The Knockturnal first connected with Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz on Clubhouse via Adam Swig’s Value Culture, which is an amazing club and nonprofit.
The mission of Value Culture is to produce and support artistic, educational, charitable, and spiritual events to inspire individuals to give back in their communities, including current initiatives in Covid relief, mental health awareness, anti-hate, and food security. Each week at either their Havdalah CH gathering or Campfire Jams event, Dillz does impressive freestyles incorporating guests in the room and hot topics.
American Rapper Kosha Dillz raps about everything he sees, experiences and dreams. Recently, Kosha has released a 14 song album entitled “Nobody Cares Except You” which was produced by Sam Barsh and 16-year-old Snowball Beats. On the album, 3 of the songs include Jeremiah Raisen known as Sad Pony, and a guest track from Kool Kojak. The album highlights Kosha’s journey of loving himself and others, in the process Kosha was able to raise over $20,000 on Kickstarter. The Knockturnal spoke with Kosha Dillz about the album “Nobody Cares Except You.”
The Knockturnal: What was it like to have your 14 song album produced majority by Sam Barsh and 16-year-old Snowball Beats?
Kosha Dillz: I have been working with Sam for many years. Having him involved was the meat and potatoes of the project. He can really just do anything you ask . To have producers at the level he is at with his credentials is where I want to be at in my career. You can do anything you want to do 🙂 it isn’t any wonder he is up for Grammy with Earth Gang and got em with Kendrick and Anderson Paak. Grateful he still works with artists that big and still with those coming up.
The Knockturnal: How important is diversity and consistency in the music industry?
Kosha Dillz: You need to do everything. There is no trick. One thing that gets you a big placement in press helps you get extra things in other areas. You have Patreon. Twitch. Youtube. Facebook. Instagram. Tiktok. Street performing / Live streams. Collaborations. Public speaking. DIY articles. Touring. Licensing. Song writing. Consulting. Merch drops. Jingles. Guerilla marketing. So yeah…
The Knockturnal: What stories are you trying to tell with your music and how do you come up with the titles?
Kosha Dillz: It mostly reflects my life. The facts of dating and fear of death. Fear of being alone. The end of the night after shows and being sober. Being silly with Tommy Pickles and also learning how to care about people in general. There is a lot of frustration in my new songs, but also a lot of heart. This was obviously a funny take on my emotion. I can make a happy, funny user friendly song when I am in a horrible mood. It is what I need to do to get out of the mood.
The Knockturnal: Is freestyle rap a form of self expression? If so, how has it helped you through challenges and releasing stress/difficulty?
Kosha Dillz: Yes. It is something I think of all time expressing good release from my stress. Nothing like performing. Performing on the spot really releases the endorphins. I love it.
The Knockturnal: How have you handled not hitting the level of success you wanted? What steps are you taking to meet your goals and become successful? How did you continue to create music? What is that process like for you?
Kosha Dillz: I think you need to go out with the create mentality. Reinvest in yourself and get wins and losses and measure them and it’s ok. Schedule sessions to record when you don’t want to. Proper preparation helps us all. I need to grow in my team. My main goal this year is building the right team that will help me earn and reach new heights. It is hard to create that when you are used to what you have. Sometimes you have to cut things loose and let them go to actually grow further.
When I feel bad…I want to go on my phone and scroll and look at other people. I want to eat junk. When I think of my future…I am centered…I am eating healthy. I am exercising…I am taking notes…I am doing the things that “successful” people do.
The Knockturnal: On Kickstarter, you stated how you wanted to “ take away the negativity of the universe by giving you something new. They told me that nobody cares…but when I talk to people I truly believe they do.” How can people show more positivity on topics/ matters that are important? Do you believe that people need to show more compassion?
Kosha Dillz: Compassion is 2021. We as a society are in a new mindstate. We don’t have time for the negative. People want real connections. If I want someone to care…I take a second to talk to every person who can be my fan…especially the young ones. They will remember the nice thing you did. I want to be the one they remembered. I took time to say happy birthday I took to be kind and not think about myself. If the world did this…we’d be in a better place.
That is why my album switched titles from Nobody Cares …to Nobody Cares Except You. I wanted to be on the right side of the relationship. Being a giver and not a taker.
Last night, Dillz was also an esteemed guest at “A Night of 1,000 Jewish Stars” for the 1st-ever Clubhouse Passover Seder sponsored by Tasty. The event featured four hours of programming scripted/co-hosted by Leah Lamarr and Nicole Benham. The virtual Passover table featured Jewish notables like Patti Stanger, Tiffany Haddish, Jeff Garlin, Tori Spelling, Mayim Bialik, Jill Zarin and her daughter Ally Shapiro, SNL’s Chloe Fineman, Ari Melber, Scott Rogowsky, Randi Zuckerberg, 2021 Grammy winner Joanie Leeds, singer Happie Hoffman, Clubhouse founder Paul Davidson, singer Sophie Auster, and comedian Sam Morril, to name a few. Adam Swig and Dr. Mikey Fischer commissioned the street artist fnnch to design a matzo ‘afikomen NFT’ which was split into two pieces: one matzo was ‘ found’ / won by an audience participant and the 2nd piece which is minted to fit together, is up for auction at www.AfikomenNFT.com. Donations benefited Value Culture.
Up next, you can see Kosha Dillz at the Seder Stream Virtual Music Festival Saturday, April 3rd, 2021, 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST streaming from SederStream.com. Seder Stream Festival’s theme this year is ‘Artists for Freedom’ and will celebrate the final night of the Jewish holiday Passover and freedom for all with a diverse group of independent artists of all backgrounds performing live from around the world. Kosha Dillz will be joined by Kimya Dawson (one-half of The Moldy Peaches), recent Grammy winner Joanie Leeds, Cuban Sensation Dayramir Gonzalez, Uyanga Bold, Israeli artist Gili Yalo, Tony Kaye, Happie Hoffman, Mohsin Zaman, Still a Great Night, Meredith Bull, Mikey Pauker, Richard Vagner, Tuff Gong’s Jonathan Emile, Jurgis Did, Etu, Estrella, Falsa, Talia Lava, Ghana’s Brakwaku Jr, newcomer Marni Loffman, plus special guests. The event will be hosted by Value Culture’s founder Adam Swig, and Dillz. Last year’s festival featured Grammy-nominated Memphis stars Southern Avenue, Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo!, Ray Goren (NBC’s Songland), The Fabulous Bud E. Luv, among other notables.
