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Raymond Strife & iLL-Omega Team Up for "Heaven Is Empty" Music Video from Upcoming Album God's Plan (D.I.Why? Films)


Just this past Saturday night, Raymond "Ray" Strife & iLL-Omega premiered their latest collaboration/music video for "Heaven Is Empty" at Trenton, New Jersey venue, Millhill Basement. It appears as though "Heaven Is Empty" was premiered at Millhill around 8:00pm and world-wide on YouTube just a matter of hours later at 11:00pm; Saturday night's festivities, also, included live performances from Ray Strife & iLL-Omega themselves, along with King Spade, Gibby Stites, Wormtooth, and Dre Skuffs. Ray Strife & iLL-Omega are the "Rap & production equivalent of Fonzie & Richie Cunningham," as well as the self-proclaimed "Rap Iron Fist & Luke Cage." "Heaven Is Empty" is the first single to be released from Ray Strife & iLL-Omega's upcoming fifth collaborative project, God's Plan, expected to drop on vinyl later this Fall.

Their previous collaborative efforts include Preface: I Will Never Be Beautiful EP, Go for The Gusto, Tobasco Cats' #BFF EP, and most recently, Goodbye Chambersburg EP. When compared against its predecessors, "Heaven Is Empty" is a bit more of a dark, aggressive Hip-Hop/Punk song to which Strife wrote the lyrics for after being present at the Art All Night mass shooting in Trenton back in 2018. "It expresses his anger at people attempting to exploit the tragedy to jump-start platforms for their personal and religious gain." Ray & Omega recruited D.I.Why? Films to helm said music video for "Heaven Is Empty," particularly, Tony Goggles & Sara Casey. Raymond Strife & iLL-Omega's God's Plan will see a vinyl release sometime this Fall with both CD and digital releases soon to follow.


"Raymond Strife & iLL-Omega are the Trenton, NJ Rap and production equivalent of [Fonzie] & Richie Cunningham. Both were born in Trenton and raised in Lawrence, NJ only to return to their Capitol City to become a heavy part of it's music and art scene. The duo are the physical manifestation of what it means to be from New Jersey: known for being polite and outgoing off stage, on stage, their [style] is nothing short of loud, aggressive, and, sometimes, offensive, while, somehow, still being cute and charming. While Ray pulls influences from a broad range that goes from Snoop Dogg to G.G. Allin, his style is completely his own, making it hard to compare to anyone, really; combine that with Omega's unique style of moody and, sometimes, dark, but rowdy production that ranges from Jazzy to Trappy to, sometimes, abstract, the two compliment each other very well, coming up with a product all their own.

The pair are currently gearing up to release their new project, God's Plan. First on vinyl, then, on CD and digitally. The Goodbye Chambersburg EP is available now at RaymondStrife.com. Also, available is a previously unreleased EP with another Jersey emcee, Roebus One. Calling themselves Tobasco Cats, the EP is called #BFF, aptly-titled from their time as roommates. Ray & Omega are constantly performing together and separately, not only solo, but Ray has his Hardcore band, OVER EVERYTHING and his party band, Night Court and Omega with his other Hip-Hop group, A Mankind Complex. If you go to a show or function any night of the week in Trenton, you are likely to run into the self-proclaimed "Rap Iron Fist & Luke Cage...'"

- Ray Strife & iLL-Omega (@gutenpranken & @illomega)