Illa Styles Plays A Commanding Foe On Video For “Long As The Villain Wins”

After a strong showing in 2019 with the release of the imperial A Quarter ‘Til A Mil record, Illa Styles is stepping into 2020 proudly as evident on his new music video for “Long As The Villian Wins.” Shot & edited by Deep Thoughtz and Conductor, the direct & forceful video captures one of Richmond’s elite MCs right in his element as he offers sharp rebukes & caustic wisdom over a searing beat.

“Careful what you say on them records / Ain’t no statute of limitations in VA if you reckless” is just one of the many insanely quotable lines in this rap track, a true highlight from a record of highlights that was released this past November. But as creatively dismissive as that line is, aimed at any pretenders to the throne, it’s the central lyric that really fuels this hip-hop affirmation.

“Can’t play no hero in my city” points to the fractured feeling of success in a mid-tier city, something any local artist will inevitably struggle with. But it also points to the blurry modern reality of heroes and villains, in pop culture but also in everyday life. No one’s perfect, but skill does rise to the top as Illa Styles boldly proves here.

Watch the video for “Long As The Villian Wins” below and make sure to give A Quarter ‘Til A Mil another spin while you’re at it.