MUSIC | MESSAGE | MEANING | MYSTERY
ZILLA is more than a musician—he’s at the center of a movement in hip hop towards self-realization.
ZILLA is an enigma, representing the deepest layers of the personality of SP aka the “Spiritual Playa”. ZILLA’s lyrics blend eternal truth, personal mastery, and powerful rhymes to create songs that resonate with listeners on a deeper level.
Drawing inspiration from the golden age of hip-hop and modern-day lyrical masters, Zilla’s music is an introspective journey that encourages listeners to reflect on their lives, their relationships, and their purpose.
THE STORY
ZILLA’s musical journey started in his youth. Born to immigrant parents, SP grew up around his parents’ love for an eclectic range of Indian music. Growing up in the early 90s, he was exposed to the rawness of a classic era in east coast hip hop during his adolescence. He found a rhythmic familiarity in hip hop that resembled the essence of classical Indian music. Together with a love for writing, a deep quest for understanding the purpose behind our existence, and his own range of life experiences, he began writing and performing songs from his teenage years through college.
With the work ethic instilled in him by watching his parents achieve the American dream, SP gravitated towards a more traditional educational and career path. While he got married, had kids and found fulfillment and success in a conventional career, the flame of his creative side never went out. But the desire to assimilate seamlessly into his most important roles as a father, husband and professional would ultimately take precedence over his being an artist… or would it?
After much reflection and deliberation as to how he could maintain his trajectory while also pursuing his calling for creating music, ZILLA was born.
THE MUSIC
ZILLA is an inner beast - the rugged, unfiltered side of SP, which continues to be taken by existentialism as well as the pursuit of growth in all dimensions of life. While these themes permeate ZILLA’s music, his anonymity has allowed him to express more artistic freedom on the mic - from his relationship with his estranged father to that of his prior partners, to the juxtaposition of being a truly underground artist with his ‘regular’ life.
ZILLA’s music embodies the inner challenge we all face in one way or another – who we are to the outside world and its expectations while there’s a part of us that longs to express our inner truth and chase untold dreams. By staying anonymous, ZILLA strips away preconceived notions about hip hop, shifting the focus to the message—one of directing our energy with intention and approaching every path before us with equanimity.
ZILLA’s goal is simple - to create music that speaks to his listeners’ souls. He aims to inspire growth and self-discovery, offering listeners an opportunity to connect with their own inner truths through his lyrics and sound. He seeks to challenge the status quo, elevate thought, and spark conversations that lead to personal transformation. Every track is a message, and every lyric a bridge that connects us to something greater. ZILLA’s music serves as a reminder that we are all part of something bigger, and through reflection and growth, we can live our best lives.
In his formative years, ZILLA found resonance in the lyrics of legendary rappers like A Tribe Called Quest, Notorious BIG, Jay-Z, Big L and Nas. Drawing from their inspiration and that of more contemporary artists such as J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, ZILLA’s music is introspective and socially aware. This music isn’t just for the fans; it’s also a reflection of SP’s own growth, struggles, and ultimate journey toward self-realization.
