Toronto’s music scene has long been dominated by a specific sound, but 23-year-old artist Zay known to his homies as Clonazemane is determined to change that. Born and raised in Toronto with Jamaican and Panamanian roots, Zay grew up immersed in old-school boom bap, thanks to his mother blasting Mobb Deep, Nas, and Gravediggaz throughout the house. As he got older, he explored other genres like metal and crust punk, only to rediscover rap through Three 6 Mafia, Tommy Wright III, Raider Klan, and Lil Ugly Mane, bringing him full circle back to his roots in hip-hop and horrorcore.
A Lifelong Love for Music and Art
Music and creativity have always been part of Zay’s life. Whether drawing or rapping with old heads in stairwells, he found himself naturally drawn to the arts. Despite being self-taught, his obsession with music pushed him to master his craft over the years. Three years ago, he made the decision to take his passion seriously, and since then, he’s been unstoppable. For Zay, music isn’t just a hobby it’s a necessity. He describes it as an addiction, experiencing withdrawal when he’s not making or listening to it.
“I could never sacrifice my skill to be able to learn anything I see,” he says. “Not even on an ego tip, but I couldn’t live without that talent.”
Building a Movement: Hell House Records & Children of the Grave
Zay’s focus isn’t on fame or clout it’s about elevating his team. His main goal is to push his collective, Children of the Grave, and his label, Hell House Records, to the level they deserve. In just one year, he has already collaborated with many of his inspirations, with only four left on his list. He’s on a mission to break the mold of Toronto’s rap culture, creating a new scene and sound with like-minded individuals.
Hell House Records is a unique movement in the city, setting itself apart from the mainstream with a diverse group of artists, including SleepyShotDat, Grimmegami, Dystopiamane, Shotta Jinn, Ronii2K, Lito the Don, Shaddai Black, Igr3ja, Kai, Luna MP, Reloading Pictures, Trey, and his fiancée, Lxdy Payne. Together, they focus on consistent music releases, IRL content, and behind-the-scenes footage of their creative process.
A Unique Sound and Style
Describing Hell House Records’ sound is no easy task, as each member brings something different to the table. Their music is deeply influenced by Memphis-style horrorcore, early Three 6 Mafia, SpaceGhostPurrp, sigilkore, evil plug, and classic phonk. They also take inspiration from extreme punk and metal subgenres like grindcore and black metal, along with the chopped-and-screwed sounds of DJ Screw and old-school West Coast rap.
Their creative process is just as unique. “We literally watch hella horror movies and play old PS1 and PS2 games even some GameCube games for inspiration,” Zay explains. “Most of the time, it’s on the spot. We all link up on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, turn up, and record 10-15 songs each, vault everything, and only drop what we really like.”
Breaking Boundaries in Toronto’s Rap Scene
Hell House Records stands out in every way possible. From their sound to their visuals, everything they create is raw, authentic, and unlike anything else coming out of Toronto. Their dedication to horror aesthetics isn’t just a gimmick they live it, regularly attending metal shows, moshing, and embracing the underground scene.
Zay’s HELL HOUSE.TV series is one of his proudest projects, alongside past releases like Curse of the Mummy. The team constantly experiments with new sounds, even studying obscure genres to incorporate fresh elements into their music. “If it works, it works. If not, we move on,” he says.
Influences and Future Collaborations
Hell House’s members each have their own influences that shape their unique styles. Dystopiamane draws from Icemane tha Kingpin, $uicideboy$, and alternative rock scenes like DSBM and punk. Lxdy Payne is inspired by Devilish Trio, Bones, $uicideboy$, and Gangsta Boo (RIP). Grimmiegami’s style leans toward cloud rap, influenced by Black Kray and Shaddai Black. As for Zay himself, his inspirations span from Three 6 Mafia, DJ Smokey, and SpaceGhostPurrp to his own homies like Shadowstar, Lito the Don, Ronii2K, Igr3ja, Luna MP, and his Ukrainian friends from Decimation Records.
If given the chance to collaborate with any artist, his top five picks would be MajinBlxxdy, SpaceGhostPurrp, DJ Smokey, DJ Paul from Three 6 Mafia, and Tommy Wright III.
The Future of Hell House Records
As Hell House Records continues to build momentum, Zay and his collective remain committed to authenticity and innovation. Their upcoming plans include more music, visuals, and immersive content that reflects their raw, underground energy. Their movement isn’t just about music—it’s about creating a new lane for those who refuse to conform to the industry’s expectations.
With a growing reputation and a dedicated team, Hell House Records is shaping up to be one of the most exciting underground forces in Toronto’s music scene. And for Zay, this is just the beginning.
