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Jewish Rapper Kosha Dillz on His Latest Album, ‘Nobody Cares Except You’

Even-Esh told the Journal the 14-track album became more expansive than he initially thought it would be since he’s been in pursuit of personal happiness by caring for others regardless of how others react in life and business.
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October 16, 2020
Photo courtesy of Rami Even-Esh

Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz (born Rami Even-Esh) has been crafting his latest album for two years. Essentially an “autobiography,” “Nobody Cares Except You” is Even-Esh’s declaration for authenticity not only for himself, but the world around him.

Even-Esh told the Journal the 14-track album became more expansive than he initially thought it would be since he’s been in pursuit of personal happiness by caring for others regardless of how others react in life and business.

Even-Esh struggled with the ideas of “nobody cares vs. nobody cares except you,” a concept he’s been exploring with the hope of developing a better relationship with his fans.

The tracks address critics, “naysayers” and anyone who puts down others. Before the album was ready, he said he worried that “no one cared about anything if you were an unknown.” After becoming obsessed with popularity and growing his fan base, he spent hours thinking about materialistic and superficial entities that sidetrack artists from fulfilling their goals.

The tracks address critics, “naysayers” and anyone who puts down others.

Rather than trying to be perfect, post frequently on social media to gain the verified check mark, and make No. 1, chart-topping singles, “Nobody Cares Except You” is Even-Esh’s mantra in remembering what he most values in life: making music his way that he can be proud of.

“It’s a lot about rejection,” he said. “For me, I’m valuing my journey more. We all value ourselves on these numbers. I’m like, ‘On a scale from 1 to 10, I’m an eight.’ So I sort of accepted by what I’m valuable by. I just want people to hear my music.”

The album is also one of Even-Esh’s favorite collaborative efforts. Produced in majority by Sam Barsh and 16-year-old Snowball Beats, the album also received input from Jeremiah Raisen (aka Sad Pony) and Kool Kojak. Fat Tony, Gangsta Boo of Three 6 Mafia, and Jewish rapper and performer Matisyahu are featured on individual tracks.

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Kosha Dillz, 39, is excited and grateful to collaborate with indie rappers and performers across the rap and hip-hop genres and wants to emphasize that there are multiple ways to share art within a genre.

“They’re all different. I try to be a smorgasbord of them,” he said. “I try to take some of this and some of that and put it in my act.”

Even-Esh has a wide variety of songs on his album, including funny upbeat songs such as

Tommy Pickles,” a “Rugrats” adult anthem; “Exercise”; and “Schmoozin,’ ” a Yiddish klezmer party song.

He noted that although the album is high energy, he uses his comedic freestyles to cope with his personal hardships.

When Kosha Dillz began rapping in New York City in the late ’90s, he was shamed for his Jewishness. After his battle with substance abuse and incarceration, he later reclaimed his Jewish identity and his current rapping moniker. Sober now for more than 16 years, he shares his life experiences and journey in his songs for fans to hear. He said he hopes he can connect to fans on a deeper level with his music and lyrics.

“Hopefully, it inspires others to not be so judge-y on themselves,” he said. “I like to speak on it on a bigger level …. I’m a sober, Jewish, rapper that can freestyle about anything. Ask me anything.”

Currently living in New York, he has been finding ways to connect with fans despite quarantine and social distancing guidelines since Passover. Recently, he decided to perform around the city doing pop-up concerts to promote the album where he can safely share his music.

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Now that his journey has brought him to this moment, Even-Esh has continued to promote other performers in addition to promoting himself. Even if nobody cares, Even-Esh does.

“I needed to be showing lots of love to deserving people whether they reciprocate it or not, and that also includes me,” he said. “After recording dozens of songs, I trimmed it down to my most honest and unique songs with the best producers in the world. Then I rearranged it. Then I had to arrange it again. Now we are ready.”

“Nobody Cares Except You” is out now. Listen to it here and on Bandcamp. Follow Kosha Dillz on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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