Iliana Eve got her professional start in the music business with a single that premiered on Billboard and was released with Snoop Dogg’s record label, Doggy Style Records. Shortly after, Iliana trended with MTV’s Funny Mike (aka 22 Savage) for the song “Kylie’s Daddy,” which debut on TMZ and went viral.
Iliana then went on to record a song called “Mommy,” receiving international attention. The heavy-hearted tune deals with the topic of sexual abuse and was inspired by Korn’s “Daddy,” a song that addressed similar issues, released in 1994. The metal frontman’s late wife, Deven Davis, was a supporter of Iliana and involved in the production of the song “Mommy.”
But tragedy struck on April 20, 2017, putting an abrupt end to Iliana’s lucky-steak. Iliana and her father, producer Jonathan Hay, were violently attacked in a home invasion and kidnapping allegedly perpetrated by their former neighbor.
The stress caused by this situation shut Iliana’s desire to record music for some time, as she struggled to come to terms with the severe incident. Hay, who is not only her father but also her producer, continued to release some of Iliana’s music: tracks that had been recorded before the horrendous attack. One of those songs, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” was featured on two #1 Billboard albums- Jazz [Deluxe] and The Whoodlum Ball.
At just 16-years-old, Iliana has also released successful songs with Kxng Crooked, Cyhi The Prynce , and Royce The 5’9″.
This past October, a year and a half after the home invasion, Iliana Eve got back into the recording studio. Record producer Ranna Royce helped mentor her back into the creative space of music, she told The Fresh Toast.
Iliana recorded “Love You Goodbye” with Boosie Badazz artist T-Rell and “Message In The Bottle” with Yung Bleu for the album Jail Tattoos, an upcoming album produced by Royce and Hay and featuring yours truly, to be released on November 9.
Iliana is recording an additional three songs for Jail Tattoos (Deluxe) that will be released on December 7 through Hoodlum Ball Records and Mike Smith’s SMH Records (the label of BET’s One Shot with DJ Khaled, T.I., Remy Ma, and Sway Calloway).
I spoke with Royce who told me, “I’m so elated to see Iliana recording music again. She’s extremely gifted and her musical process is so organic. Iliana does not use cannabis products and Jonathan and I are very mindful of making sure cannabis isn’t around her, despite some of the music she’s involved with advocates for smoking weed. Jonathan is open about his use of cannabis with all three of his children and family.”
