American trap metal pioneers Dropout Kings have unveiled a new music video for “Deadname,” a track from their emotionally significant album “Yokai”, the band’s final record featuring late frontman Adam Ramey.

Released in 2025, “Yokai” marked a particularly difficult chapter in the band’s history following Ramey’s untimely passing. More than simply another album, the record became a tribute to his life, creativity and lasting influence on the band’s musical identity.

In the aftermath of his death, Dropout Kings brought together current and former members for a career-spanning lineup, taking the music on the road in a collective effort to honour Ramey’s memory and reconnect with their audience. The performances offered both the musicians and their fans an opportunity to process their grief through the music that had brought them together.

The newly released video for “Deadname” extends the album’s emotional atmosphere through a striking combination of neon-soaked imagery, chaotic digital effects and intense performance footage. Its underground setting and flashing colours create an unsettling visual world that mirrors the song’s desperate energy.

Reflecting on the track, Black Cat Bill offers a brief but powerful statement:

“Some songs you sing, others you let the spirits speak through you. This is ‘Deadname’.”

The album also received positive reactions from fans and critics, with Nu Metal Agenda highlighting the band’s significance within the contemporary heavy music scene.

Blending the aggression of metal with the rhythmic intensity of trap and hip-hop, Dropout Kings have carved out a distinctive identity over the years. Yet with “Yokai”, their music has taken on an additional emotional weight, becoming a means of preserving the voice and memory of a musician whose absence continues to be felt.

“Deadname” serves as another reminder that while an artist’s life may end, the music they leave behind can continue to bring people together.