On the duvet of his debut album, SweetFace Killah, Infinite Coles is grinning actually huge. Cheesing, truly, straight into the digital camera. “This was my plan,” he tells me.
The pleasure in that picture is hard-earned. After residing in a shelter in Queens, New York for over a 12 months, Coles, the infamous estranged son of GhostFace Killah, lastly had sufficient. “From my window, I’d watch planes take off and land,” he says. “In the beginning, I’d cry on the train or on the boat. But after six months, I started to feel powerful, strong.”
From there, Coles’ writing obtained higher, stronger. “Dad & I” was written and the now-viral “SweetFace Killah” happened. “Straight boys come up to me all the time now,” he says. “They’re like, ‘Bro, we love what you’re doing. You’re in a position to change the world, to change how the industry sees people and who they let in.’ And I was standing there like… damn. Coming from two straight men who weren’t being judgmental. They loved the art.”
Hip-hop blogs and tabloid-style headlines would observe — even Joe Rogan praised his expertise and vulnerability. But getting on some hetero hip-hop ‘good side’ was by no means even Coles’ intention. In reality, he didn’t even wanna be a rapper. “In my family, there was a lot of ‘faggot’ talk in the raps, and it made me uncomfortable. It made me feel like I wasn’t supposed to like rap.”
When I first got here throughout Infinite Coles, it was on “Bloodshot Red Eyes,” a one-off monitor from 2019 through which he sings in his soothing R&B falsetto. This is the kind of singing that influenced Coles’ earlier music and nonetheless exhibits up on SweetFace Killah — tracks like “Thankful” function his highly effective belt and reversion 90’s R&B vocal singing, “If you want it, you can get it / all this love is neverending” adopted by, “The scars on my body could’ve been much worse, but I’m still here.”
Other tracks like “Mama Song” and “Hummingbird” really feel like inner mantras come to life, straight from the supply. It’s a testomony to Coles’ vary and vigor on this shining second he’s at the moment having. From rap to ballroom to R&B and pop melodies, SweetFace Killah places Coles straight consistent with his given title: Infinite. He doesn’t must be only one factor — perhaps he will be every thing.
We sat down with Coles to speak about his enormous 2025, wild TikTook fan reactions, and prayer.
Photography by Kane Ocean
How did we first meet? I truthfully overlook.
I overlook, too. We be having an excessive amount of enjoyable. I really feel prefer it was at that occasion by the ferry on Trinity. Club Glam? Yes, Club Glam.
Definitely Club Glam. I additionally really feel like my first reminiscence of you was this random music in 2019, “Bloodshot Red Eyes.” I like that music.
Aw, thanks my love. Yeah, that was my first music ever. With Richard Russell, XL Recordings.
Now you’re having this enormous second, which I’m so pleased with. The songs blowing up, the TikToks, all of the blogs… and a lot of the eye tied to your dad, Ghostface Killah. How have you ever navigated that connection whereas additionally carving out your individual title?
It’s been tough slightly bit, nevertheless it truthfully hasn’t bothered me. And I don’t imply this in a destructive approach, however… this was my plan. You know what I imply? I knew there’d be recognition simply from utilizing the title SweetFace Killah. I didn’t know it might get this huge, however I knew one thing would occur.
Dealing with it doesn’t trouble me. That is my father. I’m at all times going to be linked to him. He’s all people’s high ten author, high ten rapper. I’m by no means going to get away from that, so there’s no level in attempting. But I do wish to carve my very own lane with my music. So yeah, it’s been effective.
The solely annoying half is the feedback — his followers telling me to kill myself, or that after they see me they’re gonna do one thing. It’s like… yikes. That half makes me nervous typically. But I’m coping with it.
Have you gone to remedy for any of it?
No, by no means. I like speaking to my buddies. They’re my therapists. Especially those I’ve recognized for years, like Robot and Jazelle. They preserve it actual and inform me after I’m doing an excessive amount of or not sufficient.
Honestly, that’s why all this new music is taking place, and why I really feel fearless proper now. Jazelle and Robot have been on my ass like, “Shut up and do what you’re supposed to do. People are going to talk regardless. You can’t be 30 years old still looking for acceptance from a dad or a mom. You have to love yourself first.”
And they’re proper. Even with different members of the family like my siblings. Suddenly everybody’s pleased with me or reaching out. It’s annoying, however I’m attempting to embrace it in a constructive approach.
But I don’t assume it’s as a result of I’m “having a moment.” I believe it’s as a result of they see me accepting myself. They see everybody else glad for me, and it hits them like, That’s my brother — why can’t I simply do this too? It looks like they see the world loving me and wish to be part of the bandwagon, however in a real approach.
Why do you are feeling like this is taking place now? It looks like every thing simply exploded abruptly.
It’s as a result of I’m being authentically myself this time. With “Bloodshot Red Eyes,” I used to be model new. Even with my final mission, I used to be model new. I used to be residing within the shelter. I principally simply threw a bunch of songs I’d recorded onto one album. That was my final mission.
Since leaving the shelter, every thing has grown. In my very own home, I created an area, an power, the place I can say what I need, be who I need. So now that’s displaying up in my music, as a result of I’m writing in an area that’s mine. There’s no judgment in my residence, no holding again. I will be utterly free. Most of those songs had been written in my home after the shelter.
Before, I didn’t know myself. I wasn’t totally accepting of myself. And now? I’m right here with my wigs on, my skirt on, my heels on, not giving a fuck about something. That’s what it offers.
Do you assume it was additionally simply the literal bodily house? In a shelter, you don’t have your individual private house.
Exactly. Your ideas get combined with all people else’s ideas and actions. I’d be considering to myself, then lookup to ensure a person wasn’t about to assault me. Men would come as much as me and say, “Give me your food.” Stuff like that.
It was laborious. I couldn’t concentrate on my artwork. Even after I wasn’t bodily there, it was laborious to write down as a result of I’d be like, Girl, I’ve to return to that place tonight. So yeah — being in my own residence let me be utterly free and never give a fuck.
And round that point, my niece — however that’s my daughter — was born. That modified my life in essentially the most superb approach. It made me really feel like I had one thing to battle for. My sister has schizophrenia and bipolar dysfunction, actually extreme, so I needed to take custody of my niece. That’s why I say she’s my daughter.
I really feel like God gave my sister that child as a result of she was imagined to be mine. Everyone is aware of I at all times wished a baby, at all times wished a daughter. I ended up naming her and every thing. It actually looks like she’s mine.
She gave me a purpose to battle. In the previous, I didn’t know what I used to be combating for. When she was born, all of it got here out of me. Tears every single day. I pray each single day. I haven’t missed one in 4 years. That’s what it’s been like.
Tell me about that point within the shelter. What led as much as it, and what was the method popping out of it?
Well, going into that state of affairs… I don’t get together with my mother and father in any respect — mother or dad. Before the shelter, I used to be residing with my mother, and my sister was there too. There was a whole lot of arguing, lots of people not seeing my facet, a whole lot of me feeling uncomfortable. My mother would inform me to get the fuck out of the home and never come again. It was only a lot.
My final straw — and I’m not attempting to bash my sister, however this is my story — was when she did some bizarre shit. She’s schizophrenic and bipolar, so she switches typically. We had slightly tussle, and she or he ended up calling the cops, telling them I attempted to rape her. So I needed to get out of that state of affairs. I used to be like, Girl, you aren’t going to have six cops in my room questioning me about this and that.
And thoughts you, I had on a crop high and booty shorts as a result of I used to be about to go to the health club. The cops had been taking a look at me like, What is happening? Isn’t he homosexual? Is this a trans individual? They had been confused. I defined the state of affairs, they usually left me alone, however I used to be like, I’m not doing this. Something has to vary.
I couldn’t afford an condominium, so I went to the shelter. I informed myself, I’m gonna do that for 11 months and see what occurs. And truthfully, it was the most effective determination I’ve ever made. Even although it was laborious and darkish, one thing lovely got here out of it.
I’ve been in my residence since 2021, and look — I made a good looking album that’s actually taking off. I’m so grateful. I knew one thing huge was going to return after the shelter. I may really feel my music getting higher, my writing getting higher. Something felt completely different — and now look.
So the shelter would possibly’ve been the most effective factor that ever occurred, in a approach?
Yeah. I discovered loads. Mind you, I needed to take a ferry each single day plus a prepare. I’m from Staten Island, and the shelter was all the way in which in South Conduit in Queens — actually subsequent to the airport. From my window, I’d watch planes take off and land. That’s how far I used to be touring.
In the start, I’d cry on the prepare or on the boat. But after six months, I began to really feel highly effective, sturdy. I’d inform myself, After this, one thing is going to occur. I’m about to storm after this. I began embracing it. And that’s when my writing began altering — on the ferry, on the prepare.
When I obtained out, that’s when the writing actually occurred. But even whereas I used to be within the shelter and touring backwards and forwards, I may see the shift taking place in me.
Photography by Kane Ocean
Tell me concerning the writing course of, particularly for “Dad & I,” as a result of that feels just like the breakout monitor — together with “SweetFace Killah,” clearly.
“SweetFace Killah” was written slightly later — perhaps final 12 months or the 12 months earlier than. But “Dad & I” was written as quickly as I obtained out of the shelter and had my very own house.
There was a state of affairs taking place the place I used to be attempting to name my dad for assist. Because of my niece (my daughter). The solely purpose I needed to get custody of her was as a result of my sister had a second, they usually ended up taking my niece away. I wished to commit suicide. It was loopy. I didn’t know what to do. My child was getting taken away from me, and he was the one one that may actually assist. And he did nothing. He selected to do nothing.
So I posted one thing on Instagram. I don’t know in case you bear in mind. And it went viral. I simply aired all of it out. Like, If you’re not going to select up for me, then right here’s what’s happening. “Dad & I” occurred proper after that put up. There was a lot drama, and I used to be offended, however I’m the sort of one that doesn’t keep offended. I don’t maintain grudges. I’m very forgiving. Even if I don’t speak to you, I’ll nonetheless love you. They’re our mother and father. We’re in all probability at all times going to like them, it doesn’t matter what. That’s how I’m.
So “Dad & I” got here from that place. I wished to inform him how I felt with out being disrespectful. Because I knew some individuals would see “SweetFace Killah” because the disrespectful one — not me, however different individuals. “Dad & I” feels extra like… us sitting in a convention room or a remedy room. Just me and him, speaking, and me lastly telling him how I really feel.
Yeah, “Dad & I” is extra sentimental. “SweetFace Killah” is extra bark extra chunk.
Yeah. And you haven’t actually heard me rap like that. “SweetFace Killah” was my first rap music.
Were you writing raps earlier than that?
No. I simply commute with Robot and Jazelle. We joke and attempt to diss one another. Robot is the most effective rapper. He can freestyle off the dome, and I’m over there mumbling my shit.
But after “Boots,” I began entering into rapping. I used to be watching one thing on TV — I overlook what — and that’s how “SweetFace Killah” happened. I simply began going yada yada yada and made a voice memo. I went to the studio and performed it for my producer, and he was like, “Let me try to make a beat to it.”
I recorded it and I hated it. I used to be like, “No, I sound weird. I don’t like how I sound.” Everyone round me was like, “Girl, this sounds fire.” And I’m like, “No, I’m not doing this.” They mentioned, “You’re just not used to hearing your voice like this.”
Then I by accident despatched it to the label. Literally on accident. And they had been like, “Infinite, what’s this? ‘SweetFace Killah’?” I used to be like, “Oops, sorry, that wasn’t meant to be sent.” And they had been like, “No, this is a banger.”
I informed them, “It’s not going on the album. Everyone’s going to think it’s a diss.” They fought me on it. Eventually I used to be like, “You know what? Put it on there. Whatever.” And I assume they had been proper.
Photography by Reveka Pasternak
What’s been the craziest TikTook or response video or web take you’ve seen by way of all of this?
I wouldn’t name something loopy. Everything has been so constructive and exquisite, truthfully. Yeah, there are males speaking shit on little podcasts with 100 followers, considering they’re doing one thing or hurting somebody. And I’m identical to… subsequent.
But my coronary heart has been so stuffed with gratitude. This is all I’ve ever wished — to lastly be seen and heard. I’ve been the underdog for therefore lengthy. My brothers obtained probabilities to be on my dad’s albums or go to the studio with him. My cousins too. And I like them — they’re superb — however I at all times felt like I used to be essentially the most gifted one and nobody wished to provide me an opportunity. The undeniable fact that it needed to occur like this is unlucky, however I’m nonetheless so grateful. So when individuals make their TikToks or response movies, it feels extra lovely than loopy.
One video that stood out was a man speaking about how highly effective it was for me to get on TikTook and share my story about my dad. He mentioned it helped him open up about his personal father placing a gun to his head, and that I used to be breaking generational curses for him. Then one other woman made a video saying the identical factor. Someone else mentioned her dad heard the music and reached out to her for the primary time.
I didn’t assume it might go that far. To see individuals join with my story — and understand I wasn’t alone — feels so good. I’m glad they really feel that very same approach too.
Are you nervous for the complete album to be out, since these songs had such an enormous second? Do you are feeling stress to ship?
I actually really feel that. I preserve telling my buddies, “Y’all, it’s eight days left. I don’t know what to do.” People are in my inbox saying it’s going to be Rap Album of the Year, and it’s not a rap album.
Everyone thinks it’s going to be rap or straight R&B/hip-hop. I don’t actually know what it is. I simply realize it’s me. I like ballroom, I like hip-hop, I like R&B, and I like home. So I’ve been attempting to combine all of that into one sound.
Everyone retains telling me it’s higher when individuals get one thing they didn’t anticipate. Even although individuals assume it’s a rap album, they could like it extra as a result of it’s not as a result of they’ll lastly see what I’m actually giving. So I hope it really works out that approach.
But sure, I’m nervous. Everyone thinks it’s one thing that it’s not. And I want I had extra rap songs, which I’m doing now, however I didn’t know any of this was going to occur. Now I’m like, oh God… am I imagined to be a rapper too?
I imply, “SweetFace Killah” is such a robust monitor. You can simply have that one and are available again with extra rap later.
Right, proper. And I’m positively doing that now. I simply launched a function with my bestie Mali Melizon on her music “Conti,” that includes me, Brooke Candy, and Aaliyah Interlude. My verse goes off. I rapped, and sure — it’s so cunt, it’s so fab. And I’m like, Yo… I’m actually a rapper. I’m getting higher. And consider it or not, it feels simpler to rap. I don’t know why.
I do know you’re keen on Tierra Whack. What different rappers did you’re keen on rising up?
I didn’t hearken to any hip-hop rising up. In my household, there was a whole lot of “faggot” speak within the raps, and it made me uncomfortable. It made me really feel like I wasn’t supposed to love rap.
I truthfully didn’t begin listening to rap till Nicki Minaj got here out. I didn’t even hearken to Lil’ Kim like that. I cherished her, however she didn’t make me wish to rap. Nicki did. Nicki made me fall in love with circulate, character, cadence. She made rap really feel lovely. She was somebody I may relate to.
And by way of her, I began listening to males. Lil Wayne is certainly one of my favorites. Eminem. Kendrick Lamar. And I’m like, Oh my God, the place have I been?
You had been born into rap, so it is smart you didn’t wish to be in it.
Yeah. My brothers and cousins had been at all times rapping for enjoyable. I at all times wished to be a part of it and simply wasn’t. So I’d go hang around with my woman cousins as a substitute. Like, woman, I’m brushing dolls’ hair.
This entire factor feels so symbolic. It’s therapeutic, nevertheless it’s like… you’re therapeutic with out your father. You’re reaching out, nevertheless it’s virtually such as you’re reaching out to a ghost.
Yeah. And like I mentioned, it looks like one thing I simply needed to set free. Am I on the lookout for him to reply? To hit me up? I don’t know. I simply knew I wanted to inform my story. Writing these songs and placing out this album — that’s my remedy.
Does he speak to your different siblings?
Yes.
Wow. So it’s simply you?
Basically, yeah. It’s insane. And I in all probability made it worse now by shining. You know what I imply? He’ll in all probability by no means hit me up now — as a result of I’m about to be all in his face, like Nicki Minaj mentioned, he see my horny ass each time he scroll.
Exactly. It may go both approach. It would possibly make him mad, or perhaps it’ll deliver him to a spot of reflection.
Hopefully it’s the second possibility. Straight boys come as much as me on a regular basis now. I used to be within the metropolis the opposite day, smoking, and these two boys walked previous me, then rotated and got here again like, “Wait, are you SweetFace Killah?” And I used to be like, “Yeah, girl, whatever.”
They had been like, “Bro, we love what you’re doing. You’re in a position to change the world, to change how the industry sees people and who they let in.” And I used to be standing there like… rattling. Coming from two straight males who weren’t being judgmental. They cherished the artwork.
And I noticed: This is attainable. There are going to be individuals who don’t like me, however there are additionally males outdoors my group who will settle for me, love my artwork, perceive it, relate to it — whereas I can nonetheless have my wigs, my skirts, my heels. That’s so lovely to me. I want the entire world might be like that. But it has to begin someplace, proper?
There have been homosexual or queer trailblazers like Lil Nas X, or Pabllo Vittar in Brazil, however they didn’t have your storyline.
Exactly. Pabllo in Brazil, giving it down. They name her the Beyoncé of Brazil. But yeah, it’s completely different.
It’s a “PR headline” that you simply’re Ghostface Killah’s son, nevertheless it’s not a headline to you. It’s actually your life. You’re simply residing your fact.
Right. Literally. That’s all it is.
And you sing. Like, nobody actually sings anymore the way in which you’re singing — it feels very ’90s throwback, actual vocals. You posted that reel of you belting the “Dad & I” half within the studio. And now you may rap too. You’re so versatile.
I’m so excited. I’m so glad, woman. I actually am versatile down. I wish to do all of it, and I’m going to ensure I do all of it.
It’s so fascinating. I don’t actually know a lot about Wu-Tang or rap as a world, nevertheless it’s wild to look at you develop into this bridge for straight males, like Joe Rogan followers, who love rap tradition.
And I really feel like I can. If I preserve going and dealing, the bridge will likely be for everybody. A$AP Ferg hit me up and invited me to his UGG occasion. I went, and he comes proper as much as me and offers me an enormous hug. And I’m standing there trying like myself — beat face, hair performed — and I’m like, Wow, this is loopy.
We exchanged numbers, and he texted me a number of days later like, “Yo, meet me at my studio.” I used to be so nervous, however I went. And I introduced Robot to interrupt the ice.
It actually does really feel like a spot I’m bridging. And I hope that’s precisely what it is, as a result of I believe we want a change on this business.
People overlook the place hip-hop originated — actually from disco music, which was so rooted in queer tradition. House music, ballroom — the ladies had been rapping over disco and home beats within the Bronx. But a lot will get taken from us and became one thing else, after which they attempt to erase us from the narrative.
I at all times say: there’s an issue with us till you want us to decorate you for the Grammys. Now you don’t care if I’m measuring your thighs, however you have got an issue with me rapping. Meanwhile, y’all took a lot from us.
And now straight males are saying, “clock that tea,” “no shade,” doing the Vogue duck stroll. They don’t even know the place half of it comes from. But it occurs. Everything is cyclical.
I positively really feel that bridge forming, and I hope that’s what I’m creating. People like Lil Nas X, Saucy Santana — they opened doorways for me to have the ability to are available and provides what I wish to give.
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