Birmingham-based rapper Tony Bontana is forging a unique path in the UK music scene, blending deeply personal experiences with urgent social commentary. His perform, often described as emotionally raw and strikingly honest, tackles themes of grief, identity, and global injustice, most recently focusing on the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Bontana’s latest album, My Name, represents a culmination of this artistic exploration, solidifying his position as a vital voice for a generation grappling with complex realities.
Bontana’s artistic journey is rooted in a diverse musical upbringing and a willingness to experiment. From early explorations of heavy music to crafting beats on a borrowed MacBook, he’s consistently defied categorization, moving fluidly between hip-hop, grunge, and punk. This restless creativity, coupled with a commitment to authenticity, has earned him a dedicated following and collaborations with US artists like Lil B and Billy Woods.
From Grief to Global Awareness: The Making of My Name
The seeds of My Name were sown in the aftermath of personal tragedy – the death of his mother. Bontana retreated to his studio in Selly Oak, Birmingham, immersing himself in the creative process as a means of processing his grief. “I remember recording ‘Sittin’ on a Star (Freestyle),’ unable to get through a verse without crying,” he shared, emphasizing the cathartic power of music. “It was literally all I could do. Writing and performing offer me that instant outlet, and it really helped. It’s vital to my survival, to be able to work through these emotions, to talk about them.”
This album, like his 2024 release L’Humanité, represents a deliberate shift towards cohesive bodies of work, a departure from the prolific, almost immediate release schedule that characterized his earlier output on Bandcamp. He previously released dozens of tracks and albums, often sharing them regardless of perceived quality, viewing the process as a continuous “journey.” My Name, but, is his most realized opus yet, a treatise on identity that also continues to explore themes of grief and, powerfully, the genocide in Gaza, addressed directly in the track “Soft Dreams,” where he states, “I could never turn a blind eye.”
A Birmingham Sound, Shaped by Diverse Influences
Bontana’s musical foundation is a rich tapestry woven from the sounds of his childhood. His father’s love for funk and Pat Metheny, his mother’s passion for bashment and Anita Baker, and the musical tastes of his siblings – ranging from drum’n’bass to The Horrors and Enter Shikari – all contributed to his eclectic sensibility. Early exposure to MTV introduced him to artists like Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and OutKast, but it was heavy music that initially captivated him. He recalls facing some misunderstanding for his taste, playfully noting, “People didn’t understand. They’d be like, ‘You listen to devil music!’”
Beyond his hip-hop projects, Bontana fronts two other bands: “grungegaze” group Pay the Stranger and hardcore-punk outfit Spew. He describes Spew as “the outlet for my anger, the darker side of my emotions,” and emphasizes the importance of representation, stating, “One of the reasons I do It’s to show Black kids it’s OK to be into this music.” He cites bands like Bad Brains, Stout, and Suffocation as formative influences, highlighting the impact of seeing Black musicians in those genres.
He credits US outsider rapper Lil B as an early inspiration, recognizing in Lil B “an inspiration, the first time I saw that level of freedom within an artist: ‘I’m just gonna do it and put it out.’” This ethos led him to establish his own record label, Everything Is Perfect, and independently release his music via Bandcamp, developing a style he terms “splayed” – a focus on “vulnerability and honesty, genuine moments and genuine emotions.” He also acknowledges the influence of early-00s alt-rap auteurs Madlib and J Dilla, calling them “the godfathers” of his unrestrained approach.
Championing Birmingham’s Music Scene
Despite his growing recognition, Bontana remains deeply committed to his hometown of Birmingham. He acknowledges the challenges of building a music career outside of London, citing a lack of venues and difficulty attracting audiences. “Things aren’t set up like in London. There aren’t the venues. Getting people out to see you is a struggle,” he explained. However, his resolve is unwavering. “I’ve got to craft this happen from Brum,” he asserts. “I’ve got to be the change I want to see in the world.” He points to the rich musical heritage of Birmingham, citing Black Sabbath, UB40, and The Streets as key influences, and expresses a desire to collaborate with Mike Skinner. He also laments the relative obscurity of Birmingham hip-hop group The Oddysee, noting, “But nobody knows about them.”
My Name is the first of Bontana’s albums to be pressed on vinyl and sold in shops, a deliberate move signaling a novel phase in his career. He emphasizes the importance of speaking out on critical issues, stating, “I’m not saying every artist should be writing protest songs, but if we want a world where people can live in peace, we have to speak on those things, to get to that place.” He stresses that his intention isn’t to preach, but to foster awareness and conversation, acknowledging the profound impact witnessing the genocide has had on him. “Witnessing the genocide has affected me, so I have to speak on it, the same way I have about my grief.”
Bontana’s music offers a powerful reminder of the importance of emotional expression and the role of art in navigating difficult times. He finds a balance between the intensity of hardcore shows and the introspective nature of his solo work, stating, “I’ll travel to hardcore shows at the weekend, so I can be calm the rest of the week.” he believes that honesty and vulnerability are key to a more fulfilling life. “The more I express, the more I’m honest about what I sense, the easier life is.”
As Tony Bontana continues to evolve as an artist, his commitment to authenticity and social consciousness remains unwavering. His next steps will likely involve further exploration of his “splayed” aesthetic and continued advocacy for the Birmingham music scene. My Name is available now on Everything Is Perfect.
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