ZillaKami
Junius Donald Rogers (born September 20, 1999), professionally known as ZillaKami, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is a member of the hip hop duo City Morgue and a former songwriter for 6ix9ine.[6]
ZillaKami | |
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ZillaKami in 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Junius Donald Rogers[1] |
| Born | September 20, 1999 Islip, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | City Morgue |
| Website | citymorgueofficial |
He has been noted by publications such as HotNewHipHop as a pioneer of trap metal.[7] Rogers is the CEO of Dog Years Skate Club, a skate apparel and equipment brand.
Biography edit
Rogers was born in Bay Shore, New York.[8] In his teens, Rogers formed a punk rock band called Scud Got Quayle,[9] with some of his friends from school, influenced by the sound of Gorilla Biscuits.[10] His involvement in hip hop music began by ghostwriting for fellow New York rapper 6ix9ine.[6] During this period, he wrote a song which he intended to feature two vocalists, to which 6ix9ine responded by telling him that he should feature on the track, which would eventually be released under the name "Yokai", and the pair followed up with by releasing another collaborative track called "Hellsing Station".[8][11] However, in August 2017, the pair had a falling out when Rogers posted a photo of 6ix9ine engaging in a sexual act with a girl that he claimed was thirteen,[12] and bringing to light his prior guilty plea to using a child in a sexual performance.[13][14]
On April 30, 2017, he released his debut EP "LifeIsAHorrorMovie", which he later took down due to him no longer feeling a connection with the music that it contained.[15]
Soon after, ZillaKami got in contact with the son of the owner of the tattoo parlor that his older brother Righteous P worked at, who went by the stage name SosMula. A few days after his release from prison on drug charges, SosMula formed City Morgue with ZillaKami.[8] In August 2018, after numerous singles scattered throughout the couple years before, they released their debut EP as a group, titled "Be Patient".[16][17]
On September 5, 2018, he featured on the track "Vengeance" from Denzel Curry's third album Ta13oo, which also featured JPEGMafia,[18][19][20] which was followed, in the same month, by a feature on Lil Gnar's track "Man Down".[21] On October 12, 2018, City Morgue released their debut album "City Morgue Vol 1: Hell or High Water",[22][23] and soon after, their headline tour in support of it sold out.[24] On November 29, 2018, he featured on Powers Pleasant's track "Please Forgive", along with Jay IDK, Zombie Juice and Denzel Curry.[25] From July 24 to August 23, he joined Suicideboys' Grey Day tour as a part of City Morgue, along with Turnstile, Denzel Curry, Trash Talk, Pouya, Germ, Shoreline Mafia and Night Lovell.[26] On December 13, 2019, City Morgue released their second album City Morgue Vol 2: As Good as Dead. The deluxe version of said album, featuring several new tracks, was released on May 15, 2020. On July 31, 2020, City Morgue released their mixtape Toxic Boogaloo.[27] On October 15, 2021, City Morgue released their third studio album City Morgue Volume 3: Bottom of the Barrel[28] On September 17, 2021, Rogers released his debut solo album Dog Boy.[29] On September 15, 2023, they released their final studio album which was called "My Bloody America". This album was the last one that City Morgue worked on as a duo.
Musical style and influence edit
ZillaKami's music has been described as merging elements of hardcore punk and heavy metal with trap music,[11] by incorporating electric guitars and guttural shouted vocals and aggressive lyrical themes.[30][31] His lyrics often depict themes of extreme violence, death, masochism and drug-use.[31][32] In an article by Complex magazine, writer Jacob Moore described his music as "the most merciless rap music since Necro".[32]
He cites his biggest influences as Title Fight's albums Floral Green and Hyperview, DMX, as well as Radiohead's album In Rainbows and Onyx.[8]
Discography edit
- Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| DOG BOY |
|
- Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| LifeIsAHorrorMovie |
|
| German Dogs |
|
Guest appearances edit
- 6ix9ine – "Yokai" (2016)
- 6ix9ine – "Hellsing Station" (2016)
- $ubjectz – "GangShit" feat. Cameronazi (2017)
- $ubjectz – "War Paint" feat. Cameronazi (2017)
- ITSOKTOCRY – "SHINIGAMISTARSHIP" (2017)
- Cameronazi – "AREYOUREADYKIDS?" feat. $ubjectz (2017)
- Cameronazi – "Squad Up" (2017)
- Cameronazi – "Devil Horns" (2017)
- Saint Poncho – "FVKKK" (2017)
- XZARKHAN – "Jungle Klipped" (2017)
- BROC $TEEZY – "Want Em Dead" feat. fl.vco and KXNG (2018)
- Yadrin – "Demonscall" (2018)
- Yadrin – "BHUM BUKKET RMX" feat. SosMula (2018)
- Stoney – "Runnin'" (2018)
- BurnKas – "Red Rum" (2018)
- Denzel Curry – "VENGEANCE" feat. JPEGMafia (2018)
- Lil Gnar – "Man Down" (2018)
- Powers Pleasant – "Please Forgive" feat. Jay IDK, Zombie Juice and Denzel Curry (2018)
- Danon The Producer – "Shootinphotos" (2018)
- DrownMili – "Kid Soulja" feat. BurnKas (2018)
- ESKIIIS – "I Solemnly Swear" (2018)
- RAMIREZ – "BAPHOMET / MOSH PIT KILLA" (2019)
- POUYA and CITY MORGUE – "Bulletproof Shower Cap" (2019)
- Denzel Curry – "EVIL TWIN" (2020)
- NYCL KAI – "Incredible" feat. $NOT (2020)
- IC3PEAK – "TRRST" (2020)
- DJ Scheme- "Thor's Hammer Worthy" (2020)
- Trippie Redd – "DEAD DESERT" feat. Scarlxrd (2021)
- SosMula – "Boogaloo" (2021)
- Jeris Johnson – "RAINING BLOOD" (2022)
- ONI and CITY MORGUE - "War Ender" (2022)
References edit
- ^ "ACAB". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c Kokayi, Kasamba. "Denzel Curry and City Morgue at The Orpheum". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ Zagaglia, Riccardo. "Migliori album 2018. La classifica di Riccardo Zagaglia". Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ Means, Kelsey (September 15, 2022). "Top 3 Emo Rappers to Watch in 2023". DCR. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Knopper, Steve. "A Hip-Hop Signing Frenzy Sends New Record Deal Prices Soaring". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ a b King, Seth. "Why you love Zillakami, not 6IX9INE". Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ "ZillaKami Delivers Experimental New Album "Dog Boy"". HotNewHipHop. September 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Adam Grandmaison (July 8, 2018). "The ZillaKami & SosMula Interview" (Podcast). Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "CITY MORGUE". October 28, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- ^ City Morgue. New York's Most Shocking Rap Duo: City Morgue. Vice Media.
- ^ a b AARON, CHARLES (March 9, 2018). "Review: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Takes Dodgy Stage Dive Into Fame on 'Day 69'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Preezy. "HERE'S A RUNDOWN OF EVERY PUBLIC BEEF INVOLVING 6IX9INE". XXL. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ Gadsby, E (March 20, 2018). "A List Of Everyone Who Has Beef With Tekashi 6ix9ine And Why". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ C.M., Emmanuel. "6IX9INE'S "GUMMO" STREAMING NUMBERS SOAR AMID CONTROVERSY". XXL. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ "ZillaKami's New Twisted Music Video Will Give You Nightmares ( Warning: Disturbing)". Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ DREW, SLIM. "ZILLAKAMI & SOSMULA AKA CITY MORGUE SHARES 'BE PATIENT' EP AHEAD OF LONG AWAITED DEBUT". Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Sternberg, Bret. "CITY MORGUE RELEASES NEW EP, "BE PATIENT"". Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ KAYE, BEN (September 6, 2018). "Denzel Curry seeks "Vengeance" in graphic new music video: Watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2018". December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Madden, Michael. "Denzel Curry reshapes the SoundCloud-rap phenomenon on one of the year's most ambitious albums". City Pages. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Zidel, Alex (September 28, 2018). "Lil Gnar Proves His Versatility On "Gnar Lif3" With Lil Skies, IDK, & More". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Fantano, Anthony. "City Morgue – Vol. 1: Hell or High Water". The Needle Drop. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ EPSTEIN, DAN; BENNETT, J; NAVIDSON, WILL; CAMP, ZOE; PESSARO, FRED; CHICHESTER, SAMMI; CHAPSTICK, KELSEY; ANGLE, BRAD; GEIST, BRANDON (November 26, 2018). "30 BEST ALBUMS OF 2018". Revolver. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Møtion, Noah (November 27, 2018). "City Morgue in Brooklyn: Punk is Alive". All Metal Everything. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- ^ Pierre, Alphonse (October 18, 2018). "The Ones: 5 Best New Rap Songs From BandGang, Polo G, Splurge, Cdot Honcho, and Powers Pleasant". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ Suarez, Gary. "GREY DAY: A WHO'S WHO GUIDE TO THE HIP-HOP AND HARDCORE TOUR OF THE SUMMER". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ^ Fantano, Anthony. "City Morgue – Toxic Boogaloo". The Needle Drop. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "City Morgue is back with 'VOLUME 3: BOTTOM OF THE BARREL'". Our Generation Music. October 18, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ "Zillakami's 'DOGBOY' meshes rock and rage on new album". Our Generation Music. September 22, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Guzmán, José (November 27, 2018). "ZillaKami: A creator of nightmares and responsible for 6ix9ine". Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ a b SHARMA, SAMYAK (February 14, 2018). "How NYC's Zillakami is Redefining Rap". Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ a b MOORE, JACOB. "New York Rapper Zillakami is Taking Hip-Hop to Brutal New Extremes". Complex. Retrieved December 15, 2018.