Wu-Tang Clan legend Ghostface Killah’s son says they’ve been estranged for 10-years because of his sexuality – as emerging queer artist recalls childhood sadness over dad’s ‘homophobic’ rap music

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As one of the original members of the Wu-Tang Clan, a rap group from Staten Island, he played a key role in changing the sound of hip hop. He helped create their unique style, which was inspired by martial arts and known for being bold and unconventional.

Despite achieving great success as the acclaimed rapper Ghostface Killah (Dennis Coles), his personal life is now marked by a complex relationship with his son, who is striving to redefine the rap genre that propelled his father from humble beginnings to stardom.

Infinity Coles, an openly gay artist deeply involved in New York City’s Vogue ballroom scene – a community he credits with transforming his life – says his relationship with his father deteriorated after he came out. They haven’t spoken in over ten years. This painful experience ultimately became the inspiration behind his new two-song single, “SweetFace Killah/Daddy & I.”

He shared with the Daily Mail that he’s very close to his mother’s family, especially his uncle RZA. He grew up surrounded by them and his cousins, and remembers having a wonderful childhood.

As you grow older, you become more authentically yourself, and that naturally causes some people to drift away while others embrace you for who you are. I experienced this with my dad; as I’ve gotten older, he’s noticed aspects of my personality he doesn’t approve of, and we’ve grown apart as a result.

He’d appear unexpectedly, and we never really had long stretches of time together – not even a full month or week.

When I was a kid, I used to think my dad would take us out to eat when he visited, but things changed as I grew up and started living openly as my true self, embracing my sexuality.

I believe the distance between us started when he learned about it, or even began to suspect something, because he’s always been close with his siblings and regularly talks to them.

As someone who keeps a close eye on culture and creativity, let me tell you, Infinity is a force! He’s incredibly self-assured and proud of who he is, and he’s really driven by a desire to shake things up in hip hop. He wants to create something new that truly represents *everyone* and add a fresh, inclusive voice to the genre’s story.

SweetFace Killah/Daddy & I blends energetic house music with modern rap, creating a fun and optimistic sound. However, the difficult personal experiences that inspired this new music add a layer of sadness to the release.

Growing up in the challenging housing projects of Staten Island, New York, Infinity had already become familiar with the music genre thanks to his distant father, even before he decided to become a musician himself.

It’s no surprise the Wu-Tang Clan are so influential. Their first album, *Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)*, released in 1993, was a game-changer for gangster rap. They continued to push boundaries with a series of innovative solo albums, including the highly praised *Iron Man* by Ghostface Killah.

Infinity explains that the homophobic themes he noticed in some of the group’s songs made him feel distant from his father, especially as he was exploring his own sexuality.

He said he’s always been true to himself, and remembers hearing homophobic slurs as he was growing up, which deeply affected him.

As I began to focus on my music and writing, I started to appreciate the good qualities in my dad. I realized he’s a fantastic storyteller, something I’d never really noticed or known about before.

I was really impressed by his storytelling and writing ability. I always suspected he had talent, but it hadn’t fully clicked with me until now.

Rap music often contains homophobic lyrics, but I try to be understanding. I believe his difficult childhood, growing up without a father, impacts his behavior. He likely doesn’t know how to be a good father himself because he never had one to learn from, so I don’t want to judge him too harshly.

The close relationship he shares with the famous rapper has influenced some of the songs on his upcoming album, SweetFace Killah, especially the tracks “Daddy & I” and the album’s playfully ironic title track. The title is a nod to a phrase originally used as a derogatory, homophobic insult against the rapper.

He explained he’s eager to finally get the recognition he deserves. He felt like an underdog for a long time because of his own insecurities, and when it came to rapping, he always doubted if he truly belonged in the music scene.

My family is deeply connected to the Wu-Tang Clan and has a tough, uncompromising style, but that’s not my approach. I don’t try to emulate that. I’m at a point where I want to finally get the recognition I deserve and stop being overlooked.

Infinity didn’t have a relationship with his father, but he gives his uncle, RZA – a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan – credit for being a consistent and supportive presence throughout his childhood.

RZA, brother to infinity’s mother, is also funding the artist’s first album. He says he wouldn’t be where he is today without that support and encouragement, like a father figure.

My uncle RZA has been a father figure to me, and I love him dearly. He’s truly an incredible person.

He consistently had faith in me, though he struggled to define or promote my potential, and I valued his honesty about that. He repeatedly told me I would surpass his own achievements, and that meant a lot.

Zach Witness created his new album, Infinity, with 12 songs that share his personal journey. He says it will allow listeners to hear how he went from growing up in Staten Island to facing homelessness in New York City – a difficult time that ultimately inspired his music.

He remembers living in a shelter for almost eleven months in 2020, finally leaving in 2021. He often says it was one of the lowest points in his life.

Honestly, things at home were just too much. The constant family issues were really getting to me, so I decided to stay at a shelter temporarily. I *could* have gotten my own place, I really believe that, but I was worried about being able to afford it all on my own and keep everything going long-term. It felt like the most realistic option at the time.

I needed to find a way forward despite a lot of difficult family issues, which were preventing me from pursuing my current path.

Every day, I commuted to work by ferry and then a ninety-minute train ride into Queens to make sure I wasn’t late. At first, the long trip was really discouraging, but I eventually started using the train ride as time to reflect and think things through.

I began to feel calmer as I realized I would soon be leaving and having a place of my own. Thinking about it helped me feel better.

I gained a lot of experience from my travels, and when I moved into my own place, my producer stayed with me for a few weeks. That’s when we started making music, in 2021.

He reflected that he now valued that difficult time in his life, explaining that it was essential to his development as a writer. He felt he needed to go through that experience to become the person – and the writer – he is today.

Infinity released his new single and a film noir-style music video on September 17th, aiming to bring more diversity to hip hop. He felt his community hadn’t been adequately represented and was often imitated by other artists.

He expressed feeling that his community is full of talented people, but he’s frustrated by the lack of inclusion within the broader hip hop scene. He wonders why so many talented individuals aren’t recognized or welcomed.

People often see us as just a trend, something to wear, but we have a lot more to offer. It feels like we’re only valued when someone wants to use our style. I truly believe there are incredibly talented hip hop artists in my community who deserve to be celebrated and respected more.

Society seems more accepting of girls being gay than of guys being gay, which isn’t right. I don’t personally support it, but that’s the current reality. I hope to help change that and break down those outdated barriers.

Although there’s still a lot of work ahead, infinity is already setting ambitious goals thanks to the positive reaction to their new music and growing popularity on social media.

He explained that he sees others with less talent get opportunities, and he wonders why he hasn’t been given a chance yet. He’s simply eager to be recognized for his own abilities.

With all the great feedback and recognition I’ve been getting, I’m now aiming for a Grammy. I used to be focused on just handling my own work, but now I’m setting my sights higher.

You can get the new album, SweetFace Killah, on December 5th. The first single, “Daddy & I/SweetFace Killah,” is available now.

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2025-09-28 12:35