Deep in the heart of Manhattan, at the New York Presbyterian Hospital, a future hip-hop star was born. Sean Gill, today known as Sean Barrelz, opened his eyes to the world. A stone’s throw from the theater that once hosted Malcolm X’s historic speeches, this is hardly surprising. You can’t water down a history like this. As a young man, Sean had plenty of experience fighting through the hardships of The Bronx during the tumultuous ’90s, surrounded by a city brimming with spirit, struggle, and resilience.
Sean’s journey in music seemed written in the stars. Raised in an aura of saxophones, blues, rock, and of course, hip-hop, it seemed inevitable that Sean would gravitate towards the intoxicating rhythm of the music industry. School notebooks brimming with lyrics rather than algebra problems quickly caught the unwanted attention of his teachers, leading to a newfound familiarity with detention.
In 2014, Sean christened his entry into the hip hop world with the EP “B.A.R.R.E.L.Z”, followed by subsequent releases including ‘Destroy and Rebuild’, ‘You Know My Vibez!’, ‘New Drip 4 Ya Ears’ and others. Sean’s song ‘Destroy and Rebuild’ added further momentum to his career, scoring a feature with legendary Bronx MC Fat Joe. A gritty representation of Sean’s personal trials, the song gained traction for capturing the artist’s resilience, marking an important milestone in his blossoming career. The rapper has also honored the hip-hop group The Lox with a project named in their honor, further cementing his passion and influence in the genre.
Despite his impressive debut, Sean isn’t one to rest on his laurels, stating that although his projects “Strictly 4 My Ninjaz” and “Strictly 4 My Ninjetz” are underway, there’s plenty more in the tank. For Sean, every heartbeat pumps rhythm into his veins, and he’s ready to make an indelible mark on the rap scene.
A foray into Sean’s music reveals a candid portrayal of the raw Bronx life that bred him, a journey saturated with survival, aspiration, and unvarnished talent. Each track is a chapter from his story, from grappling with a misdiagnosis and its aftermath to his rocky early years. Throughout his personal battles, Sean has found solace in music. As he put it, “Art can be objective or subjective, whether it’s created through audio or visually.” Sean Barrelz embodies the quintessential spirit of hip-hop – a gritty authenticity that reverberates through every beat, one that’s quintessentially New York, raw, innovative, and unapologetically distinctive.
Fueled by deep-rooted passion and ambition, Sean Barrelz is on an unstoppable trajectory towards bigger and better, making his presence felt with his unique mark on hip-hop history. Whether known as Sean G, H.L.N.I.C, or Sean Barrelz, he insists, “It’s all the same”. But we know better. It’s one unforgettable journey etched into the rhythm of hip-hop, and it’s just getting started.
Catch the latest from Barrelz on all platforms, including Instagram, follow his tweets on Twitter, listen on Spotify, tune into his Soundcloud, Apple Music, or watch on Youtube.
