New London, Connecticut, isn’t often known as a hip-hop breeding ground, but as the hometown to upstart rapper Hayze, that may soon change. After being introduced to Man Bites Dog Records by Demigodz veteran Apathy, Hayze is getting ready to release The Smoker’s Section, a new mixtape dropping on March 7th. Last week, Hayze and Apathy released the single for their first ever collaboration, “Life Is Hell,” with the two rappers going bar-for-bar, and now this week, they’re releasing a video for the track.
The video, directed by Camacho of Flawless Visuals, was shot in New London, a grimy, freezing spot where barren streets and a chilling climate lend to the viciousness and energy of the track. “Everything ties into the song,” says Hayze, “because the song’s about how life is hard all the time but you gotta keep it pushing.” With a treatment from Apathy, the video shows the two rappers, despite the generational difference, coming together to represent their shared Connecticut roots. “It’s special just knowing that I have a video with Apathy,” said Hayze. “That’s huge for a kid from a small town.”