Illy Australian Rapper Born 1985 in Victoria

Early life

Illy is an Australian rapper and singer who was born in September 1985 in Victoria. His birth name is Alasdair David George Murray, and he comes from Frankston, a suburb on the southern edge of Melbourne. Before he began releasing records under his own name he belonged to a group called Crooked Eye, which he left in order to work as a solo artist.

Career

Illy came to wider notice in 2009 with his first album, Long Story Short. The album reached the ARIA urban albums chart, and its lead single, "Pictures", was added to national rotation on the youth radio network Triple J. In 2010 he played his first national headline tour, and later that year he joined the rappers 360 and Skryptcha on a joint tour. His second album, The Chase, came out in October 2010 and entered the ARIA albums chart in the mid-twenties. From it, "It Can Wait" became his first single to chart in Australia and later earned a Gold certification.

His third album, Bring It Back, followed in 2012 and climbed higher, peaking at number 15. He described it as a tribute to the Australian hip-hop scene, and it was backed by a nationwide tour of 24 dates. In September 2013 he left the independent label Obese Records and set up his own company, ONETWO Records, where he signed the South Australian artist Allday. The next album, Cinematic, debuted at number 4 on the ARIA albums chart, and its single "Tightrope" became his first top-20 hit.

The mid-2010s were his commercial high point. "Papercuts", a July 2016 single featuring the singer Vera Blue, reached number 2 on the ARIA singles chart. He followed it in October 2016 with "Catch 22", with Anne-Marie, which peaked at number 11. In November 2016 he released Two Degrees, which entered the albums chart at number one. Further singles, "You Say When" and "Oh My", appeared in 2017.

After a gap of about two years he returned in May 2019 with "Then What", followed by "Codes" and "Lean on Me" the same year and "Last Laugh" in February 2020. In May 2020 Triple J premiered "Parmas In June", a track written for a musical challenge during the first lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic. The album The Space Between arrived in 2021.

In October 2022 he signed again with Warner Music and put out the single "Like You". "Hopeless" followed in October 2023, and in November 2024 he released the album Good Life. He has played at major Australian festivals, including headline slots at Groovin' the Moo, Splendour in the Grass and Spilt Milk.

His recorded output includes these albums: Long Story Short (2009), The Chase (2010), Bring It Back (2012), Cinematic, Two Degrees (2016), The Space Between (2021) and Good Life (2024).

Recognition

Illy's work has been recognised several times at the ARIA Music Awards. Bring It Back won him his first trophy there, the award for best urban album, at the ceremony held in 2013. Earlier, The Chase had been nominated in the same category at the 2011 ceremony. In 2016 the song "Papercuts" received four nominations, and at the 2017 ceremony Two Degrees was nominated for three awards. That year he also won the ARIA award for best Australian live act, in recognition of his touring for the album.

His songwriting has also been recognised by the Australasian Performing Right Association, with several nominations and three wins recorded.

Public roles

Illy is active on social media. His YouTube channel had about 68,700 subscribers in May 2025, and his Instagram account had about 97,700 followers in October 2026.