London-based production duo iLL BLU have been at the vanguard of U.K. dance and hip-hop since the late 2000s. Initially associated with the U.K. funky and garage scenes, the duo released singles on Hyperdub and Numbers. during the early 2010s before switching to a more mainstream dance sound during the middle of the decade, working with singers like James Morrison and Bibi Bourelly. The duo have also produced tracks by British rappers such as Shystie and Sneakbo, and they embraced U.K. drill during the early 2020s with singles like "Magic" and "Dumpa."

James Grant and Darius Ellington first started working together as iLL BLU in 2008. Their remixes and productions for artists like Shystie, Princess Nyah, MJ Cole, and Roll Deep established the duo as one of the hottest forces in the U.K. funky scene, and they made their debut on Kode9's vaunted Hyperdub label with the 2010 single "Bellion." Meltdown EP appeared on Numbers. in 2011, followed in 2012 by Illusions (Madtech Records) and a second Hyperdub single, "Clapper." The duo made more mainstream moves during the mid-2010s, releasing the James Morrison-featuring single "Lonely People" in 2015, and co-producing Nick Brewer and Bibi Bourelly's "Talk to Me." They released several big room house singles in 2016, including "Win or Lose" (with former Inner City member Ann Saunderson) and "Antidote" (featuring Kahlia Bakosi), both on Armada Deep. The duo moved closer to hip-hop and Afroswing with singles like 2018's "Chop My Money" (with Krept Konan, Loski, and ZieZie), then produced several U.K. drill tracks, including 2020's "Magic" (featuring OFB, Bandokay, and Double Lz), "Dumpa" (featuring M24 and Unknown T), and 2021's "Routine Check 2.0" (with the Mitchell Brothers and Sneakbo). ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi