Shaheed and DJ Supreme Know How to “Play Ball” on an “Ill Level”
Shaheed and DJ Supreme are natural-born champions of classic Hip Hop, of their city, and authentic artistry. For nearly two decades, they have used their musical talents to spark a universal consciousness, shedding light on critical issues with nuance, sincerity, and oftentimes, a dose of effusive positivity. Their signature sound blends DJ Supreme’s intoxicating boom-bap beats with Shaheed’s compelling lyricism, offering a delightfully old-school vibration that harks back to what made hip-hop’s golden era so special. This rock-solid duo is more than just a pillar of Birmingham, Alabama’s underappreciated yet vibrant Hip Hop scene—they’re a vital part of their greater community. Through their non-profit, K.R.U. (Knowledge, Rhythm, and Understanding), they’ve transformed music into a movement—empowering young people in Birmingham and beyond. Now, with the release of two new singles, the hip-hop homesteaders are more educational, motivational, and powerful than ever, bringing the heat to anthems as enjoyable as they are revolutionary.
The arrival of spring brings many joys to the American people: longer days, warmer sunshine, blooming flowers, and most importantly, baseball. In partnership with the World Baseball League, an organization dedicated to “reimagining what baseball can be” with an emphasis on community, hip-hop powerhouses Shaheed and DJ Supreme have created a timeless feel-good anthem designed to energize and unite baseball fans from backyard games to packed stadiums. Their classic hip-hop prowess truly shines in this atypical setting: DJ Supreme’s warm, soul-soothing beats and Shaheed’s effortless bars capture the welcoming spirit of the sport, all while their conscious lyricism explores the legends and history that made it all possible. Now that baseball season is in full swing, there’s no doubt that audiences will want to get up and “play ball,” as they celebrate this truly American game rooted in skill, strength, teamwork and solidarity with their resonant words leading the way.
There’s no better place to spotlight baseball’s rich history than Birmingham, and the “Play Ball” music video is the ultimate tribute—a woven tapestry of history and modern-day culture. With positivity as their guide, Shaheed and DJ Supreme round the bases at Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States. It’s here that many teams, including the World Baseball League, continue the legacy of the trailblazers who came before. Along their journey, they connect with today’s professionals and explore Birmingham’s deep baseball roots, including a trip to the Negroe Southern League Museum. There, they pay homage to the Alabama greats who broke barriers and reshaped the game, honoring some of the most influential players of all time. But Shaheed and DJ Supreme are not only here to celebrate the past—they’re here to make history. And that’s exactly what they’re doing, one ballpark anthem at a time.
At Birmingham’s annual “Dilla Day Bham,” a tribute to legendary producer J Dilla, Shaheed and DJ Supreme struck up a friendship with Phat Kat—Dilla’s best friend, closest collaborator, and a cornerstone of Detroit’s Hip Hop scene. From that moment, history began to write itself. Though Detroit and Birmingham are more than 700 miles apart, the two cities share common threads of struggle, resilience, and cultural depth. In “ILL Level,” these master storytellers deliver a razor-sharp anthem of survival and strength, rooted in the places that shaped them, shining a white-hot spotlight on the resilience of a culture. Over DJ Supreme’s vigorous, hard-hitting beat, Phat Kat swoops in with the energy of a motivator, traversing the very essence of Black excellence with poetic flair. Shaheed follows with commanding bars full of urgency and confidence, issuing a call for change, for revolution. The message hits hard in a single, unforgettable line: “I’m on an ill level because of my skill level…go tell the cops and Feds that I’m a real rebel.”
When the worlds of Birmingham and Detroit collide, the result is powerful, and the “ILL Level” music video elevates that impact even further. Directed by DeSean Motley, each frame permeates an undeniable sense of boldness, setting their goals and mission as artists against the backdrop of a resilient history. Few locations are more striking than Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, a central staging ground for large-scale Civil Rights demonstrations in the 60’s. As their fearless lyrics echo over them, it becomes clear that these artists are living the future their communities fought for—and fighting for an even brighter one. As they pay homage to one of the greatest producers of all time, a special clip closes out the visual. With a single point of her finger, Dilla’s mother, celebrating his legacy alongside them at the tribute in Birmingham, signals the importance of this collaboration and the many great things to come. It’s a quiet yet powerful gesture that seals the video with purpose—honoring the past, affirming the present, and lighting the way forward.
Shaheed & DJ Supreme have been a dynamic duo for a long time. What inspires you to continue to release new music today?
Life and the love for the culture and the art form it’s what keeps us going.
Who could you not have done “Play Ball” and “ILL Level” without? What was your collaboration process like?
We needed everyone who was involved literally. The World Baseball League, The Negroe Southern League Museum, Rickwood Field, and most importantly, the director A.J. Johnson. It was all for the love of the game, and it was a pleasure working with everyone.
What inspired you to pair Hip Hop with America’s favorite pastime in “Play Ball?”
The fact that it is most people’s first sport they played when they were younger, and the fact that there aren’t many songs about Baseball that capture the spirit of the gam,e was the main influence. Being from Birmingham, Alabama, there is the history of the Negroe League as well, so we felt like we had to do the song.
“ILL Level” is an anthem of resistance and resilience. How much of the track is inspired by your own experiences?
A lot of it had to do with my experiences because there have been a lot of struggles our people have had to overcome in life, and the struggle continues so this song is an Anthem for how far we have come and how far we need to still go.
What did it mean for you to shoot the “Play Ball” music video at the historic Rickwood Field and the Negro Southern League Museum in Birmingham?
It was monumental and historic because of the legends that played there and the history, and being able to shoot inside of the museum was a major highlight because it captures the legacy of the legends.
Kelly Ingram Park is a significant location in American history. How did its energy influence the tone of the “ILL Level” music video?
When you remember the history of what happened there and how it happened, we knew it was important to shoot the video there because of the nature of the song and its lyrics. We respect the plight of our people and the struggle they went through on that land.
Why was it important for you to pay homage to Dilla with “ILL Level?”
It was important because of having Phat Kat on the song, who is one of Dilla’s best friends, we figured we had to show love to one of the best producers to ever do it. Then to have Dilla’s mom in the video was the icing on the cake.
Do you hope these two songs have a positive impact on your community?
Yes, we feel that these two songs show our versatility. We feel that the game of Baseball, the history of our people struggling to play Baseball in this country, is important, and with ILL Level, we feel that the legacy of our people all over the world is even more important.
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