In July, it will be three years since Eminem and Dr. Dre both signed up-and-coming Filipino-American rapper, Ez Mil. His first full-length album for the label has yet to arrive, and his responses to media enquiries are evasive.
An international man of mystery
Recently, he returned to the Philippines to perform at the big Independence Day show, and local media quickly caught up with him, as an artist who had found international success. Ez Mil talked about respecting his roots and representing his country, and showed good knowledge of the current Filipino music scene. However, the questions concerning his own music received answers that left fans puzzled.
Except for one response that was loud and clear. Ez Mil’s Mount Rushmore of hip hop list starts with Eminem.
Meanwhile, describing his current music in three words for MYX Checks In, Ez Mil said, emphasising every word, “Past. Present. Future. Why? The third world. There you go”.
In the same vein, Ez Mil was not forthcoming with Le Gianna, a child-rapper who performed with him a couple of years ago. When she asked him about the next album, he paused before replying, “Don’t hurt yourself. There you go”.
Of course, artists rarely reveal much about unfinished projects. Even so, they usually offer some indication of where things stand. Ez Mil chose a different approach.
Maybe Ez Mil wanted to be unique in his response and reached for something fresh and original. He succeeded. What he didn’t do was reassure fans that the project is still moving forward. And the fans have been waiting for years.
First steps
When Eminem brought Ez Mil to his label, many heard the Filipino prodigy for the first time. He did not fail to impress with his youthful energy and mature delivery. Moreover, he has become the first Shady Artist to be signed to Aftermath simultaneously since 50 Cent. The bar was set high.
Before coming to Shady Records, Ez Mil released four projects in three years. His Shady debut, released a month after he got signed, was essentially a compilation of his best songs from those projects, extended with some new tracks, including a joint with Eminem, “Realest”. The full-length album many expected has yet to materialise. Meanwhile, the young rapper had a new joint with Eminem on his latest album. Moreover, “Head Honcho” made it to the main cut. At the same time, other Shady artists were featured on the “Fuel” remix on the extended The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) [Expanded Mourner’s Edition]. Even that is now two years behind him.
Invented controversy
Even so, the fans did not forget Ez Mil. The expectations are still high, and the combination of the album delay and the absence of information has become a breeding ground for speculation. Just several months ago, when Ez Mil freestyled over a popular AI song, the fandom filled with speculations about the possible tension between the artist and Shady Records.
The original song itself had set the tone of resentment, regret, and resistance that part of the audience chose to read as aimed at the label. And the lines like “no longer part of it, can’t even pretend to be with ’em” and “tired of all of them critiquing how my music should be. They finessed us through the deal, it was killing me” only added fuel to the fire. The fans were split between those who saw it as Ez rebelling against the label’s tyranny and those who thought the rapper was talking about his previous struggles with the industry.
At the same time, Ez Mil neither confirmed nor denied that Shady was indeed the label in question. Admittedly, there was nothing in the lyrics to recognise as a specific jab at anyone. Yet the longer the silence continues, the more room there is for speculation. And the answers Ez Mil gave during his recent press run only complicate things further. If the album is still some way off, the least fans would appreciate is a little clarity.