Illinois self-released their first EP, Revenge of Some Kid, in 2006;[1] early in 2007, Ace Fu Records signed the group after hearing the debut EP.[2] Illinois released What the Hell Do I Know on Ace Fu in 2007,[3] garnering comparisons to The White Stripes, The Arcade Fire,[4] and Wilco.[5] The group toured with Trainwreck Riders and played SXSW following the release of the EP.[6] Following this, the group toured with The Kooks.[7] Late in 2007, they announced plans to record a "hidden album" along with an upcoming full-length,[8] but the album has yet to be released.