Emcee Kosha Dillz built his name in battles like HOT 97 Summer Jam and Redbull EmSee’s New York stop. In his recent documentary Kosha Dillz is Everywhere, the Israeli-born emcee is seen passing out t-shirts, flyers, and cassette disc’s to make his name known in the business. Some of his hard work has paid off; just recently Dillz toured Europe with Snoop Dogg and his music appeared in the NBA 2K11 video game with Drake and Snoop. Plus, he just did collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Juice Crew alum Kool G. Rap for the new demo track “Operator”
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HipHopDX sat down with Kosha to discuss his recent high-profile collaborations, and also his new LP, Gina and The Garage Sale, which he self-released in March.
HipHopDX: How did you come together with RZA and Kool G. Rap for “Operator”?
Kosha Dillz: Well, I met RZA like multiple times, but I first met him at BET. I think first, at a freestyle rhyme battle. And…then I had met him in Portland. They were at Rock The Bells…[and I had just] won the HOT 97 [Summer Jam] battle and my tour was over. I somehow got back to deejay and did some rhymes for him and told him what I have done [with my career]. And…they let me open up for him. It was just like one of these old school situations where; I did some rhymes for him and the next thing you know I do a bunch of shows with him. Next thing you know, I was on the road with him and they were like, “Come, come and open up for us.” I stayed in touch [until] I [reconnected with] RZA [at his] crib in [New] Jersey. I did a song, and I was in Europe at the time – I got deported. I didn’t have a work visa. I was supposed to work a Jewish festival in London. I got sent back to Berlin and then back to the United States, so I had snuck into Rock The Bells basically and linked up.
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I had toured with Snoop [Dogg] last summer, so then I met up with him in there. I said peace to him. I went down to Maryland the next day for Rock The Bells and there, I got in there and linked with RZA. Somehow we were in a conversation and I got invited into the crib. Next thing you know it’s three in the morning and Kool G. Rap is there. I’m in the corner writing and there were a bunch of other people and there doing sessions. Basically we were doing our thing, like a jam session. That’s what I was talking about, and one day [“Operator”] just popped up on the internet.
DX: Where does your inspiration comes from when you were writing the lyrics for “Operator”?
Kosha Dillz: The lyrics…I mean…it was funny…I mean; I was just in the zone. I mean; inspiration was like when I come from and being in the studio is a real blessing. So I’m rhyming and just rapping; doing my Kosha Dillz stuff. But like just really hard, straight stuff. Just like kind of a combination of straight stuff and mysterious, and I’m in the zone. I banged it first out like in 15 minutes and they was like, “Yo your rhyme was like the last supper. You really trying to step your bars up.” We recorded that when RZA told me that I was trying to record it.
DX: Tell us about what you’re working on…
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Kosha Dillz: Yeah I mean…right now I currently wanted to tell you about my album that’s out it‘s called Gina and the Garage Sale. That album was really organic and recorded in L.A. and is like my proudest work to date. I recorded that…after I recorded this “Operator” song. My documentary trailer is out. So with all of those things out people are getting to know me a little bit more, rather from songs that are streamed on the website. You know a lot of people have been reaching out to me to work with them. I’m excited. I probably going to work with RZA again, you know. He appreciates my work ethic. A lot of people want things get handed to you, but you have to go out and take the loss a lot more in Hip Hop [than in other art-forms].
