Junius Rogers, professionally known as ZillaKami, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He is a member of the
hip hop group
City Morgue
City Morgue is an American hip hop group from New York City which consists of rappers ZillaKami (Junius Rogers) and SosMula (Vinicius Sosa).
History
Prior to the formation of City Morgue in 2017, Junius Rogers, professionally known as ZillaKa ...
and a former songwriter for
6ix9ine
Daniel Hernandez (born May 8, 1996), known professionally as 6ix9ine (stylized 6IX9INE and pronounced "six nine") and also as Tekashi69, is an American rapper. His music has been marked by an aggressive style of rapping, while his controversia ...
.
He has been noted by publications such as ''
HotNewHipHop
''HotNewHipHop (HNHH)'' is an online publication that covers daily news about hip hop and pop culture, including streetwear, sports, and sneakers. In addition to its editorial content, HotNewHipHop also produces the video serieses; ''How to Roll ...
'' as a pioneer of
trap metal
Rap metal is a subgenre of rap rock and alternative metal music which combines hip hop with heavy metal. It usually consists of heavy metal guitar riffs, funk metal elements, rapped vocals and sometimes turntables.
History Origins and ea ...
. Rogers is the
C.E.O. of Dog Years Skate Club, a
skate
Skate or Skates may refer to: Fish
*Skate (fish), several genera of fish belonging to the family Rajidae
* Pygmy skates, several genera of fish belonging to the family Gurgesiellidae
* Smooth skates or leg skates, several genera of fish belongin ...
apparel and equipment brand.
Biography
Rogers was born in
Bay Shore, New York
Bay Shore is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Islip, New York, United States. It is situated on the South Shore of Long Island, adjoining the Great South Bay. The population of the CDP was 29,244 at the time of the 2020 ...
.
In his teens, Rogers formed a
punk rock band called Scud Got Quayle, with some of his friends from school, influenced by the sound of
Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits are an American hardcore punk band from New York City, New York, United States, formed in 1986. The band currently consists of Anthony "Civ" Civarelli, Walter Schreifels, Arthur Smilios and Luke Abbey, and is signed to Revelatio ...
. His involvement in
hip hop music began by
ghostwriting
A ghostwriter is hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are officially credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and political leaders often h ...
for fellow New York rapper
6ix9ine
Daniel Hernandez (born May 8, 1996), known professionally as 6ix9ine (stylized 6IX9INE and pronounced "six nine") and also as Tekashi69, is an American rapper. His music has been marked by an aggressive style of rapping, while his controversia ...
.
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".
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, and bringing to light his
prior guilty plea to using a child in a sexual performance.
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 is contained.
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
City Morgue is an American hip hop group from New York City which consists of rappers ZillaKami (Junius Rogers) and SosMula (Vinicius Sosa).
History
Prior to the formation of City Morgue in 2017, Junius Rogers, professionally known as ZillaKa ...
with ZillaKami.
In August 2018, after numerous singles scattered throughout the couple years before, they released their debut EP as a group, titled "Be Patient".
On September 5, 2018, he featured on the track "Vengeance" from
Denzel Curry
Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper and singer. Born and raised in Carol City, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape in 2011. Influenced by underground Flor ...
's third album
Ta13oo
''Ta13oo'' (stylized ''TA13OO'' and pronounced ''Taboo'') is the third studio album by American rapper Denzel Curry. It was released on July 27, 2018, through PH Recordings and distributed by Loma Vista Recordings. The album serves as the follow- ...
, which also featured
JPEGMafia, which was followed, in the same month, by a feature on Lil Gnar's track "Man Down".
On October 12, 2018,
City Morgue
City Morgue is an American hip hop group from New York City which consists of rappers ZillaKami (Junius Rogers) and SosMula (Vinicius Sosa).
History
Prior to the formation of City Morgue in 2017, Junius Rogers, professionally known as ZillaKa ...
released their debut album "''City Morgue Vol 1: Hell or High Water''", and soon after, their headline tour in support of it sold out.
On November 29, 2018, he featured on Powers Pleasant's track "Please Forgive", along with
Jay IDK
Jason Aaron Mills (born May 24, 1992), professionally known as IDK (also known as Jay IDK; a backronym for Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge), is a British-American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Early life
Jason Aaron Mills was ...
,
Zombie Juice
Antonio Lewis (born July 8, 1990), better known by his stage name Zombie Juice, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn. He is one third of the hip hop trio Flatbush Zombies. Along with his rapp ...
and
Denzel Curry
Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper and singer. Born and raised in Carol City, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape in 2011. Influenced by underground Flor ...
.
From July 24 to August 23, he joined
Suicideboys
Suicideboys (stylized as $uicideboy$) is an American hip hop duo from New Orleans, Louisiana, founded in 2014 by cousins Ruby da Cherry and Scrim (stylized as $crim). Via the music sharing platform SoundCloud, the duo rose to popularity for th ...
' ''Grey Day'' tour as a part of City Morgue, along with
Turnstile
A turnstile (also called a turnpike, gateline, baffle gate, automated gate, turn gate in some regions) is a form of gate which allows one person to pass at a time. A turnstile can be configured to enforce one-way human traffic. In addition, a t ...
, Denzel Curry,
Trash Talk
Trash talk is a form of insult usually found in sports events, although it is not exclusive to sports or similarly characterized events. It is often used to intimidate the opposition and/or make them less confident in their abilities as to win e ...
,
Pouya
Kevin Pouya (born December 20, 1994), known mononymously as Pouya, is an American rapper from Miami, Florida. Considered as a pioneer of the early underground rap scene that began on SoundCloud in 2012, along with discovering the well known hi ...
, Germ,
Shoreline Mafia
Shoreline Mafia was an American hip hop group based in Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city ...
and
Night Lovell
Shermar Cuba Paul (born May 29, 1997), known professionally as Night Lovell, is a Canadian rapper, songwriter and record producer. His old record producer name was under the alias KLNV, standing for Killanov. He initially gained fame after his son ...
.
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''.
On October 15, 2021, City Morgue released their third studio album ''City Morgue Volume 3: Bottom of the Barrel''
On September 17, 2021, Rogers released his debut solo album
''Dog Boy''.
Musical style and influence
ZillaKami's music has been described as merging elements of
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
and
heavy metal with
trap music
Trap is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in the Southern United States during the 1990s. The genre gets its name from the Atlanta slang word "trap", a house used exclusively to sell drugs. Trap music uses synthesized drums and is ch ...
,
by incorporating electric guitars and guttural shouted vocals and aggressive lyrical themes.
His lyrics often depict themes of extreme violence, death,
masochism
Sadomasochism ( ) is the giving and receiving of pleasure from acts involving the receipt or infliction of pain or humiliation. Practitioners of sadomasochism may seek sexual pleasure from their acts. While the terms sadist and masochist refer ...
and drug-use.
In an article by
Complex magazine, writer Jacob Moore described his music as "the most merciless rap music since
Necro".
He cites his biggest influences as
Title Fight's albums ''
Floral Green
''Floral Green'' is the second studio album by American Rock music, rock band Title Fight.
Production and composition
It was recorded with producer Will Yip at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The album's sound has been described as melod ...
'' and ''
Hyperview'',
DMX, as well as
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Greenwood (bass) ...
's album ''
In Rainbows
''In Rainbows'' is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was self-released on 10 October 2007 as a pay-what-you-want download, followed by a physical release internationally through XL Recordings and in North America ...
'' and
Onyx
Onyx primarily refers to the parallel banded variety of chalcedony, a silicate mineral. Agate and onyx are both varieties of layered chalcedony that differ only in the form of the bands: agate has curved bands and onyx has parallel bands. The c ...
.
Discography
Solo
;Studio albums
;Extended plays
With City Morgue
;Studio Albums
;Mixtapes
;Extended plays
Guest appearances
*
6ix9ine
Daniel Hernandez (born May 8, 1996), known professionally as 6ix9ine (stylized 6IX9INE and pronounced "six nine") and also as Tekashi69, is an American rapper. His music has been marked by an aggressive style of rapping, while his controversia ...
– "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
Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper and singer. Born and raised in Carol City, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape in 2011. Influenced by underground Flor ...
– "
VENGEANCE" feat.
JPEGMafia (2018)
*
Lil Gnar
Caleb Samuel Shepard (born February 24, 1996), known professionally as Lil Gnar, is an American singer and rapper based in Atlanta.
Career
Lil Gnar started gaining traction after he released the singles "Ride Wit Da Fye" with an accompanying ...
– "Man Down" (2018)
* Powers Pleasant – "Please Forgive" feat.
Jay IDK
Jason Aaron Mills (born May 24, 1992), professionally known as IDK (also known as Jay IDK; a backronym for Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge), is a British-American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Early life
Jason Aaron Mills was ...
,
Zombie Juice
Antonio Lewis (born July 8, 1990), better known by his stage name Zombie Juice, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. He attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn. He is one third of the hip hop trio Flatbush Zombies. Along with his rapp ...
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
Kevin Pouya (born December 20, 1994), known mononymously as Pouya, is an American rapper from Miami, Florida. Considered as a pioneer of the early underground rap scene that began on SoundCloud in 2012, along with discovering the well known hi ...
and CITY MORGUE – "Bulletproof Shower Cap" (2019)
* Denzel Curry – "EVIL TWIN" (2020)
* NYCL KAI – "Incredible" feat. $NOT (2020)
*
IC3PEAK
IC3PEAK is a Russian electronic music band created by Anastasia Kreslina and Nikolay Kostilev. They achieved worldwide notoriety because of the political undertones in their music criticizing the Russian government, which led to attempts of cens ...
– "TRRST" (2020)
* DJ Scheme- "Thor's Hammer Worthy" (2020)
*
Trippie Redd
Michael Lamar White II (born June 18, 1999), known professionally as Trippie Redd, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is one of the most prominent members of the SoundCloud rap scene, which gained mainstream acclaim in the late ...
– "DEAD DESERT" feat.
Scarlxrd
Marius Lucas Antonio Listhrop (born 19 June 1994), better known as Scarlxrd (pronounced "Scarlord"), is an English rapper and former YouTuber. He is known for his unique musical style combining elements of trap music and Heavy metal music, heavy ...
(2021)
*
SosMula
City Morgue is an American hip hop group from New York City which consists of rappers ZillaKami (Junius Rogers) and SosMula (Vinicius Sosa).
History
Prior to the formation of City Morgue in 2017, Junius Rogers, professionally known as ZillaKam ...
– "Boogaloo" (2021)
* Jeris Johnson – "RAINING BLOOD" (2022)
* ONI and CITY MORGUE - "War Ender" (2022)
References
{{reflist
Living people
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
African-American male rappers
East Coast hip hop musicians
Musicians from the New York metropolitan area
People from Suffolk County, New York
Rappers from New York (state)
Trap metal musicians
Year of birth missing (living people)
21st-century African-American musicians