Power Moves

1997E.C. Illa Cargo Records East vs. West Chicago

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“Power Moves” is a studio album by Chicago rapper E.C. Illa, released in 1997 in the United States through Wicked Entertainment and Cargo Records.

The story

E.C. Illa, also known as White Folks, comes from the Uptown area on Chicago’s North Side and began recording in 1990 with the group The Ill State Assassins. He built a regional following through independent releases on Wicked Entertainment, including the local favorite “What You Be About?” For “Power Moves,” Wicked partnered with the nationally distributed Cargo Records. The first single and video, “Old School Tactics,” featured Rhymefest, who later shared a Grammy for co-writing Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks.”

Sound and production

Illa served as executive producer and produced most of the 14 tracks himself, with pre-production at his own Illa Lab. Co-production came from The Legendary Traxster, fresh off his work with Twista and Do or Die, along with Kay-Tone and His-Panic. DJ PNS and DJ Boogie Boy supplied scratches, and the result was a more polished sound than Illa’s earlier underground releases.

Legacy

The album did not reach the commercial heights its backers hoped for, and some longtime fans felt the cleaner production moved away from his raw sound. It nonetheless strengthened his standing in the Midwest underground and captures an early appearance by Rhymefest.

Tracklist & credits

1
Power MovesProd. E.C
2
To The BreakProd. E.C
3
Old School TacticsProd. E.C, The Legendary Traxster
4
24 Hours A DayProd. E.C
5
Makin' HistoryProd. Kay-Tone, His-Panic, E.C
6
Originality's The KeyProd. E.C
7
Ill State Of Affairs (Ain't No One Down)Prod. His-Panic, E.C
8
What I LikeProd. E.C
9
The Game You ClaimProd. E.C
10
Hustlers PartyProd. Kay-Tone, His-Panic, E.C
11
Thru The Pain And StrifeProd. E.C
12
It Has Just BegunProd. E.C
13
Beats, StylesProd. E.C
14
You Don't WannaProd. E.C

Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.

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