We also asked Alireza a few questions about his thoughts on “metal elitists,” the public pushback that can occur at the cross-section of hip-hop and metal, and signing to a label that, up until now, has only ever signed metal bands. How do you feel about being the first hip-hop artist to sign to a historically metal-only record label? I feel like there’s something to prove. If I were a kid in the scene I would automatically think a rapper on a metal label would be trash. So I feel pretty excited about making people uncomfortable with my music. Why did you decide to go with Earache as opposed to a hip-hop focused label? Hip-hop labels don’t invest in the artist without owning your entire life and livelihood. Earache wanted to invest like a partnership so we worked out a deal that was good for the both of us. And I can still plug my band when I need to. There’s been a lot of talk recently about the crossover between hip-hop and metal, with Soundcloud rappers sampling metal songs, Marilyn Manson working with Gucci Mane, etc. Do you feel like that’s about to be a bigger cultural trend? Why do you think that happened? It happened because of the scene. The whole post-hardcore/metalcore/deathcore scene made those huge numbers on YouTube and got bands charting and it introduced a lot of new people to this stuff. Crossovers aren’t new. They’ve been happening but now it’s a trend because the mainstream companies want to connect to the fanbase that listens to all different types of music.

Recently, you were in a documentary wearing a Whitechapel t-shirt. It generally stirs metalheads up when they see hip-hop artists wearing anything with a metal aesthetic. What would you say to people who make a fuss about that?

I played in a band. There’s a music video of me in a metalcore band wearing that shirt 4 years ago. I have a Bring Me The Horizon Pray For Plagues shirt on under that shirt. So they can say whatever they want. Metal elitists talk shit about deathcore bands all the time and it’s no different. What can the metal world expect from you in the future? Will you do any collaborations with metal artists? I have a friend that raps and plays drums back home. He and i both want to collab with sworn in. The way they play with rhythm is insane. So if that could happen I’d be thrilled. And the metal world isn’t going to be interested if they don’t like the wave. For a metalhead/rock ‘n’ roll fan hearing about you for the first time, what would you want them to know? I want you to know it’s ok to listen to everything. Don’t hold back from listening to rap because of society and don’t hold back from listening to bands because of the past. It’s all music. And whether it’s good or bad is all opinion.

Posted on February 18th 2019, 6:15pm