Zillakami, born Junius Donald Rogers on September 20, 1998, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Bay Shore, New York. He is best known as one-half of the trap metal duo City Morgue, alongside SosMula. Zillakami’s music is characterized by its aggressive style, blending elements of hip-hop with heavy metal influences, which has garnered him a significant following in the underground music scene.
Blazing his trail as part of trap metal duo City Morgue, ZillaKami’s raging vocals proved the perfect counterpart to the grittier style of his friend and close collaborator SosMula. Having established the trap metal subgenre with City Morgue hits like “SHINNERS13” and “33RD BLAKK GLASS,” Zilla made his solo debut with the 2021 mixtape DOG BOY.
Born Junius Rogers in Bay Shore, New York, ZillaKami entered the music game as part of the punk outfit Scud Got Quayle but soon found his calling in New York’s underground rap scene. While writing with rapper 6ix9ine, Rogers began to collaborate with the upcoming MC: transitioning to rap with punk-inspired energy and raw vocals, Zilla brought a fiery energy to the 6ix9ine-assisted “Yokai” and “Hellsing Station.” He issued his debut EP, LifeIsAHorrorMovie, in April 2017.
But the collaboration that would change Rogers’ career was just around the corner: Zilla soon linked up with fellow rapper SosMula through his brother’s work at a tattoo parlor, and the two combined their talents to form the rap duo City Morgue. Their style described variously as punk rap, trap metal, and nu metal, fused heavy guitar-based sonics with the clattering beats of the trap genre, resulting in floor-shuddering anthems shaped by both rap and rock. Soon, the duo found major success: 2018’s Be Patient EP produced the underground hit “Nitro Cell,” before the howling “33RD BLAKK GLASS” brought their unique sound to the rap world at large. With City Morgue, Vol. 1 (2018), City Morgue Vol. 2 (2019), and Toxic Boogaloo (2020), the duo became pioneers of the trap metal scene, producing a stream of raging, gothic anthems (“SHINNERS13,” “ARSON,” “NECK BRACE”) as well as gloomier, more introspective work (“DRAINO,” “THE BALLOONS”).
Musical Contributions
Zillakami’s discography includes notable projects such as:
City Morgue Vol. 1: Hell or High Water
City Morgue Vol. 2: As Good as Dead
His music often features intense themes and powerful performances, resonating with fans who appreciate the raw energy of his style. Zillakami’s work has played a significant role in defining the trap metal genre, pushing the boundaries of traditional hip-hop.
Zillakami has made a significant impact on the music industry, particularly within the trap metal scene. His distinctive style and approach to music have earned him a dedicated fan base and recognition as a leading figure in the genre. His collaborations and solo projects continue to influence emerging artists and contribute to the evolution of modern rap music.
With City Morgue racking up millions of streams across all platforms, ZillaKami used 2021 to build on his solo career, releasing “Chains” and the Lil Uzi Vert-featuring “Badass.” His highly anticipated debut mixtape, DOG BOY, arrived that September: split evenly between hardcore and melodic styles, the project continued to develop Rogers’ artistic identity.