Ill Will Records is an American vanity record label founded by Nasir "Nas" Jones and Steve Stoute. The label was named after Willie "Ill Will" Graham, Nas' childhood neighbor and best friend, who was shot dead on May 23, 1992, when both were teenagers. Nas co-founded the label in 1999 before the release of his fourth album, Nastradamus, with the help of his then-manager, Steve Stoute.