Ill Camille: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

May 25, 2018, Abby O Neill Los Angeles rapper Ill Camille hooked me during my first trip through her sophomore album, Heirloom. Her lyrical prowess and storytelling were so moving, I immediately reached out to her on Instagram and asked if she would like to perform a Tiny Desk. Please don t make me cry right now. Tiny Desk You don t understand. I ve been praying on this, she replied. This (message) made my year and my band is ready Ill Camille strays a bit from the hiphop zeitgeist. She raps about love and family serving as the source of her strength, the importance of selfworth as a woman, and the necessity to nurture oneself from within. That core keeps her secure even when confronted by the despair of poverty and the difficult grind of a young artist. And you can hear all that front and center in her music. Her voice is like a cool drink on a summer s day: smooth, clear and replenishing. Her refreshing selfawareness and raw honesty are inherent in each song, pairing nicely with the jazzy,