"I don't think they're ready for what I'm about to do to the world," Washington D.C. trap artist Alireza says of signing with pioneering extreme-metal record label Earache — you know, the imprint that introduced the world to Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Carcass, Godflesh and more. "Maybe the world isn't ready, honestly. I'm technically the first hip-hop signee on this huge metal label, but I find my way leaning in a lot of genres all at once so I'm excited to show it all."
The rapper is leading the way for what he calls "Dark Trap," which intertwines strains of hip-hop, rock and metal, as Alireza draws on influences ranging from XXXTentacion to Bring Me the Horizon. Alireza's new single "Never Seen," however, is relatively light on the rock elements — which, according to the rapper, is part of the point.
"It's rare you see a guy in a band that can bar out. And even more rare to see a guy who can bar out but still be talking about something with substance," he says of the track. "That's literally what I was aiming for with this first single. Setting the tone so you don't think I'm just some random trap-metal artist, and giving you real hip-hop, unadulterated bars. The video alluded to gentrification in a very indirect way, but that's exactly how it takes over so I don't think there's a way more fitting to show you what's going on."
Alireza has been busy in the studio with producer Jason Rich (whose résumé include Lil Peep and Lil Xan) and he recently played at Afropunk Fest in NYC, curated in part by Tyler, the Creator. His debut album Endlyss is set for release in 2019 on Earache Records.
