Fast bars and creative production blend the grit and storytelling of rock and rap with a seamless lyrical confidence that’s boldly unique. Through adversity to impact, INFERNO is an artist and rapper whose life began in turmoil, and though his journey has been dark, complex and difficult, it provided an unrivalled fire and passion that naturally feeds into his music.
This year, INFERNO the album presents 16 original tracks, under a name inspired by reactions to his bars when he was younger – ‘you spit fire’ set off the INFERNO of this venture and life, and this album is the pinnacle of that.
Born in 1983, Inferno’s mother was just 16 years of age, and was involved in a devastating accident that led to his premature arrival at just 7 months. Neither were expected to survive, and his mother remained in a coma for six months, but even against such unthinkable odds, Inferno and his mother survived, built a life, and Inferno proceeded to seek impact and respite from struggle, through writing and music.
Beginning with Vendetta, the vibe is dark, intense and heavy – the bars and wordplay, the speed and timbre of Inferno’s voice instantly impressive, interesting and captivating. Then with Fuck Your Friend, something mellow and artistically produced makes way for another story and set of bars that enthral for both performative flair and the weight and vulnerability of the lyrics.
Inferno’s mother sadly passed away when he was just 15, in a fatal accident on New Year’s Eve, and Inferno himself became a young father just one year later. The onus was upon him to make sense of life alone now, to navigate youth, fatherhood, loss, responsibility, whilst building a strong emotional foundation for his children. Inferno later set up a barbershop business, and today stands as an inspiration to all who’ve faced adversity, with the launch of his iconic self-titled album.
Loaded with complex bars and smart, sharp reflections on life and his experiences, INFERNO features lush multi-layered production and lashings of original references, scenes and intelligent raps and rhymes. Consider Everyone Knows My Name, a quietly confident declaration, with a soulful melodic hook that feels incredibly distinct.
His authenticity is unrivalled, and what’s more, the skill and substance of this project resounds from start to finish. The music captivates, but also delivers a level of realness and originality that’s exceedingly rare in modern hip hop.
Highlights from INFERNO include the drama and darkness of a minimalist story and sound from Stand Up – guitars, piano and mild theatrics all subtly reinforcing the persona at the heart of the writing. Then there’s the ambience and countering tempo intensity from the bars of After Party, and the unpredictable alternative energy of Mental Rage – tracks within which the wordplay is clever and the references hold meanings that run deeper than simple surface level implications.
In Motion and Life Goes On are inspiring, colourful and breathless but calm and motivational in their faultless outpouring of sentiments and introspections. Then there’s Blood I Bleed, with a fierce dynamic from Mo Digs – a classic street-rap aura with a twist of that unmistakable Inferno poetry and wit.
For the true hip hop fans who appreciate the creativity of production that aligns with emotions and stories, who gravitate towards real stories, honesty, the relatable ache of adversity and hardship in life, and who seek to feel inspired, empowered, and uplifted, by a project that’s been years in the making. INFERNO is a slick and sharp rap album for the conscious ears and sub-genres across hip hop’s history.
Stream INFERNO on Apple Music.
