Kosha Dillz

Rami Matan Even-Esh, known professionally as Kosha Dillz, was born on August 26, 1981, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Israeli immigrant parents. He spent his childhood in Edison, New Jersey, with summers in Kiryat Tiv’on, Israel. Even-Esh, an Israeli-American rapper, is recognized for his multilingual performances, which include English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Spanish. He pursued creative writing at Rutgers University, where he also participated in the wrestling team, and credits this education with enhancing his lyrical abilities. His early exposure to hip-hop began with Bar Mitzvah dances and “old school bike videos.” He started rapping at 17 and became involved in New York City’s Nuyorican Poets Café battle rap scene around 1999, featuring alongside artists like Mos Def and Immortal Technique, which solidified his interest in underground hip-hop.

His career officially began with his first 12-inch release, “Chainsaw Music,” in 2005. The following year, he collaborated with Matisyahu on “Childhood” from C-Rayz Walz’s album, “The Dropping.” His debut solo album, “Beverly Dillz,” was released in 2009. A significant milestone occurred in 2012 when his song “Cellular Phone” was featured in a Bud Light commercial during Super Bowl XLVI. In 2013, he released his second solo album, Awkward In a Good Way, on Murs’ label, Murs 316. This album included collaborations with Murs, producer Jesse Shatkin, and Gangsta Boo from Three 6 Mafia. His album, “What I Do All Day And Pickle,” released in 2016, peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, number 42 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and number 50 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. The album featured the single “Dodging Bullets” with Matisyahu.

Kosha Dillz has toured extensively, sharing stages with artists such as Matisyahu, RZA of the Wu Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg, and Macklemore. He has performed at major festivals including Paid Dues, BK Hip Hop Festival, SXSW, CMJ, Rock The Bells, and Vans Warped Tour. In 2020, he collaborated with EDM artist Kaskade on the track “Sexy” and released his crowdfunded album “Nobody Cares Except You.” A viral moment in 2021 saw him freestyle rapping with Fat Joe outside a New York Knicks game, leading to further collaborations. His documentary, “Kosha Dillz Is Everywhere,” chronicles his life as an Israeli-American Jewish hip-hop artist. In 2023, following the Hamas attack on Israel, he released “Bring the Family Home,” advocating for a return of hostages and addressing contemporary social issues.”