Ill Blu

Ill Blu is a London-based production and DJ duo consisting of James Grant and Darius Ellington Forde, renowned for their innovative fusion of UK funky, house, grime, and garage. Since their emergence in the late 2000s, Ill Blu have become pivotal figures within the UK underground dance music scene, making their mark with genre-defining tracks like “Frontline” and “Meltdown.” Their slick, percussive beats and melodic sensibility quickly attracted attention, leading to collaborations and remixes for a diverse roster of artists including Jessie Ware, Tinie Tempah, Hot Chip, and Cheryl.

Beyond their club anthems, Ill Blu have showcased remarkable versatility through their projects spanning mixtapes, EPs, and more recent ventures into socially conscious work, such as their lauded 2021 ‘The BLUPRINT’ mixtape exploring Black British identity. Their energetic DJ sets, infectious productions, and willingness to push creative boundaries have cemented Ill Blu as highly respected tastemakers and innovators in contemporary UK electronic music.