Growing up as an only child in South Philly, Zilla Rocca is used to being in his own world. Influenced by The Beatles, Wu-Tang Clan, Tom Waits, Camp Lo, Nas and Aesop Rock, Zilla constantly brings something new to the table, as either an MC or producer. A massive record collection and a deep love for music, books and film has shaped the Rap Jack Bauer as a chameleon who is able to fit in on tracks raging from rugged to smooth, from spaced out to straightforward, all with ease.
As an MC, Zilla Rocca is 10 years deep in his craft thanks to his lifelong friend Knowledge Don aka Nico the Beast. He spews abstract rhymes popularized by Ghostface Killah along with a simple, punchline-based style inspired by Common. A student of Nas and Andre 3000, Zilla Rocca strives to share something unique with the audience.
In 2003, his friends and former bandmates Starkey and Arkive of the now-defunct experimental hip hop group Crooked Soul (with whom he released their album BREAK BREAD & NAILS on Beat Garden in February 2006) introduced Zilla to production. That early studio and business experience led Zilla to successfully form Clean Guns with Knowledge Don in 2004 and found Beat Garden Entertainment in 2006.
He produced 10 of the 12 songs on the Clean Guns debut SOMETIMES THERE IS TROUBLE, released in August 2006. He and Knowledge then knocked out the follow-up mixtape LIVING IN HARMONY. Both releases have garnered serious critical acclaim from bloggers, fans and live audiences.
In the meantime, Zilla won Spine Magazine's remix contest for the Nas song "Hope" off of HIP HOP IS DEAD. He participated in the iStandard Producer Showcase in Philadelphia, the Rap Session and Discussion with local teens at the Franklin Institute and attended the Dynamic Producer Music Conference in New York City in September '06.
He has contributed beats and rhymes to So-S@y's debut album and Nico the Beast's debut album NO BEAST SO FIERCE. Zilla also contributed rhymes to 13 tracks on the YADIBOX.COM MIXTAPE and 3 tracks for the RHYMECITY RECORDS MIXTAPE. The Rap Jack Bauer is wrapping up the sex-hop project KING BEDROCK with M.O.G. of Triple Nickels, an EP in the vein of Dr. Octagon, Smut Peddlers and Lovage.
His debut album FALL BACK FRIDAY, featuring the entire Beat Garden roster, will drop in 2008 and promises to be a mixture of Camp Lo, Beastie Boys and The Beatnuts. Look out for the mixtape BRING ME THE HEAD OF ZILLA ROCCA!!!, a compilation of remixes and new songs, to preceed it.
Zilla Rocca likes hip hop blogs, TV, bananas, jackhammers, facial hair, Belgian ales and the word "repetoire."
New Releases
Now On Sale:
Yadibox.com: The Mixtape
Clean Guns - Sometimes There Is T.R.O.U.B.L.E.
Living In Harmony The Mixtape
