about to perform. An emerging Deadbeats artist from Atlanta, he was a must-see for me. Recently dropping his Overcast album, he played nothing but bangers and plenty of my favorite tracks off this album.
After OkayJakes set, I made a mad dash to Your Mom’s House ( Main stage ) to catch Flozone and Gunpoints B2B. I saw Flozone recently supporting TVBOO out in Dallas a few months prior, and it was time for another serving. After catching their wicked B2B from the ILLFest VIP area, I grabbed some more refreshments, and it was back to the 360 stage. It was time to get Wonky Baby! You know who I’m referring to, none other than Mr. Wonky Willa. The top hat-wearing Wub Factory was nothing short of candy-coated bangers! “ Is you rollin’, B*tch I might be” rang loudly through the speakers as the crowd raged on.
Having a bad habit of getting stuck in one place, I remained at the 360 stage to indulge in the musical stylings of Smith. Having seen him at Tape B’s block party last year, I knew I was in for a treat. With curly hair flowing vigorously in the wind, Smith. played banger after banger. A fusion of heavy bass and hardcore hip-hop, Smith had everyone bobbing their heads and “switching their minds to G-mode.”
Late Night
Lastly, in the evening came Late Night Radio, or as I like to call him, your older brother’s favorite DJ. Closing out the 360 Illusion stage in immaculate style, Late Night Radio was a vibe all on its own… no, no, not a vibe; more of a groove, I shall say. I decided to miss Deathpact and catch him in the Afters, so I could groove to LNR. After setting up his laptop and what looked to be a mixer or MIDI pad, it was time to get everybody’s heart started. Gliding across the stage as if he were levitating, the journey began.
Playing numerous hits off his most recent EP Nocturne, as well as many of his popular collabs with Daily Bread, Late Night Radio was the breath of fresh air to give me a second wind for the evening. Out of nowhere, he threw in this Wu-Tang, or maybe it was a Method Man flip, whatever the case may be, it was so Fu*kin’ cool! Everybody went nuts; instantly, I was transported to the 90s, sneaking into my brother’s Bedroom and stealing his Wu-Tang Clan CDs out of his booklet. Kids these days don’t appreciate the delicate textures that go into subtle things like this.
The B2B I knew i needed!
Then came the most epic B2B of the weekend… Tape B and Peekaboo. Holy Sh*t! A beautiful love child of these two astounding artists, this set was ungodly. It was a garage-y filled journey through hip-hop. With my 59-50 Texas Rangers hat flipped to the back, and my inner rude-boy on my sleeve, it was time to let all my energy surge at full speed. Ripping through numerous versions of their acclaimed hits, these two artists have a massive amount of bangers to work with. A highlight for me was Tape B’s Soulja Boy – Turn My Swag On flip as well as a remix of Zeds Dead’s “Collapse.”
After a cataclysmic headlining performance from Tape B and Peekaboo, it was time to regroup and head to the afters. I’ve never been to the Concourse Project before, so I was excited to check out the venue for the first time. After stopping by a nearby gas station for electrolytes and food, I was running short on time. I did not want to miss Canabliss’ set! My wife always teases me that that’s my producer crush, although I can’t argue with her; I just love her style.
Meet me at the Afters
I made it through the door and barged my way to the front of the stage. Thankfully, she had just barely started her performance. Surrounded by what I assume are VIP guests, the music raged forcefully through the state-of-the-art sound system. I recall leaving later that night and still hearing the music two blocks away at my car. Anyways, Canabliss’s fusion of hard-hitting dance music and high-energy bass music was exactly what this party needed to rage into the wee hours of the morning.
The way she glides across the decks, like some graceful mermaid or elegant dolphin, left me at a loss for words. Her hips moved this way and that, like the Bass version of Shakira. Her wubs were dark and gritty, her bass grungy and encompassing, each note pierced through the night air. Just when things couldn’t get any better, she threw in this Beastie Boys flip of “Intergalactic”, and the crowd surged with excitement. Big things come in little packages, and the same goes for Canabliss’ energy during her live performances.
Then came Deathpact. “Pace yourself, lad,” I thought as he began to set up. I promised myself I’d stay for a song or two, then call it a night. After all, it was only Day 1… and we had two more to go.
ILLyBird
Feeling bummed that you couldn’t attend this wondrous spectacle? Don’t fret, my friend! ILLybird pre-sale is now officially live for 2026! Smash the link and secure your spot at next year’s ILLFest at an amazing price point! “Were just getting started” Stay tuned for Day two!