City Morgue

City Morgue
SosMula (left) and ZillaKami
SosMula (left) and ZillaKami
Background information
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2016–2024[1]
Labels
Past members
Websitecitymorgueofficial.com

City Morgue was an American hip hop duo from New York City which consisted of rappers ZillaKami (Junius Rogers) and SosMula (Vinicius Sosa).

History

SosMula in 2020

Prior to the formation of City Morgue in 2017, Junius Rogers, professionally known as ZillaKami, worked extensively with 6ix9ine in the underground hip-hop scene in New York City and allegedly ghostwrote many of 6ix9ine's early songs. His other collaborator was his older half-brother Peter Rogers, known professionally as Righteous P, the CEO of music label Hikari-Ultra.[3] The brothers had a falling out with 6ix9ine after he allegedly refused to pay back money owed and ripped instrumentals from the group. In response, ZillaKami and other detractors publicly circulated information about 6ix9ine's child sexual performance charge.[3][4]

ZillaKami had met Vinicius Sosa, known professionally as SosMula, on his first day out of jail, and started creating songs some time after meeting with record producer Bouabdallah Sami Nehari, known professionally as Thraxx. Together, the trio had made many projects since then, including numerous singles, some of which being "Sk8 Head", "Shinners13", "33rd Blakk Glass", and an album City Morgue Vol 1: Hell or High Water.[citation needed]

ZillaKami was also featured on Denzel Curry's 2018 single "Vengeance", and in turn, Curry had City Morgue on the Ta13oo tour.[5] On November 19, 2018, City Morgue sold out their first headline show in New York City at Saint Vitus Bar located in Brooklyn.[6]

City Morgue was then featured in the $uicideboy$' Grey Day tour starting July 24, 2019, and ending August 24, 2019. They were present for all shows except for the Norfolk, VA, Des Moines, IA, and the Montreal shows with ZillaKami stating he was not allowed in Canada.[7] On December 13, 2019, City Morgue released their second album City Morgue Vol 2: As Good as Dead. On the same day, City Morgue was featured on the track "Wardogz" by GRAVEDGR.[8]

On July 23, 2020, City Morgue released a video for "Hurtworld '99",[9] which acted as the lead single for their Toxic Boogaloo mixtape that was released on July 31, 2020.[10] They also released videos for "The Electric Experience" and "Yakuza" on August 5 and August 12, 2020, respectively.[11]

On September 28, 2021, City Morgue released the single "What's My Name". It acted as the lead single to their third studio album City Morgue Vol 3: Bottom of the Barrel.[12]

On June 24, 2022, ZillaKami announced that the next summer tour would most likely be their last City Morgue tour. SosMula later announced that the next album in City Morgue's discography would be their last. Despite the announcement, this tour was not their last. On May 19th, 2023, hip-hop duo $uicideboy$ announced their 4th annual Grey Day tour to start from August 25, 2023, to October 30, 2023, and City Morgue were announced to be a part of the lineup alongside artists Sematary, Ramirez, Ghostemane, and Freddie Dredd.

On April 28, 2023, City Morgue released the single "Skull & Bones 322". It was their first single for their final studio album My Bloody America. On August 25, 2023, the duo released the second single "HAHA WACO". On September 15, 2023, they released "My Bloody America".

Musical style

ZillaKami in 2019

The duo's music had been categorised as punk rap,[13] trap metal,[14] hardcore rap,[15] nu metal,[16][17] rap metal,[18] rap rock,[19] and alternative hip hop,[20] often containing elements of extreme metal and shock rock.[21] During an interview, they stated that their music "is just a modern take on nu-metal. It's more trap, with more 808s and high-hats".[21] Kerrang! writer Gary Suarez said that their "unflinchingly hostile blend of trap and metal... careens towards misanthropy and nihilism to an alarming extent".[22] In an article for Revolver, their music was described as "full of queasy synth, destabilizing bass and disconcerting bars".[21] Cat Jones from Kerrang! described their music as "ZillaKami's raspy vocals are punctuated by SosMula's higher register over metal samples in a way that feels terrifying and entrancing at the same time".[23] Tom Breihan of Stereogum said their music "take[s] all the face-tatted fuck-shit-up tendencies of the young SoundCloud rap scene, and they blow that stuff way the hell out of proportion, scream-rapping about drugs and murder with rabid ferocity".[24] Respect magazine said they "spin gothic hood tales, harking back to timeless East Coast hip-hop—yet sharpened by their signature dark metallic edge".[25]

City Morgue were primarily influenced by punk rock, hardcore punk, nu metal and hardcore hip hop.[26] They cite influences such as Behemoth, Slipknot,[21] Title Fight, DMX, Radiohead, Onyx,[27] Eminem and Tyler, the Creator.[28]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[29]
US
R&B/HH

[30]
US
Rap

[31]
City Morgue Vol 1: Hell or High Water
  • Released: October 12, 2018
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA, Republic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, LP
City Morgue Vol 2: As Good as Dead
  • Released: December 13, 2019
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA, Republic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, LP
16 7 5
City Morgue Volume 3: Bottom of the Barrel
  • Released: October 15, 2021
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA, Republic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, LP
My Bloody America
  • Released: September 15, 2023
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA, Republic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD
36

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Mixtape details Peak chart positions
US
[29]
US
Rock/Alt.

[32]
US
Rock

[33]
Toxic Boogaloo
  • Released: July 31, 2020
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA, Republic
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
96 13 13

EPs

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Extended play details
Be Patient.
  • Released: August 19, 2018
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
$moke Under the Water (with Keith Ape)
  • Released: March 11, 2022
  • Label: Hikari-ULTRA, UnderWater, 88rising
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

Title Release date Album
"SHINNERS 13" June 28, 2017 City Morgue Vol 1:Hell or High Water
"33RD BLAKK GLASS" March 23, 2018
"Sk8 Head" May 11, 2018
"66SLAVS"  June 7, 2019 Non-album single
"BULLETPROOF SHOWER CAP" (Pouya featuring City Morgue)  June 28, 2019 The South Got Something to Say
"DAWG" July 18, 2019 Non-album single
"The Balloons"  December 6, 2019 City Morgue Vol 2: As Good as Dead
"HURTWORLD '99" July 17, 2020 TOXIC BOOGALOO
"WHAT'S MY NAME"  October 1, 2021 City Morgue Vol 3: Bottom of the Barrel
"Skull & Bones 322" April 28, 2023 My Bloody America
"HAHA WACO" August 25, 2023

Non-album songs

Title Release date
"Go" (featuring Ballabonds) February 6, 2017
"Babbage Patch Kids" February 13, 2017
"Yukk Mouth" February 21, 2017
"Wardog Anthem" February 28, 2017
"Kids Kuisine" March 8, 2017
"Jet Grind Radio" March 13, 2017
"Shrimp" March 20, 2017
"Hockey Pukk" March 27, 2017
"Bukkake" April 3, 2017
"SkateWitch" April 17, 2017
"Bhum Bukket" May 16, 2017
"Fukk Dat" November 6, 2017
"Drop Dead" December 4, 2017
"Gang Green" June 11, 2018

References

  1. ^ "City Morgue". Republic Records. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Knopper, Steve. "A Hip-Hop Signing Frenzy Sends New Record Deal Prices Soaring". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  3. ^ a b No Jumper (July 8, 2018). "The ZillaKami & SosMula Interview". Retrieved October 9, 2018 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Preezy (August 15, 2018). "Here's a Rundown of Every Public Beef Involving 6ix9ine". XXL. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Kokayi, Kasamba. "Denzel Curry and City Morgue at The Orpheum". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  6. ^ Møtion, Noah (November 2, 2018). "City Morgue in Brooklyn: Punk is Alive". All Metal Everything. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ^ "Google Image Result for https://i.redd.it/yc0iaujowwp21.jpg". Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  8. ^ Rashed, Ayana (January 5, 2020). "City Morgue Releases Their New Album "CITY MORGUE VOL 2: AS GOOD AS DEAD" Today". Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "City Morgue – HURTWORLD '99 Video". 360 Mag. July 23, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  10. ^ "City Morgue – TOXIC BOOGALOO". 360 Mag. July 31, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  11. ^ "CITY MORGUE RELEASES NEW VIDEO FOR "YAKUZA" FROM RECENT MIXTAPE TOXIC BOOGALOO". radiofacts. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "City Morgue Go Off On Aggressive New Guitar-Driven Track "WHAT'S MY NAME"". HotNewHipHop. October 3, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Reynolds, Patrick. "City Morgue: redefining hardcore rap and breaking out the underground". Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Zagaglia, Riccardo. "Migliori album 2018. La classifica di Riccardo Zagaglia". Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  15. ^ "Meet City Morgue, New York's most shocking rap group". Vice Media. February 8, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  16. ^ Kokayi, Kasamba. "Denzel Curry and City Morgue at The Orpheum". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  17. ^ Enis, Eli (July 18, 2022). "10 Bands Leading the New Wave of Nu-Metal". Revolver Magazine. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  18. ^ Dunlea, Red (April 6, 2022). "City Morgue: Getting Weird With Trap Metal's Most Dangerous Duo". Revolver. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "City Morgue". Vogue. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  20. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "City Morgue". Allmusic. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  21. ^ a b c d WINKIE, LUKE (January 2, 2018). "CITY MORGUE: MEET THE MORAL MAJORITY'S NEW WORST NIGHTMARE". Revolver. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  22. ^ Suarez, Gary (July 18, 2019). "GREY DAY: A WHO'S WHO GUIDE TO THE HIP-HOP AND HARDCORE TOUR OF THE SUMMER". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  23. ^ Jones, Cat (August 15, 2019). "AT $UICIDEBOY$' GREY DAY TOUR, HEAVY MUSIC HAS NO GENRE". Kerrang!. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  24. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 16, 2019). "Stream City Morgue's New Album Vol. 2: As Good As Dead". Stereogum. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  25. ^ Rashed, Ayana (December 7, 2019). "City Morgue Announces The Release Of Their New Album City Morgue Vol 2: As Good As Dead Coming December 13". Respect. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  26. ^ "City Morgue Interview". Thrasher. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  27. ^ Adam Grandmaison (July 8, 2018). "The ZillaKami & SosMula Interview" (Podcast). Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  28. ^ Seabrook III, Robby (December 26, 2019). "THE BREAK PRESENTS: CITY MORGUE". Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  29. ^ a b Billboard 200:
  30. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of December 28, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "Top Rap Albums: Week of December 28, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  32. ^ "Top Rock & Alternative Albums: Week of August 15, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  33. ^ "Top Rock Albums: Week of August 15, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2023.