ILL SEER

THE ILL SEERIESThe Ill Seer has been making noise for years both as solo emcee and as an integral part of the international UK-based hip-hop collective Delegates of Culture, whose trailblazing Headcleaners releases featured international heavyweights like Roots Manuva, Taskforce, Jehst, Tommy Evans, and Braintax. An energetic performer, he has shared the stage in four different countries with acclaimed artists such as Mars Ill, DeepSpace 5, Roots Manuva, Blak Twang, The Skratch Pervertz, DJ Cash Money, Peanuts & Corn, Elias, Luke Geraty, The Listener, Epic, Noah23, DJ Moves, Bending Mouth, and Mindbender.



In 2005, Cyril Gu�rette (aka the Ill Seer)released his debut LP, Phosphatidylserine, on his label Prophetic Poetic. The album is named after a brain nutrient, which is indicative of the music Ill Seer desires to create: intense, intelligent and in-depth material that will challenge and encourage the listener. This emcees intricate rhyming style and penchant for creative wordplay is instantly recognizable. Yet this is not simply another pseudo-intellectual spouting nonsensical jargon. Having received his Master of Philosophy at the prestigious University of Cambridge, he is currently completing a PhD at the University of Toronto, all the while fulfilling his duties as Professor of Philosophic Theology at Heritage College in Cambridge. Ont.



Born in the small industrial border-city of Sarnia, ON, Canada (hardly a hip-hop Mecca), the Ill Seer fell in love with hip-hop, like many, through the marvelous work of Chuck D. The lyricist stormed the Sarnia music scene, fronting an eclectic alterna/funk/punk/hip-hop outfit named The Chevrons. Yet it was in England, as a student at the University of Cambridge, where the emcee and hip-hop fan met up with the budding crew the Delegates of Culture. Six years later the Delegates have built an excellent reputation on solid production, intense lyrical material, and dynamic live performances all of which the Ill Seer has been a part. Upon his return to Canada, he has continued to be a hip-hop presence, making numerous guest appearances on nationally distributed projects while preparing excited ears for Phosphatidylserine.



This debut project is a delicious combination of the many intersts that the Seer shares. As a teacher Gu�rette does not shy away from heavy content. Theological and philosophical discussions are offered on tracks such as F8, Theory vs. Practice, and the lead single Think About These Things. As a perpetual student he uses tracks like (March 30th, 2000) and My Proposal to harken back to thoughts of years past, providing the listener with insight into some deep and intensely personal thoughts. Finally, Seer as hip-hop fan delivers some hard-hitting gems with the gritty Numblock (featuring Skuff from Delegates) and the exuberant Triumphant.



Ill Seer has found his face in magazines from Exclaim to Hip Hop Connection, national television appearances on 100 Huntley St., 360Vision, and FreeTV, and invitations to present papers on the art of the freestyle to the Canadian Society for Aesthetics as well as the American Academy of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Ill Seer is in many places, yet he cannot exclude one realm from the others. He willingly brings all spheres of influence together, giving them tastes of his distinctive vision and creativity. Spiritual questioning, dynamic speaking, exceptional language control, unique humour, everyday joy and pain are all bound into a complex package called Phosphatidylserine.