With “War Within” out now, we took some time to hear from HZPROD. Read below to learn more about HZPROD, the story behind “War Within,” and what’s to come.
Hi HZPROD! Let’s start with how did you get your moniker?
The name is straightforward. HZ comes from my last name, and ‘prod’ is just short for producer. ‘Hadzilla’ was a nickname that I was given during my military career…it came from my training and fitness background, and it stuck.
What city are you from, and where are you based now?
I was born in Trbovlje, Slovenia …the first stop for my mother after fleeing the war in Bosnia. From there, she had to escape again, this time to Berlin, Germany, before finally immigrating to the U.S. That’s where I grew up, in Utica, New York.
Now I’m based in Qatar, and since 2016, I’ve been living abroad, traveling to more than 30 countries and working in 6 of them. Every place, every move, every shift has added another layer to who I am.
The full story of those travels hasn’t even been told yet…but the music is where the pieces slip through.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I never set out to release music. At first, it was just therapy…something for me and maybe a couple friends to hear. I’m not naturally gifted in music, so I had to build it all from scratch. I went all-in: online tutorials, hours on YouTube, reaching out to mentors, basic music theory classes, and piano lessons whenever I could. Piano is still something that I want to get proficient in down the line.
The biggest sacrifice? I gave up training for a whole year. I didn’t touch a single weight and skipped every training session. For anyone who knows me, that’s unthinkable…I’ve been lifting since I was 11 and never let go of a dumbbell. But one year, I traded barbells for beats. Weekdays were five-hour sessions after work, and weekends meant 5 a.m. to midnight locked in on production. Picture me in a dark room before sunrise, headphones on, coffee next to me, playing on my keyboard while the world was still asleep. That’s how serious it got.
Hip-Hop was my true initiation…I’ve got a refugee story about how Eminem’s music first reached me, but that’s for another conversation. Let’s just say: I only started producing a couple years ago, and somehow it all came full circle.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I’m still shaping it. To say I have one ‘sound’ would be premature because I like experimenting with everything. But, cinematic is where I feel at home. I listen to a lot of film soundtracks. Yeah, some people have told me my beats sound like something out of a blockbuster trailer — which is wild to hear, honestly. I take it as a huge compliment. I’ve always been drawn to that space where hip-hop meets film scores, like cinematic storytelling through beats. That’s really the lane that I’m building, and I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of where it can go.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Fitness has been my other lifelong obsession. I started as a teenage bodybuilder, competing for five years, then shifted into powerlifting and strongman. I’ve competed in three different countries, did U.S. Nationals, and even stepped on a world stage in Lithuania for the World Log Lift Championships. One year, I’m standing in front of thousands lifting logs, the next I’m locked away teaching myself scales on a MIDI keyboard. That contrast says everything about me.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Eminem was the first…his music literally taught me English. Kendrick Lamar inspires me with his storytelling. On production, I study Metro Boomin, The Alchemist, Havoc, Clams Casino, and Hit-Boy. They all bring something different: cinematic atmospheres, gritty textures, spacey vibes, polished bangers. My sound lives somewhere in between. How it all merges into my lane? That’s still unfolding.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
Finishing ‘War Within’ with Shoegang and Zombie Juice. To go from being a fan memorizing hip-hop lyrics to collaborating with artists I respect…It’s surreal. I still call myself a seed in this game, barely breaking through the underground. But even a seed can crack concrete if it’s determined enough. That’s the space that I’m in right now.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
Patience and consistency. You can’t cut corners here. It’s about putting in the hours, even when no one’s watching, even when there’s no applause. I’ve learned to trust the process because the process itself holds all the real stories.
Now onto ‘War Within.’ What inspired this song?
‘War Within’ is about struggle…the battles inside us and the ones in society. Some of it came from me, some from conversations with the artists. But, there’s another layer too. During this journey, I crossed paths with a rap superstar overseas after a show. I shared my story, played a beat, and his manager gave me advice about navigating the game internationally. That moment stuck with me. I won’t reveal who it was here, but if you listen closely, pieces of that encounter are in the spirit of this track.
How did the collaboration with Zombie Juice and Shoegang come about?
Shoegang came first. I saw them asking for beats, sent this one with my thoughts on the vibe, and they hit me back. A few months later, Zombie Juice randomly reached out and we started talking. That led to us realizing we’d both be in Berlin at the same time, which felt unreal. I’ll be honest, I was skeptical at first…because I’m not a known producer. But I went with the flow, and Zombie showed up true to his word. To have him give me that chance…it’s something that I’ll never forget. The BTS footage is dope, can’t wait to share it!
What was the creative process like when making ‘War Within?’
It was international. Parts were recorded in California, parts in Berlin, but the production began in Qatar. In Germany, I connected with Phil Parush, a young engineer who was at Juice’s session. Watching how locked in he was, I asked him to handle the final mix, and he tied the whole record together. The process was raw, cinematic, and global. Even now, I look back and think: how did this even come together like that?
How long did it take to complete ‘War Within?’
About a year. But it wasn’t just logistics…it was me processing what was happening. When Shoegang sent their verse back, I was floored. I’ve been a fan of Horseshoe Gang/Slaughterhouse and their style for years, and here they were treating me…someone brand new…with total respect. I sat with that track on my hard drive for a while, thinking, ‘Okay… I have this. Now what?’
With everything happening in the world, I realized it couldn’t just sit there. That’s when the idea of donating all proceeds was born…a way of showing gratitude to hip-hop and tying it to something bigger. Then, Zombie Juice jumped in, and everything leveled up. I never imagined someone I’d followed his whole career with Flatbush would be on my record. Two artists from opposite coasts, and me in the middle with my story…that’s the kind of combination you can’t plan.
How did the visualizer for ‘War Within’ come about? What was your vision for the video?
I wanted the lyrics themselves to be the centerpiece. The visualizer had to feel bold and cinematic, like a movie trailer. It’s not just text on a screen…it hints that there’s a bigger picture behind this record.
What do you hope fans take away from ‘War Within?’
That it’s bigger than music. Every stream, every share, every purchase goes to children affected by war. But beyond that, I hope they feel the gratitude in it…because this track only exists thanks to the culture of hip-hop. And if people sense that there’s more to this story waiting to be told… they’re absolutely right.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
Right now, the full focus is on War Torn. This project has grown far beyond just music — it’s a global collaboration where every record is tied to a cause. Another major feature just joined the lineup, an artist I’ve respected for years, and it’s taking everything to a new level.
After War Torn, I’ve got a solo EP in the works with Zombie Juice, exploring a darker, more experimental side of my production.
Where can we follow you on social media?
Instagram: https://instagram.com/hzprod_
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Hadzilla
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
