His name may not be ringing bells just yet. But his mesmerizing musical scores have been rocking radio, erupting clubs and tearing down Billboard charts for some time now.
Providing the polyrhythmic percussions, chaotic chords and dynamic bass lines for Birdman’s 106 & Park mainstay single “Fire Flame” as well as Birdman featuring Trick Trick’s baller fest “Stuntin While Shinin,” rapidly emerging Cincinnati-based beat maker Kill Will is well on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in hip hop production.
“My music stands out because I bring a distinct sound to the table. It’s very upfront with a bounce all its own,” explains Kill Will. “I try to incorporate different styles. I use a lot of classical chords in my music and I might do certain things off beat. You might not catch it with your ear but it makes my sound unique.”
Born William Thomas Voner Jr., music, ironically, was not Will’s initial creative expression. At an early age, his innate creativity was sparked when he took an interest in visual arts. But eventually, just seeing his art wasn't enough; it felt almost as if something was missing. After
years of searching for what had been yearning inside to surface, Will found his true calling- music.
So in early 2003, Will began to write raps. Because he didn’t have a producer, he began tinkering with Frooty Loops computer program to make his own beats. In no time, he had mastered it. But after a couple of months, however, he put the microphone down altogether to concentrate on producing instead of rapping.
Knowing that he had the talent to capture the attention of millions, Kill Will scoured the city of Cincinnati in search of anybody who would listen to his music. From banging his beats at local open mics to entering into producer battles to even giving away free beats to other emerging
artists, he used every avenue available in the city to gain exposure. Eventually, because of his undying ambition and crowd-moving production skills, Kill Will gained status as one of Cincinnati's hottest producers.
He made so much noise that he captured the attention that in late 2009, he linked up with Big Von of Make It Happen Management. In just over a year of building a buzz in the music industry, things really started to pick up when producing the soundtrack for Dallas rapper B-Hamp’s single “Fooly.” And his career really began to take off with Birdman’s “Fire Flame” hitting Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and as well as claiming the number one video on BET’s 106 And Park.
“When I first saw the video on 106, I couldn’t believe that I actually took part in something so amazing,” Will admits. “It’s kind of surreal. It’s an overwhelming feeling.” As overwhelming as it may be, this is only the beginning for the 25-year-old hit factory. Kill Will is here to stay.
-Written By Hip Hop Journalist
CARLTON WADE
