Biography

IHL (アイ・エイチ・エル), fomerly known by their full name Illmatic Headlock and unofficially referred to as I Have Love, is a six-piece ’street rock’ band that formed in 2000. Their sound is a crossover of rock, hip-hop, funk, breakbeat, electronic and more. The band leaders and emcees (TARMY and MASATO) both have very distinctive styles and all the members are influenced by an array of musicians; from to Bob Marley to Daft Punk to Yellow Magic Orchestra to Nas (hence the ‘Illmatic’ term).

They released a limited single at Tower Records in 2006 (IT’S MUSIC). In March ‘07, IHL’s debut single on Def Jam Recordings, RIDE ON THE MUSIC came out. They are currently managed by Armitage Inc.

Coming out later that year, Shall we Dance ? was the bands’s second single. The song’s PV was featured on IMF (International Music Feed), and now-defunct American satellite TV channel.

Since the release of Romantista, the band has been credited as IHL instead of Illmatic Headlock.

Featured Articles

• IHL ‘has love’ and gets romantic