Australian rapper Illy set to drop his seventh studio album ‘Good Life’ ahead of national tour

Illy wants to set the record straight and stress to fans that social media is not real life after copping heat for a comment he made about Katy Perry on X, as he prepares to drop his latest release.

Illy wants to set the record straight and stress to fans that “online is not real life” after copping heat for a comment he made about Katy Perry on social media, as he prepares to drop his latest release.

The hip-hop artist – whose real name is Alasdair Murray – poked fun at popstar Perry’s spelling of the Aussie phrase “Oi, Oi, Oi” in her AFL Grand Final half time show announcement on X, saying “now don’t get me wrong, I love footy and Katy Perry had one of the craziest runs in pop history, but “oy oy oy” is a crime against Australia,” for which he received a backlash.

“Online culture is extremely sensitive, sometimes that over-sensitivity is just people doing it for their own brand and having a strong stance even if it’s ridiculous,” he told Confidential.

“People find fault in everything, they’re doing it with their own self interest and to promote themselves a lot of the time.

“As long as you know the online stuff is not real life, I think you should be able to navigate it but I think the problem is when some people confuse the online and social space as real life.

Illy says: “Online culture is extremely sensitive.” Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Katy Perry is great and I didn’t mean any of it and I was just having a laugh.”

Poised to drop his seventh studio album next month, the multi-platinum and ARIA award-winning Australian artist said he feels incredibly lucky to have had such an evergreen career.

Poised to drop his seventh studio album next month, the multi-platinum and ARIA award-winning Australian artist – Illy said he feels incredibly lucky to have had such an evergreen career. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It’s crazy to say that, ‘seven albums’ and to have such a long career. I’m really fortunate,” the 38 year - old said.

“It’s a result of a lot of hard work but that’s still not a guarantee.”

The new album – titled “Good Life” includes songs which sway from Illy’s typical Aussie – hip – hop and rap genres to be more “varied”, in a move he said makes the release his favourite to date.

“It’s the first time in my career I’ve really been able to tackle that (different genres) completely and confidently,” he said.

“There’s a lot of different sounds that wouldn’t have been in previous albums and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s the album I’m the strongest as a songwriter.

“It’s kind of why there’s not too many of my graduating class that are still out there making music, no shade on anyone it’s just what’s kept me going is constantly challenging myself, going outside my comfort zone and trying to find ways to tell new (stories), not relying on what I was already comfortable with.”

In addition to the album - set to be released on October 25, Illy has also revealed he will be hitting the road for his “Good Life Australian Tour” which kicks off at Sydney’s Metro Theatre on November 18. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

“Good Life” centres around finding positivity in hardship or difficult circumstances and “finding the good in situations.”

“The saying ‘the good life’ paints a picture of easy streets, white picket fences and blue skies,” he said.

“F*ck that. The real “Good Life” is in belief – knowing who you are, taking your lumps and hard times, pushing forward, proving people – sometimes yourself, wrong and seeing it through.

“The last few years have battered me, I can’t lie. But Australia has given me a lot, and this is a love song to Australia, Australian hip hop and rock and roll, and the deeply Australian ‘never say die’ spirit that got me through.

“If that white picket fence had some street art on it, it’s not perfect but you can find the beauty in it.”

In addition to the album - set to be released on October 25, Illy has also revealed he will be hitting the road for his “Good Life Australian Tour” which kicks off at Sydney’s Metro Theatre in November.