Atlanta based trap music has been at the forefront of not only hip hop, but music entirely for the past couple years. The majority of the biggest artists in hip hop today are influenced to some degree by the sound, and it has even leaked over to more mainstream acts. New York City, on the other hand has been quiet. This is not to say that there still are not incredibly talented musicians in NYC, but it is not the leader of the sound that it once was. Zillakami is here to change that, unlike anyone else the New York scene, or the underground scene for that matter. Ready to explode in popularity, his style can be perfectly summarized with just one word – grimy.
This explosion of energy can be seen on his biggest hit SHINNERS 13, which features fellow NYC act Sosmula. The music video currently sits at over 700,000 views, and would have had even more if it did not have to be reuploaded for showing a man shooting up heroin. The video also includes a child waving an AK-47 at the camera, people smoking PCP, Zillakami shooting a gun into the air just to show how little he cares about the law, and him playing around with a skateboard as it burns. The music itself matches the aggressive pace as Zillakami yells with his guttural voice, and the production is just as hostile and fast paced. Just a couple seconds into the track and it becomes blatantly clear why Zillakami is getting the attention that he is – it is impossible to listen to the song without getting an adrenaline rush and getting amped up.
This energy persists on all of his tracks, with him screeching on “Shinigami”, and him yelling about shooting his enemies with Sosmula on “Drop Dead.” The incredibly gritty image that he has made for himself allows him to occupy a very distinct niche in the rap game, although that very niche is growing. His videos are filled with guns, drugs and anime fights all of which fit incredibly well with the music. Screamo rap itself has become a greater trend in hip hop, thanks to artists like problematic XXXtentacion and hard hitting Scarlxrd.
Zillakami is bringing something to music that we have not seen in a very long time – controversy. Despite racking up millions of plays and views, Zilla rarely is covered by the media. Perhaps this is due to the brutish violence, hard drug use, and abrasive energy he displays in all of his tracks. Despite all this, one thing is clear – Zillakami is bringing a new sound to NYC and the rest of the hip hop world that is sure to draw massive attention.