A statement of intent from the Inner West rapper recently signed to Def Jam ANZ.

Dropping his debut single ‘Overdose’ last week, Phi11a (pronounced Filla), proves he’s a rapper with substance (and not the kind you might OD on). As sub-genres like drill and grime continue to disrupt the trap-heavy sounds of contemporary rap of the last few years, more breakthrough local artists than ever are looking to the UK over the US for influence. The same can’t be said for Phi11a, who with international reach set firmly in his sights, pulls no punches on his first release.

Production on the track comes courtesy of Atlanta native Supah Mario who’s worked with some of hip-hop’s heaviest hitters including Drake and Young Thug. With big boots to fill, Phi11a couples his progressive and energetic approach to rap with a nod to hip-hop’s foundations in relentless fashion. “In this day and age, in the climate of hip-hop we’re living in, it’s more important than ever to have bars. The new melodic wave is so amazing, but I felt I needed to look back at what hip-hop was founded on, and that was wordplay and bars,” he said.

Watch Phi11a fire off a melee of intricately stacked bars through a gold grill while sporting a gully-meets-high-end fit and a Chinatown Market inspired hairstyle in the frenetic clip below: