DOG BOY: ALBUM REVIEW
ZillaKami is one of the most unique voices in all of music, and he is working to redefine the hip-hop sound for an entire generation. This is not to say that he is working on a completely original formula. ZillaKami borrows heavily from various other artists and bands, but he combines these influences with an unbridled New York City energy that pushes him onto a new plane. His newest project, DOG BOY, takes all of what made his music special in the past and molds it into a cohesive statement for the first time in his career.
The first thing you’ll notice about DOG BOY is the presence of live-sounding guitars. While ZillaKami has always featured guitar sounds in his music, on his previous projects the guitar felt synthetic and programmed. On DOG BOY, every riff brings the energy of a live performance. A great example appears toward the middle of the album on the song “IHY.” Although the track centers a simple guitar loop, ZillaKami raps over the beat like he’s playing the riff live on stage. As he raps, “You not about the chaos, you gon' have to stay inside,” the guitars wail behind him and create a world of chaos.
ZillaKami’s lyrics on DOG BOY spiral throughout the course of the project. On the first few tracks, the lyrics all center either violence or drug use, but as the project evolves, his lyrics slide into an analysis of his self-destructive tendencies. Even on one of the calmest songs on the project, “Bleach,” ZillaKami shows us his destructive energy. He raps, “As I battle mental illness, often clashing with my brilliance. Now I'm smoking reefer 'til ashes tumble down a nigga's sneakers. My fear and anxiety is off the meters. The only thing I know is I don't know, so enter the unknown.” Through lines like this, we can feel his pain and understand where his anger is coming from. At every point on the project, ZillaKami practically begs us to relate to him. He never raps about violence for the sake of violence; ZillaKami raps the way he does in an effort to explain the world to his listener.
This album is a world of pain and hurt. The overpowering theme on DOG BOY is a loss of control over one’s mental health. No matter which way you turn, ZillaKami is there to hit you with his profound feeling of emptiness. On the track “Black Cats” he says, “I can't save the world if I can't save myself. Gun pointed at my mental health,” and the topic comes up again on “FROSTY” where he opens with “Hello, depression I hear your message.” At first, lyrics like this can sound like standard shock-raps, but the further you dig into DOG BOY, the more you realize this album is meant to be a shared therapy session between Zilla and the listener.
DOG BOY rewards deep listening. While the whirlwind of guitars and emotion is the first thing that hits you, ZillaKami’s lyrics grab you with repeated listens. He has a way of simplifying complex emotions which allows him to connect directly with whoever is listening. ZillaKami continues to push the boundaries of his sound and seems destined to be one of this generation’s great innovators.