Ill Bill is the definition of an underground hip-hop legend. Growing up in the projects in Brooklyn with brother and fellow underground legend Necro he took to the hip-hop scene and before he knew it he was gaining die hard fans as leader of the group Non Phixion.

When the group split up Ill Bill decided to take his fate into his own hands and start independent Uncle Howie Records. It only made sense as Bill had made a career out of being independent as can be.

Now as a part of the collective La Coka Nostra, Ill Bill is teamed up with the cream of the underground crop and ready to take hardcore hip-hop by storm.

Solo album and LCN albums are just the tip of the iceberg. Sixshot.com caught up with Ill Bill to discuss Uncle Howie records, La Coka Nostra, and growing up in the projects.

Sup bro, what's good?

Chillin' man.

So tell us man, why did Non Phixion break up?

Because we couldn't all get on the same page as a group anymore. Itturned into a thing where even with a huge demand, we weren't recording any new music and the only reason we were getting together to do shows was for the money. The whole thing got stale. It ran itscourse so we pulled the plug.

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. G>Now I don't mean no disrespect with this but it's not everyday that a Jewishf amily from Brooklyn projects not one, but two famous rappers. It must have been some interesting times. What was it like for you growing up?

We grew up in Glenwood Projects in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. My parents split up when I was six and my brother was two. My mom didn't get much help from my pop so we made due with what we had. My grandmother took care of me and my brother while my mom was at work all day. She pretty much raised us when we were kids. She was a strong lady. She didn't take shit from anybody. At the same time she was a good person. She'd give you the last penny she had and the shirt off her back if you needed it.

She also loved music. She had natural talent and always dreamed of becoming a professional singer and performer but never got the chance. She had a hard life growing up. As a teenager she saw most of our family get taken away to concentration camps and killed and it was a miracle she even survived. She died when I was thirteen. She played a major part in me growing up and she's a big part of the reason I do what I do.

Your fan base is crazy, they love you, and they seem pretty loyal. Why do you think that is?

Because we believe in the same thing. When they listen to the music, it's theirs as much as it's mine.

How do you feel about hip-hop today?

I think Hip Hop right now is a perfect reflection of life right now. It's a living, breathing contradiction and that's why I love it so much. I hear people complain all the time about how Hip Hop is wack right now but I don't think it is. Hip Hop is the most lyrically expressive and explosive art form the world has ever seen.

Every sixteen bar verse has infinite potential and there's a lot of emcees that can take you there in 2008. Same with producers. The people complaining just aren't paying attention to the music their missing. They're allowing themselves to be spoon-fed.

I don't give a fuck about what new music Hot 97 thinks is hot. Half those records they program all day don't sell anyway. Nobody gives a fuck about your shitty club record. On the other hand, that teenager that just sold 3 million downloads, good for him. That's the American dream right there. If that ain't Hip Hop, what is?

Tell us about the Hour of Reprisal.

Imagine you had one hour to put your life and the world around you in total perspective. That's what The Hour Of Reprisal reps for me. I got to put it all down on one album. I also got to work with a bunch of great people like La Coka Nostra, Necro, Raekwon The Chef, Bad Brains, B-Real, Tech N9ne, Vinnie Paz, Immortal Technique.

Some new dudes called HERO that you should be on the lookout for in the near future. Max and Howard from Soulfly and Killswitch Engage are on the record too.

As far as the tracks, I made a bunch of beats myself and also got some help from Muggs, Primo, Lethal, T-Ray and Necro. I been getting crazy positive feedback from whoever I play it for so I'm buggin' out waiting to release it. I'm just finishing up this last minute bit of paperwork and it's yours.

Why did you start Uncle Howie Records?

To cut out the middleman, plain and simple.

What's it like working with Everlast, Lethal, and the rest of the guys?

It's dope as fuck. Outside of the group everybody is a separate machine anyway but then when we combine our strengths it's on a whole other level.

How did La Coka Nostra start?

It was Danny's idea to do a few songs, maybe a record and over a short time it evolved into a full-fledged group.

What's your relationship like with Necro?

On a personal level, that's my brother so we're very close. On a business level, we both be doing our own thing but because we're in the same line of work we do some business here and there. It's a trip to see how far we've come since back in the days.

What rappers are you feelin' right now?

Crooked I, Wutang, Scarface, LCN, Kool G Rap, Necro, Vinnie Paz, Immortal Technique, Joell Ortiz, OC, Jeru The Damaja, Q-Unique, Sabac Red, Psycho Realm, Tech N9ne, UGK, D-Block, G-Unit, Snoop, Nas, Jay-Z and the list could go on forever homie.

You're a legend on the underground, how does that feel?

I don't usually spend time thinking about shit like that but when you put it like that, I guess it feels good. Anybody that appreciates what I do on that level, much love right back to them.

You own your own label, you're an independent artist, how do you feel about the major labels and the mainstream?

I look at major labels the same way I look at a bank. They are what they are. I look at the line that separates underground from mainstream as being blurry right now. That makes this a good time for artists like me.

What projects do you have coming up that we should check for?

Be on the look out for "THOR" solo album, LCN "A Brand You Can Trust" album, All the different joints I have coming up with various artists that I'm working with including Vinnie Paz, Crooked I, Blue Sky Black Death, Hell Razah and Shabazz The Disciple, Muggs, Necro, Tech N9ne, Immortal Technique, T-Ray, HERO and more.

Anything you'd like to say to the fans at Sixshot.com?

Pay attention to good music. Good lookin' for checking this out. 100.