New Illaman EP 'Give Us A Smile' Out Today!

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Head-hunted by Goldie, Potent Funk luminary, frontman of punk/rap band PENGSHUi. Whichever way you spin it, prolific Londoner Illaman is a true master of the mic. And now, with heart firmly on sleeve, he's dropping a brand new EP, 'Give Us A Smile'.

Set for release March 8th on Potent Funk Records - the label run by Dabbla and Sumgii - Give Us A Smile features long-term Illaman associate Norm Oddity on production and sees the diverse MC tackling demons and pushing a heartfelt record, drawn raw from a dark place.

"The EP was written at a time when I was feeling low. Depressed but excited. Whilst both emotions battled each other. I was in the midst of writing with Pengshui (the Punk/Grime band I'm in) which is very high energy and requires a certain mind state."

Give Us A Smile pushes a woozy, spiralling sound, setting a soulful atmosphere which Illaman fills with frank lyrics drawn from a time he describes as feeling "depressed but excited".

The record pivots on a spellbinding collab with Manchester don MC DRS (one third of Broke n English and with a CV including work with Calibre, Marcus Intalex and LTJ Bukem), 'Times of Change', which fits the emotional mood and elevates it with a soulfully-delivered chorus.