Royal Illness - Free Vegas / One Minute to Pray (Double Single) + 10 Questions

Royal Illness marked July 26th with a cinematic double release, dropping Free Vegas and One Minute to Pray — a one-day arc of grit, energy, and brotherhood. The date carried double weight: it’s the shared birthday of Vegas Posada and Lee G, co-founders of Iron Mic Sharp and pillars of Madd Militia.

Free Vegas delivers a raw, unbroken verse from Vegas Posada, recorded the very day he walked free — urgent, unfiltered, and underscored by hard-edged percussion and cinematic production. Twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes later came One Minute to Pray, where Irk Da Nerv, Vegas Posada and Lee G trade verses like outlaws in a Western showdown, sharpened by the precision cuts of Emmy Award-winning DJ JK-47.

Together, the two records form more than just a release — they’re a 24-hour story told in sound. With boom bap as widescreen cinema, Royal Illness continues to push hip-hop beyond the booth, ensuring Madd Militia’s voice remains as present and uncompromising as ever.

Stream the tracks via Bandcamp, follow Royal Illness on YouTube.

Royal Illness sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, where did it all start, what sparked your love for music?

It started when my grandfather bought an LL Cool J tape — I’m Bad. That set me off, and soon I was digging into Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, KRS-One, and others. By around ’89, I had my first rap name, MC Cruel T, and was writing rhymes while riding around my block. Eventually I started making my own cassette tapes, layering beats by dubbing sections back and forth. My mom wasn’t thrilled at first, but she let me perform raps at church, which gave me stage confidence. From there, I never looked back.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

My foundation is the golden era: LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, KRS-One/BDP, Big Daddy Kane, Onyx, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep.

On the production side: The Bomb Squad, DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, RZA, Pete Rock, Jam Master Jay. For dream collabs, I’d love to work with Nas, AZ, R.J. Payne, Apathy, 38 Spesh, Benny the Butcher, Vinnie Paz, and the Griselda camp. They embody the raw, uncompromising energy I respect.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I’ve got two long-term projects — Scorched Earth and Fort Knox — still in the vault. But the way people listen now, attention spans don’t always match full albums. So my focus is dropping singles, letting each track stand as its own piece of art. Like paintings — one canvas at a time instead of 12 at once.

4. How would you describe your sound?

I call it cinematic boom bap — gritty, hardcore, and uncompromising, but with widescreen scope. Orchestral layers, global influences, textures you’d expect in film scores. My music is hip-hop for the big screen.

5. What’s your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

My proudest moment was releasing my Armed Forces album on May 7, 2011 — my birthday. That was when I hit a creative zenith, both lyrically and on the boards. The vision, the orchestration, and the execution of that project became a blueprint I’ve carried ever since.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Make music for yourself first. If you enjoy it, others will connect naturally. Don’t chase fans or trends. Never put art out that you can’t stand behind. And keep as much control over your career as possible — backing from a machine comes with strings attached. Integrity lasts longer than hype.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

Lexington, Kentucky is loaded with overlooked talent. Devine Carama and CunninLynguists have been putting in consistent work, and there are always new voices bubbling under. The city has a legacy that deserves more shine.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

I’m a 90s hip-hop head, so my rotation leans there:
- Nas – King's Disease Trilogy
- Slick Rick – Victory
- Raekwon – The Emperor’s New Clothes
- Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele 2
- 38 Spesh – Mother and Gun
- Benny the Butcher – Everybody Can’t Go
- Devine Carama – Guardians of the Boom Bap

9. What do you like to do when you’re not making music?

Travel. I love experiencing new cultures, food, and perspectives. I’ve been to Colombia, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic, and each place sharpened how I see the world. That inspiration always finds its way back into my music.

10. Name three things you can’t live without when in the studio.

- Raw hunger — the energy that drives me to outdo myself.
- Time to craft perfection — patience is key.
- Elaborate sound design — sculpting textures until the music feels alive.