Will "ill Will" Lavin

While not everything has been going according to plan for me lately, Friday ended up being just what I needed, like a shot of inspiration straight into the my veins, resulting in one of the best days I’ve had since moving to Los Angeles. Getting to kick it with Hip Hop heavyweights @methodmanofficial , @redmangilla and @raekwon for an entire day was without doubt a mind-blowing experience I won’t be forgetting in a hurry - and one that 13-year-old Will would never have imagined could ever have happened. But it did. While myself and Rae have spoken on a few occasions in the past, which we revisited on Friday, it was the first time I’ve ever met or spoken to Meth or Red, who have both been on my interview bucket list for as long as I’ve been a music journalist - which this year marks 20 years. Redman is hilarious and is definitely now one of my favourite human beings! Our interview went way over the allocated time, which is a sign of how well it went. As for Method Man, he’s always been on my hit list, ever since seeing the video for ‘Bring The Pain’ back when I was an early teen - in fact, it was the first video I ever saw on Yo! MTV Raps, which would air at midnight in the UK. We laughed. We got serious. We talked about music, movies, TV, fitness, sports, comic books and more. It was a fun chat that could have gone on for hours had we not been on such a tight schedule. Shout out to @redbullmusic for the opportunity to interview these @wutangclan and Def Squad legends. I can’t wait for you all to check out the interviews! Watch this space 👀 #methodman #redman #raekwon #wutangclan #defsquad #illwill #redbull #rap #hiphop #legends #music #musicislife #losangeles #mc #rapper #love #live #life #picoftheday #photooftheday #instamusic #instarap #instadaily #instagood #mef #red #rae #instapic #thankyou #interview

Where do I start when it comes to congratulating my now multi-Grammy Award-winning brother @killermike ? Armed with the biggest heart of anyone I know, he’ll always give his time to his friends, family, community and anyone else who needs his help or just wants to soak up game from him. I’ll forever be grateful for the love and respect he’s always shown me. We’ve talked a lot over the past decade about life, family, history, and, of course, music. So as it pertains to his triple Grammy sweep at Sunday night’s ceremony, I’m not surprised. In fact, I knew it was going to happen. Don’t believe me? Ask Mike. We’ve talked extensively about his masterpiece of an album ‘Michael’ over the past year. I even told him on Saturday night at his Grammy dinner (which is where the first pic above was taken with the incomparable @billmaher ) that he was about to clean up the following day. I’ve always believed it. Great things happen to great people! I remember being blown away the very first time I heard an early preview of the album. I know first-hand the hard work, blood, sweat and tears that went into creating it. I know exactly what it means to him. I know it’s more than just music. It’s for his mother, his grandmother, his wife (hey @shaybigga ), his kids, his community and his ancestors. Hip Hop music has lost its way a little bit over the past few years. It’s more about short songs with no substance and TikTok trends these days, but ‘Michael’ has proven that if you put your heart, soul and passion into a project, and you MEAN what you say, it’ll touch the people. Mike! Now that you’ve won the three Grammys, are you finally going to drop your other collab with @andre3000 ? The super loooooooooooong one that @cthagod has been talking about for at least a year, and the one you played me in LA last year. The people NEED to hear it!!! 🙏🏻 I love you, bro. I couldn’t be prouder. #killermike #michael #grammys #rap #hiphop #musicislife #music #rapper #mc #father #son #husband #grandson #activist #love #life #live #picoftheday #photooftheday #andre3000 #dungeonfamily #atlanta #atl #instamusic #illwill #billmayer #instarap #rapmusic #runthejewels #rtj

I made it onto the cover of THE @rollingstone ! In 1972 Dr. Hook famously sang a song about their desire (and failed attempts) to get on the cover of Rolling Stone. It ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy as the band did, in fact, end up being put on the cover a year later. For whatever reason, this song stuck with me as a kid and could be found regularly playing in my tape deck. While it probably had a lot to do with my dad playing it a lot (Dr. Hook’s ‘Completely Hooked’ is one of the best Greatest Hits albums ever), there was something else at play that I wasn’t aware of at the time: Before I even really knew what a music journalist was, the song was dropping breadcrumbs, teasing possibilities, and steering me towards a path that would not only shape who I am as a person, but also give me purpose. Fast forward to October last year and the bizarre way I found out everything had come full circle. I was flying to Atlanta via Miami. I landed at Miami airport, checked my bags for my next flight and had a bit of time to kill. So I did what I always do every time I land back in America: buy a bag of crunchy Cheetos and a bottle of Mountain Dew. I stopped at the first newsagents that I came across, walked to the back, and in front of me was a rack of magazines, three shelves of which were Rolling Stone and on the cover was a story I had written. I interviewed London singer/songwriter/producer @benjiflow for a piece highlighting three upcoming artists from different parts of the world. My man @kway_dilla & @biancaenrogue interviewed the other two artists, @ricwilsonisme and @kzia.world . So while I knew the piece was going to be published, it wasn’t until I walked into that store that I realised it was a cover. Needless to say, I bought five copies. Every year I surprise myself. The Rolling Stone cover was just the tip of the iceberg last year. I’m forever thankful for being able to do what I do and I will never take it for granted. Music saved my life. Thank you. ❤️ #rollingstone #illwill #benjifow #cover #coverstar #music #musicislife #hiphop #rnb #soul #love #life #live #talent #bacardi #picoftheday #drhook #magazine #instamusic #goodmusic #dreams

Throwback Thursday ❤️ Showing some love to the queen @mariahcarey at @musicares Person of the Year event during @grammys Week 2026. Turns out I don’t scrub up so bad in a suit 😙 Shout out to my incredibly talented friends @autumnrowe and @torae — and @iambeckyg for taking the time to briefly chop it up with me. #mariahcarey #music #musicislife #grammys #illwill

Shout out to the “future of R&B” @jaydon for taking the time to chop it up with me for @genius ahead of his headlining show at @bluenotelosangeles . Great chat. Great insight. Great artist 🖤 He does it all, ladies and gentlemen. HE DOES IT ALL! Hit the link in my bio to read the piece 📖 #jaydon #randb #music #usher #chrisbrown

The ‘Scream 7’ premiere was… well, a scream! 👻 🔪 🩸 Thank you @paramountpics for the invite. @sisixiemd ❤️ and I had a blast walking the red (black) carpet — chalk lines and all 🤣 @screammovies #scream #scream7 #premiere #losangeles #horror

Today, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of ‘The Score’ by @fugeesworldwide 🙌🏻 I had the pleasure of sitting down with @wyclefjean to discuss the making of the album, its impact, how it’s aged, the late @john_forte , whether the group had beef with @2pac , and the 20th anniversary of @shakira ’s “Hips Don’t Lie.” What an amazing conversation it was. I’m particularly proud of this one. You can check out the piece over at @genius — link in bio. #fugees #thescore #wyclef #hiphop #genius

Running and raving 🏃 🕺 with @diplo (and @macklemore ). Seattle was a vibe! Thank you @diplosrunclub 💚 #diplo #diplosrunclub #seattle #macklemore #illwill #redbulletin #runclub #run #rave #dj #music #musicialife #love #life #live #picoftheday #photooftheday #producer #majorlazer #runner #fitness #race #instamusic #goodmusic #instafitness #instarunner #edm #djset #instadj #instalove

Living life in the fast lane 🏎️ 💨 Thanks for the @nascar invite @23xiracing and @jordanclassic . I had a BLAST!!! 🔥 Check out my recap over at @complex ✍🏻 📸: @jbillzphotos #nascar #michaeljordan #stockcar #racing #23xiracing #23xi #sport #goat #illwill #tylerreddick #picoftheday #photooftheday #music #musicislife #love #life #live #lasvegas #lasvegasspeedway #nevada #instapic #complex #instacar #car #sneaker #jordan11s #instasport #airjordan #nike #champion

It was two years ago today that I up and left the UK and moved to the United States 🇺🇸What a ride it’s been so far — and there’s still so much more to come! I love my life ❤️ I love my friends ❤️ I love myself ❤️ 📸: @kouryangelo #illwill #usa #music #musicislife #hiphop #rap #america #americandream #love #life #live #picoftheday #photooftheday #uk #uktousa #la #losangeles #work #brit #musicjournalist #british #instapic #instalove #instausa #instamusic #goodmusic #instabrit #instamood #anniversary

Today is a special day for us Hip Hop fans. In fact, it’s been a long time coming. After 11 years, we’ve finally been blessed with a brand new @MobbDeepQB album 🙌🏻 Produced entirely by @MobbDeepHavoc and @AlanTheChemist , ‘Infinite’ is a stunning record that captures the same energy and essence of gritty New York rap that made us fall in love with the duo in the first place. It’s been been eight years since the death of @ProdigyMobbDeep , and this record is not only full of new, previously unheard verses from the acclaimed MC, it’s the perfect tribute to one of the best to ever get on the mic. I was invited to @massappeal ’s LA playback of the album last week, where a host of stars came out to support Mobb Deep and their return. These included @Ras_Kass and @Nas — as well as, of course, Havoc and Alchemist. Finally getting to meet Nas and chop it up with him in person was definitely a moment for me personally. Easily one of my favourite MCs and someone who I’ve admired for years, I’ve been around him a few times in the past — and even interviewed him on Zoom. In fact, the only plaque I’ve ever been awarded was for ‘Illmatic’ and my contributions to Hip Hop in the UK. And for those who really know, my name, ill Will, which I’ve now had for 30 years, comes from Nas, specifically his late friend, William “Ill Will” Graham. So Nas, thank you for everything 🙏🏻 Easily an album of the year contender, I urge you to buy, stream and support ‘Infinite’ any way you can — immediately! 📸: @jsrohn #mobbdeep #infinite #havoc #prodigy #rap #hiphop #love #life #live #musicislife #picoftheday #photooftheday #massappeal #losangeles #la #nas #illwill #queens #queensbridge #mc #rapper #producer #newalbum #instamusic #instarap #instalove #instadope #againsttheworld #alchemist

@anderson._paak for @complex x @jamesonwhiskey 🖤 Thank you to @officialillwill and the team at @mcsaatchise for this one 🖤