Lipstick Killer Channels Chaos into Power on “Darkness”

Lipstick Killer has never been one to hold back. The rising dark-pop and trapmetal artist returns with “Darkness,” out October 31 via Urban Sixties Records and EMPIRE — a fierce, poetic anthem that blends hip-hop attitude with punk intensity. It’s the latest look into her upcoming project Cigarettes & Heartbreak Vol. 1, arriving this December.

From the first note, “Darkness” sets a tone that’s both hypnotic and hostile. Producer Greg Zola builds a haunting atmosphere out of gritty guitar lines and booming drums, while Lipstick Killer spits with venom and conviction. “Tell that bitch I said run up / He ain’t going nowhere, Glorilla glue, yeah he stuck,” she declares — a reminder that heartbreak doesn’t have to mean defeat.

Written by Lipstick Killer herself (Latasha Cottrell), the song dives into love, rage, and survival with the kind of honesty most artists shy away from. Each verse reveals another layer of her — the jealous, the wounded, and the empowered all living side by side. It’s not about perfection; it’s about presence. “I’m not a poser — I’m a rockstar. I don’t follow trends. I create them,” she says, and “Darkness” proves it.

What makes Lipstick Killer stand out is how naturally she bridges worlds. Her delivery carries the sharp confidence of a rapper and the raw emotion of a punk frontwoman. It’s a collision of cultures that feels entirely her own — aggressive, emotional, and cinematic all at once.

That energy didn’t appear overnight. Born in Pittsburgh and now based in New York, she’s been performing since her early teens. After leaving college to chase her sound, she fronted several bands, including Rebella Rising, which opened for Ariana Grande and MKTO. Over time, she built a reputation for explosive, unpredictable shows — earning comparisons to H.R. of Bad Brains and carving her name into underground circuits. With “Darkness,” Lipstick Killer isn’t just releasing a song — she’s reclaiming her identity. It’s the sound of pain turned power, of chaos turned creation. And if this is how she’s starting the next chapter, Cigarettes & Heartbreak Vol. 1 is shaping up to be her boldest statement yet.