The acclaimed NYC-born and raised artist, performer, dancer and model Infinite Coles has announced that his long-anticipated debut album ‘SweetFace Killah’, produced by Zach Witness (Doechii, Frank Ocean, Erykah Badu) will be released on 5thDecember on Don’t Sleep/PIAS.
Coinciding with the announcement, Infinite Coles also serves up the incredible double single ‘SweetFaceKillah’/ ‘Dad & I’, his deeply personal third offering ahead of his album, with both tracks fearlessly exploring joy, pain, love, anger and resilience, expressing each side of his complicated relationship with his father, the rap icon Ghostface Killah of Wu Tang Clan, who Infinite is estranged from and hasn’t seen or spoken to in over 10 years. Listen HERE.
The incendiary ‘SweetFaceKillah’ sees Infinite own and claim the mean label he was called by online trolls, reframing a homophobic slur for the catchy intro hook, to deliver a bouncy R&B house banger that drips with unapologetic queer joy and defiance. Infinite delivers a slap-down with slick rap verses and soulful vocals that are fierce, yet vulnerable, taking direct aim at his father. As he rhymes “How you in a Mack truck, but forget you a father..Is it me? Am I not your cup of tea. Are my pants not low, like your self esteem. Do I need to f*ck a bitch, Just so you could see?”.
The stylish ‘film noir’ style video for ‘SweetFaceKillah’ also drops today and is directed by Infinite’s best friend and key collaborator, the model and auteur Ugly Worldwide (aka Jazelle), featuring a talking head older man rapping the intro hook but with the voice of a girl rapper from the 90s. Infinite is looking tough, yet seductive, in braids, PVC and red leather, dancing and voguing as he drops his vocals and spits his bars. Watch the video HERE.
‘Dad & I’ is a homage to the 90s Hip Hop Soul tradition that Mary J Blige pioneered, from the vibes of the production, to Infinite’s rough-hewn, emotionally raw vocals and lyrics that are a sonic letter to his Dad. As he sings “Dad and I don’t see eye to eye. I love you but I think that you be carrying… You tell me to man up yeah, When I put on makeup yeah… Nobody’s perfect no. Can’t you see that I’m worth it. Can you love me now. Do you love me now. Can you Show me to the crowd. Prove that I’m allowed.”
With the video dropping soon, Ugly Worldwide (aka Jazelle) directs the powerful ‘Dad & I’ video once again. The aesthetics are graphic, glossy and sophisticated, nostalgic of 90s R&B videos, with Infinite and a blurry Dad figure sitting at either ends of a long table. It could be a chance for peacemaking, but it’s one-sided, with Infinite imploring, sharing his feelings in what is an emotionally charged and artistic visual expression of his track.
Infinite Coles has been making a name for himself for some years now and is becoming one of New York’s most mesmerising modern music expressionists. The debut album ‘SweetFace Killah’ is a collection of 12 tracks that showcase Infinite’s innate vocal gifts, fearless approach to lyricism and songwriting, teaming up with the finest producer Zach Witness to deliver a feast of sonic experimentations. His has been a turbulent path, traversing personal battles and vulnerabilities that Infinite faced growing up as a queer African American and a member of a rap dynasty. The album reflects Infinite’s journey, through numerous personal challenges to authentically express himself fearlessly and joyously, free from fear of judgement, while channelling his deep connection to the vibrant Vogue-Ballroom culture and identity.
Tracks include the singles ‘BGM’ and ‘Boots Ballroom C*nt Mix’ featuring Maleigh Zan & Julz, which were both released earlier this summer, with ‘Boots Ballroom C*nt Mix’ hailed as “An anthem that serves as a manifesto in serving” by Clash. Other album highlights include explosive, high energy bangers like ‘DMs’, a stomping afro-house cut that tells the haters in his DMs to shut the hell up, and ‘Shoot’ a booty-bass banger that tells a hater to relax and enjoy the night. There are also slower, soul-stirring tunes like ‘Mama Song’ an infectious afro-house cut which is an ode to all the mothers, ‘Thankful’ an R&B soul track that is full of gratitude for how far Infinite has come, to powerfully emotive piano ballads like ‘Body Strong’.
Infinite Coles said “I am proud and excited to announce my debut album. It is the culmination of my journey and I can’t wait to share it with the world. The track ‘SweetFaceKillah’ is an alter ego, it’s me just talking my ish and not being afraid to say the things that I wanna say. I always wanted to rap and always did it as a joke with my friends, but I was always afraid. ‘SweetFace Killah’ came from the trolls online making fun of me because of my dad. At first, I was depressed and embarrassed, but I took the name and made it mean something more than what they were using it for. Now I’m owning it, because honestly it’s FABBBB, like they ate that!!! ‘Dad & I’ is a message to my father. It’s saying that even though I’m angry and hurt … I forgive you and I love you. I want to thank all my incredible collaborators Zach Witness, Robot Moonjuice, Ugly Worldwide, so many to name, but you know who you are. I love you, family.”
Infinite Coles was raised by rap royalty and born into the family of multi-platinum rap icons Wu Tang Clan. The estranged son of Ghostface Killah and the nephew of RZA, Infinite first appeared on the scene in Dazed’s cult short film ‘Gang’, hailed as ‘Saturday Night Fever for the vogue-tumblr generation’, which led him to be sought out by XL Records supremo Richard Russell to collaborate on his Everything Is Recorded debut album, alongside artists like Sampha, Syd, Giggs, Ibeyi and Kamasi Washington, featuring on the track ‘Bloodshot Red Eyes’ with Green Gartside. The debut EP ‘Destiny’ came out in 2021 and was a tribute to his late twin sister, and enlisted respected instrumentalists and innovators, from Sampha, to saxophonist CKTRL and rapper-producer Wiki. The EP received high praise from NME, Crack, Mixmag, The Line Of Best Fit and Notion and connected far and wide with peers in the New York, London and globally.
Album Tracklisting:
1. SweetFaceKillah
2. DMs
3. Boots Ballroom C*nt Mix
4. Shoot
5. Thankful
6. Why’s It Important (Interlude)
7. Dad & I
8. Body Strong
9. Mama Song
10. Different Kind Of Rain (Interlude)
11. BGM
12. Hummingbird
Ends.
Don’t Sleep is the Brixton based independent record company founded by Dean Bryce, the visionary A&R behind multiple Mercury Prize wins (Young Fathers, Speech Debelle) and the discovery of global dance music icon Peggy Gou. Don’t Sleep works with artists and creatives who push culture forward.
Single artwork credits: Creative Director: Jazzelle aka Ugly Worldwide, Photographer: Mckinley Akins, Producer: Alyson Cox, Editor/Colorist: Chandler Clemens, Production Coordinator: Patrick Povey, Production Assistant: Diana Butler, Production Design: Avvi Hernandez, Production Design Assistant: Joao Sanchez, Stylist: Fet Hilario, Hair Stylist: Sean Bennett, Makeup Artist: Nathan Gross, Nail Artist: Anna Caroom, Grip: Emil Nadyrbekov, Gaffer: Will Armstrong, Best Boy: Alphonse Silvestri
Album artwork credits: Creative Director: Jazzelle aka @uglyworldwide, Photography: Kane Ocean, Production: FENG SHUI PRODUCTIONS, Producer: Alyson Cox, Graphic design: Eric Nguyen, Styling: Fet Hilario, Makeup: Kauv Onazh, Hair: Timur Sadiq, Nails: Nirina Metz, Production Assistant: Brooke Danaher, Diana Butler.
SweetFaceKillah video credits: Director Jazelle aka @uglyworldwide, DP Mckinley Akins @mckinleyakins, Producer Alyson Cox @trashfengshui, Editor/Colorist Chandler Clemens @chandlerclemens, Production Coordinator Patrick Povey @_povey_, Production Assistant @_d1v1na, Production Design Avvi Hernandez @avviplz, Production Design Assistant Joao Sanchez @joaosanchez_, Stylist @rufiopierce, Hair Stylist Timur Sadiq @timursadyq, Makeup Artist Nathan Gross @nathangross_, Nail Artist @mantisp0sting, Grip @yomskee, Gaffer Will Armstrong @arm_will_strong, Best Boy Alphonse Silvestri @alphonse_f, BTS Video Darvis @darvis, Casting Violette Trotter @violettetrotter, Movement Coordinator @dee_boujee.
Dad & I video credits: Director: Jazelle aka @uglyworldwide, DP: Mckinley Akins @mckinleyakins, Producer: Alyson Cox @trashfengshui, Editor/Colorist: Chandler Clemens @chandlerclemens, Production Coordinator: Patrick Povey @_povey_, Production Assistant: Diana Butler, Production Design: Avvi Hernandez @avviplz, Production Design Assistant: Joao Sanchez @joaosanchez_,, Stylist: Fet Hilario, Hair Stylist: Timur Sadiq @timursadyq, Makeup Artist: Nathan Gross @nathangross_,, Nail Artist: Anna Caroom, Grip: Emil Nadyrbekov, Gaffer: Will Armstrong @arm_will_strong, Best Boy: Alphonse Silvestri @alphonse_f, BTS Video: Darvis @darvis, Casting: Violette Trotter @violettetrotter, Movement Coordinator: Dayday Juicy.
Infinite Coles socials: Instagram 4everinfinite_, TikTok, Faceook, YouTube, X
