Philadelphia rapper Skrilla, the artist behind 2025’s viral “67” phenomenon, took to Instagram to show off his New Year’s ritual – animal sacrifice.
The rapper’s IG post showed him holding two pigeons and a chicken. In another image, the birds are dead, with the heart of one of the animals lying on the floor next to a glass of blood.
Scrilla has previously documented ritual sacrifices involving doves, chickens and other animals that led to his rise to fame. In February 2025, he entered mainstream consciousness with the rap song Doot Doot (6 7), becoming a cultural phenomenon among Generation Alpha and teenagers across the country.
The song’s repeated “six, seven” slogan has become so common that Dictionary.com named “67” its word of the year in 2025, citing a sixfold increase in searches since June 2025.
Skrilla’s viral success with “Doot Doot” (6 7) has racked up over 60 million plays across platforms, taking the Philadelphia artist from local talent to a national phenomenon. The success of the track led to collaborations with well-known artists such as G Herbo and a record deal with Priority Records.
His social media comment section was flooded with comments about his New Year’s ritual. While some were shocked, most of those who followed him were already aware of his religious beliefs.
The Philadelphia native has been very open about his religious beliefs and practices in multiple interviews and on social media. In a widely circulated YouTube video from August 2024 titled “Skrilla On Sacrificing Goats And Chicken For His Religion,” the rapper openly discussed his involvement in animal sacrifice rituals.
“I would definitely sacrifice goats, chickens, rats, like I do, even though I’m not allowed to explain it,” Scrilla said in an interview. He acknowledged his participation in these religious rituals while maintaining some boundaries when discussing specific details.
Scrilla practices Santeria, an Afro-Caribbean religion that blends traditional Yoruba beliefs with elements of Catholicism. Animal sacrifice remains a fundamental aspect of Santeria worship, with adherents believing that the Orishas (gods) require blood sacrifice to obtain nourishment.
Chickens and doves are among the most commonly sacrificed animals in Santeria rituals, and the dove has special significance as a symbol of Obatala, who is considered the father of all Orissas.
In the Santeria tradition, different animals serve specific ritual purposes.
Chickens are often worshiped in purification rituals and sought for protection, while doves are associated with peace, purity, and divine wisdom.
The religion teaches that these sacrifices create a spiritual connection between the practitioners and their gods, with the blood serving as food for the Orishas and the meat being consumed by the community.
In various podcasts, Scrilla refers to himself as “Santo” and mentions practicing “Palo,” a reference to Palo Mayombe, another Afro-Caribbean spiritual tradition that also includes animal sacrifices.
