Evil Ebenezer

Besides the Rascalz and Swollen Members, there’s never been another B.C. rap crew to achieve the longevity and commercial success of Sweatshop Union, which this summer marks its 10-year anniversary. The seven-man unit formed in 2000 as an amalgam of various group and solo projects brought together under the supervision of the rapper, producer, and overall sonic architect Metty the Dert Merchant. The beatmaker-MC marks a decade in the game with albums by his two side projects: Dirty Circus finds him hooking up with fellow Unionist Mos Eisley for a meditation on growing old in the rap game, while the Trillionaire$ features Metty and Van City veteran Evil satirizing capitalist excess.

These records mark the opposing poles of the Sweatshop sound; Dirty Circus’s Alive and Well is introspective and gently humorous, with Mos and Metty positing themselves as two of the last men standing in the local scene and admonishing YouTube rappers to pay their dues and respect their elders. The Trillionaire$’ record, By Hook or by Crook, sets modern-day consumerism in its sights; the rap duo (and guests including Moka Only and Josh Martinez) rides the right side of the line dividing social commentary from preachiness. Competently rapped and lovingly produced, there’s nothing new here to change the minds of haters who’ve been selling Sweatshop short for a decade now. That’s their loss. - The Georgia Straight

Besides the Rascalz and Swollen Members, there’s never been another B.C. rap crew to achieve the longevity and commercial success of Sweatshop Union, which this summer marks its 10-year anniversary. The seven-man unit formed in 2000 as an amalgam of various group and solo projects brought together under the supervision of the rapper, producer, and overall sonic architect Metty the Dert Merchant. The beatmaker-MC marks a decade in the game with albums by his two side projects: Dirty Circus finds him hooking up with fellow Unionist Mos Eisley for a meditation on growing old in the rap game, while the Trillionaire$ features Metty and Van City veteran Evil satirizing capitalist excess.

These records mark the opposing poles of the Sweatshop sound; Dirty Circus’s Alive and Well is introspective and gently humorous, with Mos and Metty positing themselves as two of the last men standing in the local scene and admonishing YouTube rappers to pay their dues and respect their elders. The Trillionaire$’ record, By Hook or by Crook, sets modern-day consumerism in its sights; the rap duo (and guests including Moka Only and Josh Martinez) rides the right side of the line dividing social commentary from preachiness. Competently rapped and lovingly produced, there’s nothing new here to change the minds of haters who’ve been selling Sweatshop short for a decade now. That’s their loss. - The Georgia Straight

BIOGRAPHICAL INFO
Sweatshop Union Presents: The Trillionaire$ By Hook Or By Crook Is a unique concept album, far different from the normal rap records being released today. It is a tongue and cheek commentary on the greed and ruthlessness of modern society. It celebrates and at the same time makes a statement about mans insatiable hunger for “the good things in life”

The Trillionaire$ are the brainchild of Metty The Dertmerchant , a combo consisting of himself and fellow Canadian M.C. :Evil Ebenezer. Handling the entire production of The Trillionaire$ debut, Metty Dertmerchant also enlisted some of the best artists in the game today to appear on the album: Frank Nitt of Frank N Dank, AWOL ONE, Moka Only, Josh Martinez, Mos Eisley of Sweatshop Union, Mat The Alien and DJ D-REC.

Metty The Dertmerchant is best known for his work as in-house producer for twice Juno nominated outfit Sweatshop Union. In addition to his production work he was one of the prominent lyricist of the group featured in most of the group's songs. Sweatshop Union have focused the better part of the last 10 years toward a non stop touring schedule. In addition to his work within these two groups, he has produced tracks for many prominent Canadian and American artists, most notably Talib Kweli, The Pharcyde, Strong arm steady, Swollen Members, underground legend Abstract Rude, of Project Blowed fame, and 2 tracks, including the sequel to the classic hit "super hoes" from the Friday soundtrack, old school vet. Son Doobie of Funkdoobiest/Soul Assassins. .

Evil Ebenezer's first Independent release the debut album The Draftdodgers present: Evil in 2005, went on to quickly sell 2000 copies hand to hand, picked up a nomination for "Best Hip Hop/ Rap Music Album" at the 2005 West Coast Music Awards, was supported by 3 music videos (including a videofact sponsored treatment of the song "Told You So" which was seen nationally on Much Music and later picked up a 'Leo' award for "Best Music Video 2006" at the annual BC Film Industry award night) and received glowing reviews all over Canada.

In the summer of 2006 with the release of "Call Me Evil" on Camobear Records Evil hit the road on a 50 City U.S tour which saw him opening alongside label mate Josh Martinez as well as Awol One. A recent push to radio by Frontside Productions has seen the album chart in the top ten on Canadian college radio for 8 solid weeks.

As individuals, these artists are strong forces to be reckoned with…. combined as a duo they present a serious problem for there underachieving peers. - CBC Music

BIOGRAPHICAL INFO
Sweatshop Union Presents: The Trillionaire$ By Hook Or By Crook Is a unique concept album, far different from the normal rap records being released today. It is a tongue and cheek commentary on the greed and ruthlessness of modern society. It celebrates and at the same time makes a statement about mans insatiable hunger for “the good things in life”

The Trillionaire$ are the brainchild of Metty The Dertmerchant , a combo consisting of himself and fellow Canadian M.C. :Evil Ebenezer. Handling the entire production of The Trillionaire$ debut, Metty Dertmerchant also enlisted some of the best artists in the game today to appear on the album: Frank Nitt of Frank N Dank, AWOL ONE, Moka Only, Josh Martinez, Mos Eisley of Sweatshop Union, Mat The Alien and DJ D-REC.

Metty The Dertmerchant is best known for his work as in-house producer for twice Juno nominated outfit Sweatshop Union. In addition to his production work he was one of the prominent lyricist of the group featured in most of the group's songs. Sweatshop Union have focused the better part of the last 10 years toward a non stop touring schedule. In addition to his work within these two groups, he has produced tracks for many prominent Canadian and American artists, most notably Talib Kweli, The Pharcyde, Strong arm steady, Swollen Members, underground legend Abstract Rude, of Project Blowed fame, and 2 tracks, including the sequel to the classic hit "super hoes" from the Friday soundtrack, old school vet. Son Doobie of Funkdoobiest/Soul Assassins. .

Evil Ebenezer's first Independent release the debut album The Draftdodgers present: Evil in 2005, went on to quickly sell 2000 copies hand to hand, picked up a nomination for "Best Hip Hop/ Rap Music Album" at the 2005 West Coast Music Awards, was supported by 3 music videos (including a videofact sponsored treatment of the song "Told You So" which was seen nationally on Much Music and later picked up a 'Leo' award for "Best Music Video 2006" at the annual BC Film Industry award night) and received glowing reviews all over Canada.

In the summer of 2006 with the release of "Call Me Evil" on Camobear Records Evil hit the road on a 50 City U.S tour which saw him opening alongside label mate Josh Martinez as well as Awol One. A recent push to radio by Frontside Productions has seen the album chart in the top ten on Canadian college radio for 8 solid weeks.

As individuals, these artists are strong forces to be reckoned with…. combined as a duo they present a serious problem for there underachieving peers. - CBC Music

Evil Ebenezer has been fighting it out in the sometimes-unforgiving west coast scene–trying to make a name for himself. When I called him, he was updating his Facebook page, getting ready for a tour. Not very EVIL, but he leaves the true villainy for the stage.
Evil Ebenezer on the interview show
Evil Ebenezer “Scarecrow” During our chat, Evil Ebenezer gives a neat explanation of the outro on this track.
Evil Ebenezer “Take Me With You” My favorite track on his current record, Evil Eye. It does feel like a long way to summer.

(Audio of interview is available on the site) - WinnieCooper.net

Evil Ebenezer has been fighting it out in the sometimes-unforgiving west coast scene–trying to make a name for himself. When I called him, he was updating his Facebook page, getting ready for a tour. Not very EVIL, but he leaves the true villainy for the stage.
Evil Ebenezer on the interview show
Evil Ebenezer “Scarecrow” During our chat, Evil Ebenezer gives a neat explanation of the outro on this track.
Evil Ebenezer “Take Me With You” My favorite track on his current record, Evil Eye. It does feel like a long way to summer.

(Audio of interview is available on the site) - WinnieCooper.net

Vancouver emcee Evil Ebenezer has been putting in his work within the hip-hop community in Vancity for the last decade and has recently just released his latest album “Evil Eye”. He was described as “the best new voice in Canadian rap today” by Exclaim magazine. Like most albums, Evil Eye has its hits and it has its misses, but it’s the hits that make his music worth your attention. Tracks like Step To is the best example of Evil’s work in my opinion. Other standouts for me include Days Of Our Lives, Better You and Scarecrow. Step To has been worthy of a bunch of repeat listens on my end, so go ahead and take a listen for yourself. If you dig the track and want more then hit up the itunes link above to buy it. For fans of Josh Martinez, Sweatshop Union, Kyprios. - HillyDilly.com

Vancouver emcee Evil Ebenezer has been putting in his work within the hip-hop community in Vancity for the last decade and has recently just released his latest album “Evil Eye”. He was described as “the best new voice in Canadian rap today” by Exclaim magazine. Like most albums, Evil Eye has its hits and it has its misses, but it’s the hits that make his music worth your attention. Tracks like Step To is the best example of Evil’s work in my opinion. Other standouts for me include Days Of Our Lives, Better You and Scarecrow. Step To has been worthy of a bunch of repeat listens on my end, so go ahead and take a listen for yourself. If you dig the track and want more then hit up the itunes link above to buy it. For fans of Josh Martinez, Sweatshop Union, Kyprios. - HillyDilly.com

The Birds is the new free project from Vancouver’s Evil Ebenezer. While Evil is no rookie when it comes to his rapping career but there will always be people out there who have still not heard of Evil and with a mixtape like ‘The Birds’ it’s time to get aquainted. - HillyDilly.com

The Birds is the new free project from Vancouver’s Evil Ebenezer. While Evil is no rookie when it comes to his rapping career but there will always be people out there who have still not heard of Evil and with a mixtape like ‘The Birds’ it’s time to get aquainted. - HillyDilly.com

The Birds is the new free project from Vancouver’s Evil Ebenezer. While Evil is no rookie when it comes to his rapping career but there will always be people out there who have still not heard of Evil and with a mixtape like ‘The Birds’ it’s time to get aquainted. - HillyDilly.com

The Birds is the new free project from Vancouver’s Evil Ebenezer. While Evil is no rookie when it comes to his rapping career but there will always be people out there who have still not heard of Evil and with a mixtape like ‘The Birds’ it’s time to get aquainted. - HillyDilly.com

Nothing makes me happier than some dope local hip-hop. So when this baby first appeared in my inbox I got me some internal musical butterflies. Ebenezer’s rhyming is smooth and consistent, while beautifully blending together soft beats with mildly aggressive lyrics. And I’m also down for any video that includes two dime pieces wearing cut-off shorts, crop tops, and leather. Total win.
If you’re feeling this track too, come by FIVESIXTY next Wednesday, as Evil Ebenezer and a slew of other acts will be performing for the Friends with the Help Video release Party. See you thur. - WinnieCooper.net

Evil Ebenezer’s Halloween 2010 release “Evil Eye” opens up with in a away that would raise an eyebrow with an upbeat anthem-style track “Step To”. The album’s cover art is a decomposing Zombie Evil Ebenezer sporting a fresh Baltimore O’s fitted, which suggests a more rugged sound. This cd has many, many interesting and contradictory vibes, which Evil makes work. Every track seems to be completely different from the previous, or those of his previous releases. I am a huge fan of indie rappers, especially when they are this versatile and creative.

Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Evil Ebenezer is one of the most distinguishable voices in Canadian hip hop. It would be extremely difficult to confuse his voice with that of another rapper.

Back to track two, “Days of Our Lives” appeared on the bonus cd for Camobear Record’s 2007 DVD “Camobear Orange”. By the time I got the disc, I was already familiar with this track. I’m glad they included this cut, since the beat has that classic Evil Ebenezer sound, plus its the farthest thing from a throw-away track.

The third track on this album is “Ghostbusters”, whose video premiered just the other day and was directed by my personal favorite video director, Stuey Kubrick. This song really shocked me with the use of auto-tune. Presently, it would prove very difficult for any underground or independent artist to get away with the use of auto-tune, or so you would think. There is still room for auto-tune when it is not abused or taken advantage of. I would suggest checking this video out on Youtube to see what it sounds like when this feature is used effectively. Other emcees, take notes.

A track which leaked on his myspace a few weeks back, “Better You’ appears next on the record. This track is the unavoidable song that comes on any artists cds when they get a few releases deep. The coming of age track as I call it, this one sets an overall tone for the evolved artist, the thinking emcee. These songs are singer songwriter material infused with hip hop beats and promote the idea that the Evil Ebenezer is seasoned and wise, and by no means ready to be irrelevant.

“Green Goblin” just might be my favorite cut on the record. Clocking in at four minutes, twenty seconds, this is the smoker’s anthem. The beat is simply bad ass, and the ever swaggerific Evil murders every verse and hook on this joint. I look forward to catching this one in his next live set.

The first video from this album, also directed by Stuey Kubrick is “Take Me With You”. Evil has been singing his ass off all over this record. On the following track “Light the Night” contains some of the best flows on the album. “Scarecrow emanates the same sort of feeling I got from “Better You” right before they switch it up and Snak the Ripper appears for the first feature on the disc for the track “Top Guns”.

Anybody unaware of who Snak is, Snak is also on Camobear Records, hailing from Vancouver BC as well, and also a part of the SDK (Stompdown Killaz) which is one of Canada’s premier graffiti crews. Snak as usual, adds a gritty ruggedness to the tracks he appears on. He sounds like somebody you would find hanging out in front of a convenient mart in a bad neighborhood, rapping with a sort of animosity I am yet to hear from another artist. Enough about him, but I will leave this thought at saying this collaboration is two unique styles in one track and this duos collaborations are consistently dope.

“Spaceship” sounds like the type of track you would hear in Seattle. Synth charged bass-lines and clean kick drums make for an electronic beat Evil approaches from yet another angle. “Guns and Roses” is the kind of track I would say is fit for radio play. It has the kind of vibe, the catchy hooks, the top class production quality you expect from that level of professionalism. Not one to lack content though, this song is still very personal and thoughtful. Something about it makes it highly appealing.

“Gone Astray” opens up as a smooth banger. I’m glad this was a full length release, as it made room for so many different sounds and styles. I still don’t see why Evil Eye was the chosen album title, but maybe this is one of those scenarios that takes time to unfold. The lyricism on this track is top notch, and I would hate to spoil it for anybody so I won;t quote him here. This is a contender for Album of the Year in my book and I haven’t even made it all the way through yet. I love the songs like this, songs that you can emotionally connect to. The smooth beat fades out as we enter the next track, “Love You”.

Some old school sounding sample repeats over this track, featuring NaRai singing on the hooks. This has a very 90's sound to it for some reason. Maybe its just me, but moving on to the track “Blown Out” which sounds melodic and vibrant, progressing to more auto-tuning and overall taking the artist to a place previously unfamiliar. These songs make me wish other artists who used - Faygoluvers.com

Evil Ebenezer’s Halloween 2010 release “Evil Eye” opens up with in a away that would raise an eyebrow with an upbeat anthem-style track “Step To”. The album’s cover art is a decomposing Zombie Evil Ebenezer sporting a fresh Baltimore O’s fitted, which suggests a more rugged sound. This cd has many, many interesting and contradictory vibes, which Evil makes work. Every track seems to be completely different from the previous, or those of his previous releases. I am a huge fan of indie rappers, especially when they are this versatile and creative.

Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Evil Ebenezer is one of the most distinguishable voices in Canadian hip hop. It would be extremely difficult to confuse his voice with that of another rapper.

Back to track two, “Days of Our Lives” appeared on the bonus cd for Camobear Record’s 2007 DVD “Camobear Orange”. By the time I got the disc, I was already familiar with this track. I’m glad they included this cut, since the beat has that classic Evil Ebenezer sound, plus its the farthest thing from a throw-away track.

The third track on this album is “Ghostbusters”, whose video premiered just the other day and was directed by my personal favorite video director, Stuey Kubrick. This song really shocked me with the use of auto-tune. Presently, it would prove very difficult for any underground or independent artist to get away with the use of auto-tune, or so you would think. There is still room for auto-tune when it is not abused or taken advantage of. I would suggest checking this video out on Youtube to see what it sounds like when this feature is used effectively. Other emcees, take notes.

A track which leaked on his myspace a few weeks back, “Better You’ appears next on the record. This track is the unavoidable song that comes on any artists cds when they get a few releases deep. The coming of age track as I call it, this one sets an overall tone for the evolved artist, the thinking emcee. These songs are singer songwriter material infused with hip hop beats and promote the idea that the Evil Ebenezer is seasoned and wise, and by no means ready to be irrelevant.

“Green Goblin” just might be my favorite cut on the record. Clocking in at four minutes, twenty seconds, this is the smoker’s anthem. The beat is simply bad ass, and the ever swaggerific Evil murders every verse and hook on this joint. I look forward to catching this one in his next live set.

The first video from this album, also directed by Stuey Kubrick is “Take Me With You”. Evil has been singing his ass off all over this record. On the following track “Light the Night” contains some of the best flows on the album. “Scarecrow emanates the same sort of feeling I got from “Better You” right before they switch it up and Snak the Ripper appears for the first feature on the disc for the track “Top Guns”.

Anybody unaware of who Snak is, Snak is also on Camobear Records, hailing from Vancouver BC as well, and also a part of the SDK (Stompdown Killaz) which is one of Canada’s premier graffiti crews. Snak as usual, adds a gritty ruggedness to the tracks he appears on. He sounds like somebody you would find hanging out in front of a convenient mart in a bad neighborhood, rapping with a sort of animosity I am yet to hear from another artist. Enough about him, but I will leave this thought at saying this collaboration is two unique styles in one track and this duos collaborations are consistently dope.

“Spaceship” sounds like the type of track you would hear in Seattle. Synth charged bass-lines and clean kick drums make for an electronic beat Evil approaches from yet another angle. “Guns and Roses” is the kind of track I would say is fit for radio play. It has the kind of vibe, the catchy hooks, the top class production quality you expect from that level of professionalism. Not one to lack content though, this song is still very personal and thoughtful. Something about it makes it highly appealing.

“Gone Astray” opens up as a smooth banger. I’m glad this was a full length release, as it made room for so many different sounds and styles. I still don’t see why Evil Eye was the chosen album title, but maybe this is one of those scenarios that takes time to unfold. The lyricism on this track is top notch, and I would hate to spoil it for anybody so I won;t quote him here. This is a contender for Album of the Year in my book and I haven’t even made it all the way through yet. I love the songs like this, songs that you can emotionally connect to. The smooth beat fades out as we enter the next track, “Love You”.

Some old school sounding sample repeats over this track, featuring NaRai singing on the hooks. This has a very 90's sound to it for some reason. Maybe its just me, but moving on to the track “Blown Out” which sounds melodic and vibrant, progressing to more auto-tuning and overall taking the artist to a place previously unfamiliar. These songs make me wish other artists who used - Faygoluvers.com

The Rooster spoke with Vancouver rapper Evil Ebenezer over the phone from Swift Current, Saskatchewan yesterday before he arrived in Saskatoon for his July 13 show at the Cosmos Senior’s Centre as part of his Stomp Down Tour.

If you haven’t heard about Evil and you dig quality Canadian hip-hop you should probably listen up.

Evil is easily one of the most intriguing voices coming out of west coast Canadian hip-hop at the moment. The Vancouver-based emcee, who Exclaim Magazine dubbed “the best new voice in Canadian rap,” has dropped roughly 10 solo and collaborative albums, is coming off a fresh collaborative effort with Moka Only called ZZBRA and has also shared the stage with legends like Souls of Mischief, Devin the Dude and Tech N9ne.

Not only can Evil flow with the best in the country, he was a former child actor who appeared in such films as Stephen King’s “It” and auditioned alongside actors like Ryan Reynolds.

Contrary to his name, rapper Evil Ebenezer is actually a pretty nice dude. The 30-year-old rapper had only nice things to say about Saskatoon and the city’s hip-hop scene. Simply put, he’s psyched to return to the Paris of the Prairies to crush some brews and a blunt or two along the way.

“I’ve played out here a few times and it’s really good. It’s quite a good scene. They seem to embrace their own a bit more than most cities in Canada. It’s a pretty cool town,” described Evil.

Evil also has ties to the prairies and has worked with Factor, Saskatoon’s hip-hop producer extraordinaire. The duo released Widow Creek in 2011 — an album that unfortunately had release issues — and they also have a song together on Factor’s latest digital EP Club Soda Series 2.

“He’s awesome. He’s become a really good friend and he’s super talented and I hope to work with him more in the future,” said Evil.

Def3, whose real name is Danny Fernandez, is a Regina hip-hop artist who now lives in Vancouver and has also collaborated with Evil.

“I think Evil’s dope. He’s really talented and an all-around good emcee from the stage to his writing to his recording. He’s a very well rounded emcee. He’s a homie of mine,” said Fernandez

It’s not always easy being a musician, something Evil knows all too well. As a youngster, his parents split due to his father’s demanding musical career and life on the road. His dad, also a university academic, chose one last shot at musical stardom and spent $25,000 on a music video. Shortly later his wife left him.
Two decades later Evil is pursuing music — the same entity that tore his family apart — with a fervent passion.

“I’m still in a lucky situation because I don’t have a wife and two kids at home so I’m in a different situation than he was. If I fuck up — that’s it. I don’t have anyone depending on me. I think about it a lot, though. I draw a lot of my songs from the way that I felt back then and those memories,” he added.

Evil plays alongside Snak the Ripper tonight (July 13) at the Cosmos Senior’s Centre in Saskatoon. I’ll be there. Will you? Shirts optional. - TheRooster.ca

Toronto, ON – December 8, 2011 – Set deep in the jungle with wild animals preying on the crew, two Canadian rappers were getting ready to make their big screen debut in Stuey Kubrick’s Pan-African adventure epic ZZBRA. Skyrocketing costs catapulted their budget through the roof forcing production to shut down, and sending everyone home. All that was left from the movie was the original soundtrack featuring a collection of fresh and quick lyrical rhymes with hard-hitting beats and heavy synths from Rap Legends Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer. Produced by The Draft Dodgers (Stuey Kubrick and U-Tern), the new album is set to be released on January 31, 2012 with Camobear Records. Canadian tour dates will be announced soon, and check out the video for Green here.

Directed by co-producer Stuey Kubrick the video for Green will be the first of many for ZZBRA. Kubrick has become the go-to music director for Canadian Independent hip hop, producing, directing and editing close to 100 videos which have seen rotation on Much Music and MTV. He is currently busy in the editing suite putting the final tweaks on the trailer for the legendary ZZBRA movie that never was.

Moka Only needs no introduction, as he has remained a fixture in the Canadian music scene for many years. With a discography of over 40 albums, he has proven himself as a rap renaissance man, constantly producing challenging and fascinating music that takes its inspiration from a wide variety of sources. As part of Swollen Members Moka won 3 consecutive Junos and has sold over 400,000 records independently, worldwide. With collaborations ranging from J Dilla and MF Doom to symphonies and classic cover songs, Moka Only always pushes the boundaries of the music he makes.

Hailed as the “best new voice in Canadian rap” (Exclaim!) Evil Ebenezer has captured the neurotic soul of our times with eccentric dysfunction, humor and epic darkness all told with his trademark butter smooth delivery. Evil has shared the stage with the likes of Souls of Mischief, Ra the Rugged Man, Planet Asia, Devin the Dude, Tech Nine and the Beatnuts. He has also toured and collaborated extensively with Sweatshop Union, Josh Martinez and Snak the Ripper and recently turned heads on the Vans Warped Tour with supergroup Brass Tackz

Showcasing Moka and Evil like you’ve never heard them before, ZZBRA – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be your favourite score of 2012! - PopYoularity.com

Toronto, ON – December 8, 2011 – Set deep in the jungle with wild animals preying on the crew, two Canadian rappers were getting ready to make their big screen debut in Stuey Kubrick’s Pan-African adventure epic ZZBRA. Skyrocketing costs catapulted their budget through the roof forcing production to shut down, and sending everyone home. All that was left from the movie was the original soundtrack featuring a collection of fresh and quick lyrical rhymes with hard-hitting beats and heavy synths from Rap Legends Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer. Produced by The Draft Dodgers (Stuey Kubrick and U-Tern), the new album is set to be released on January 31, 2012 with Camobear Records. Canadian tour dates will be announced soon, and check out the video for Green here.

Directed by co-producer Stuey Kubrick the video for Green will be the first of many for ZZBRA. Kubrick has become the go-to music director for Canadian Independent hip hop, producing, directing and editing close to 100 videos which have seen rotation on Much Music and MTV. He is currently busy in the editing suite putting the final tweaks on the trailer for the legendary ZZBRA movie that never was.

Moka Only needs no introduction, as he has remained a fixture in the Canadian music scene for many years. With a discography of over 40 albums, he has proven himself as a rap renaissance man, constantly producing challenging and fascinating music that takes its inspiration from a wide variety of sources. As part of Swollen Members Moka won 3 consecutive Junos and has sold over 400,000 records independently, worldwide. With collaborations ranging from J Dilla and MF Doom to symphonies and classic cover songs, Moka Only always pushes the boundaries of the music he makes.

Hailed as the “best new voice in Canadian rap” (Exclaim!) Evil Ebenezer has captured the neurotic soul of our times with eccentric dysfunction, humor and epic darkness all told with his trademark butter smooth delivery. Evil has shared the stage with the likes of Souls of Mischief, Ra the Rugged Man, Planet Asia, Devin the Dude, Tech Nine and the Beatnuts. He has also toured and collaborated extensively with Sweatshop Union, Josh Martinez and Snak the Ripper and recently turned heads on the Vans Warped Tour with supergroup Brass Tackz

Showcasing Moka and Evil like you’ve never heard them before, ZZBRA – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be your favourite score of 2012! - PopYoularity.com

Hailed as “the best new voice in Canadian rap” (Exclaim Magazine), Evil Ebenezeer has become the voice of a generation that doesn’t want to grow up, get a job and give up their childhood dreams. With a mastery of cadence, he captures the neurotic soul of our times with eccentric dysfunction, humour and epic darkness all told with his trademark butter smooth delivery. This West Coast legend, has shared stages with the likes of the mighty Souls of Mischief, Ra the Rugged Man, Planet Asia, Devin the Dude, Tech Nine and the Beatnuts. Spending his time touring North America he met up with a couple deviants from Vancouver and created something truly hideous. Along with cult sensation Snak the Ripper and Young Sin he formed the super group Brass Tackz. The group joined the Warped Tour 2010 to play for crowds of 20,000 screaming fans. In the interim, our twisted hero has created his solo masterpiece, Evil Eye, and is once more taking to the road to “shatter the expectations of hip hop fans” (Spin) with his, “Pulp Fiction like adrenaline shot to the heart performances” (Urb) converting strangers to obsessed fans. This is the Evil your parents warned you about.

“Wonder Years” from Evil’s latest album “The Birds” was shot in Vienna, Austria while on tour with Snak the Ripper. The track is produced by N-Jin and the video was filmed & edited by Gharuda. The whole The Birds album can be downloaded for free at ephin.com. - KevinNottingham.com

Hailed as “the best new voice in Canadian rap” (Exclaim Magazine), Evil Ebenezeer has become the voice of a generation that doesn’t want to grow up, get a job and give up their childhood dreams. With a mastery of cadence, he captures the neurotic soul of our times with eccentric dysfunction, humour and epic darkness all told with his trademark butter smooth delivery. This West Coast legend, has shared stages with the likes of the mighty Souls of Mischief, Ra the Rugged Man, Planet Asia, Devin the Dude, Tech Nine and the Beatnuts. Spending his time touring North America he met up with a couple deviants from Vancouver and created something truly hideous. Along with cult sensation Snak the Ripper and Young Sin he formed the super group Brass Tackz. The group joined the Warped Tour 2010 to play for crowds of 20,000 screaming fans. In the interim, our twisted hero has created his solo masterpiece, Evil Eye, and is once more taking to the road to “shatter the expectations of hip hop fans” (Spin) with his, “Pulp Fiction like adrenaline shot to the heart performances” (Urb) converting strangers to obsessed fans. This is the Evil your parents warned you about.

“Wonder Years” from Evil’s latest album “The Birds” was shot in Vienna, Austria while on tour with Snak the Ripper. The track is produced by N-Jin and the video was filmed & edited by Gharuda. The whole The Birds album can be downloaded for free at ephin.com. - KevinNottingham.com

The first few times I heard ZZBRA I was hooked. Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer are fucking hilariously relaxed and quite possibly two of my favorite emcees I didn't know I loved.

While I've been waiting nearly a month to find a review copy of their The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, if tracks like Let's Roll indicate the level of hell yea I shall be experiencingz, I'm even more amped to get my paws on it.

Leave it to Josh Martinez's Camobear Records to snap my continuing bored streak with hip hop lately.

HIOOOOOOOO! - SYFFAL.com

The first few times I heard ZZBRA I was hooked. Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer are fucking hilariously relaxed and quite possibly two of my favorite emcees I didn't know I loved.

While I've been waiting nearly a month to find a review copy of their The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, if tracks like Let's Roll indicate the level of hell yea I shall be experiencingz, I'm even more amped to get my paws on it.

Leave it to Josh Martinez's Camobear Records to snap my continuing bored streak with hip hop lately.

HIOOOOOOOO! - SYFFAL.com

The first few times I heard ZZBRA I was hooked. Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer are fucking hilariously relaxed and quite possibly two of my favorite emcees I didn't know I loved.

While I've been waiting nearly a month to find a review copy of their The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, if tracks like Let's Roll indicate the level of hell yea I shall be experiencingz, I'm even more amped to get my paws on it.

Leave it to Josh Martinez's Camobear Records to snap my continuing bored streak with hip hop lately.

HIOOOOOOOO! - SYFFAL.com

The first few times I heard ZZBRA I was hooked. Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer are fucking hilariously relaxed and quite possibly two of my favorite emcees I didn't know I loved.

While I've been waiting nearly a month to find a review copy of their The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, if tracks like Let's Roll indicate the level of hell yea I shall be experiencingz, I'm even more amped to get my paws on it.

Leave it to Josh Martinez's Camobear Records to snap my continuing bored streak with hip hop lately.

HIOOOOOOOO! - SYFFAL.com

Vancouver-based rapper Evil Ebenezer's latest EP closely examines the personality of one of Batman's longtime foes: the Penguin. Produced and mixed by Edmonton DJ Nato, Evil's slick storytelling is nicely accompanied by Nato's fine beats and arrangements. At times, the music creates great suspense worthy of an action sequence in a Batman flick; "Half Bird Half Man" comes to mind as well as another standout song, "Grand Order of Occidental Nighthawks (G.O.O.N.)," which sees Evil being joined by Touch, Young Sin, and Snak the Ripper. The star of the EP also makes cameos; the Penguin's calculating yet confident voice opens every track, giving listeners more insight into the "gentleman of crime." - VueWeekly.com

Vancouver-based rapper Evil Ebenezer's latest EP closely examines the personality of one of Batman's longtime foes: the Penguin. Produced and mixed by Edmonton DJ Nato, Evil's slick storytelling is nicely accompanied by Nato's fine beats and arrangements. At times, the music creates great suspense worthy of an action sequence in a Batman flick; "Half Bird Half Man" comes to mind as well as another standout song, "Grand Order of Occidental Nighthawks (G.O.O.N.)," which sees Evil being joined by Touch, Young Sin, and Snak the Ripper. The star of the EP also makes cameos; the Penguin's calculating yet confident voice opens every track, giving listeners more insight into the "gentleman of crime." - VueWeekly.com

Dope new EP from Canadian rapper Evil Ebenezer, courtesy of Camobear records.

I recently became familiar with Evil Eb via the dope as hell Zzbra LP he did with Moka Only, Evil Eb is a raw MC and has a great flow. I would describe this EP ‘less quirky’ than the Zzbra stuff but this is still a really solid release and every track bangs. The beats are all handled by Nato and guest verses come from Touch, Young Sin and Snak the Ripper, highlight track for me has got to be ‘Cold Inside’ (video below) the beat is nuts and reminds me of the soundtrack to ‘Drive’ which I’ve been bumping on repeat lately, great film and even better soundtrack!

More to the point, you can pick up this EP from www.camobeardigital.com and iTunes, go get it. Before you do that, watch the trailer for it here…. - WordPlayMagazine.com

Dope new EP from Canadian rapper Evil Ebenezer, courtesy of Camobear records.

I recently became familiar with Evil Eb via the dope as hell Zzbra LP he did with Moka Only, Evil Eb is a raw MC and has a great flow. I would describe this EP ‘less quirky’ than the Zzbra stuff but this is still a really solid release and every track bangs. The beats are all handled by Nato and guest verses come from Touch, Young Sin and Snak the Ripper, highlight track for me has got to be ‘Cold Inside’ (video below) the beat is nuts and reminds me of the soundtrack to ‘Drive’ which I’ve been bumping on repeat lately, great film and even better soundtrack!

More to the point, you can pick up this EP from www.camobeardigital.com and iTunes, go get it. Before you do that, watch the trailer for it here…. - WordPlayMagazine.com

A look at hip-hop activity in and around Vancouver in recent years would lead one quite reasonably to the conclusion that Zzbra are a North-Western rap “supergroup”: a funny term that survives partly by being generously inclusive. ‘Cause who doesn’t dress for the job they want nowadays? A little confidence and imagination in the vast tickle-trunk of social media and in a couple of years the trappings of greatness can (seem to) be yours. It’s a new environment where everyone’s telescope is pointed at a different part of the sky and groups can be super on paper and cut saucers on plastic. Can’t blame anyone for having low expectations, but every time I hear an album for the first time it’s with the hope of being pleasantly surprised. And that’s where Zzbra comes in: because they actually are a supergroup.

This project sees the real prolific mofos from the community, the ones who can’t not put in work, triple tag-teaming on some rumble in the actual jungle, safari-gone-Jumanji tip that simply cannot be effed with at this point and time. When I heard that it was largely recorded in 2006-2007 I said “what?” causing my homeboy to have to repeat himself. One of the mofos in question, a certain Stuey Kubrick, cooks these beats like it’s Iron Chef and the secret ingredient is nineteen-seventies jungle flicks. Not surprisingly, calling Stuey cinematically inclined would be an understatement; the Draft Dodger has 33 completed music videos to his directorial credit in 2011 alone, to say nothing of how he chop a funky trumpet in a nice drum sau-ce.

Moka Only and Evil Ebeneezer – names you can trust. Obviously I’m a bit leery of supergroups but this is straight fun times: a motion picture double feature out among the creatures in the jungle theater coming soon as you bump your speakers. What hit me hardest was the prowess these MCs show at being Moka and Evil: mastery, not of rap in some generalized sense, but of secret recipes for individuality. Having a recognizable (ideally an unmistakable) presence on tracks is a hallmark of professional talent and a department where all of Zzbra excel. Moka Only flips some acrobatic word game with looseness that is borderline irresponsible. No safety net and deceptively lazy spit.

There are a lot of notable tracks, but this “Motion Picture Soundtrack” ultimately works best as a whole. It crosses a range of moods while keeping the listener close-by in the passenger seat of what rides like a hazy green bubble with a steering wheel. Upbeat first joint “Let’s Roll” sets the scene with “ayo Mok,” “w’shup?” “grab your coat let’s roll. Grab your smokes man we gotta get the fuck on the road…” against some fat horns, setting the stage up nice for “Green”, the album’s first single – and by no means the last. Other highlights include the heartfelt ballad “Number One” and “Call For Some Help”, a heater pleasantly reminiscent of the first Blackout! Peep this knowledge from it: “I do my La Di Da Di to provide me with an exclusive place within society”. Ohhh (finger clap thing). - AbortMag.com

A look at hip-hop activity in and around Vancouver in recent years would lead one quite reasonably to the conclusion that Zzbra are a North-Western rap “supergroup”: a funny term that survives partly by being generously inclusive. ‘Cause who doesn’t dress for the job they want nowadays? A little confidence and imagination in the vast tickle-trunk of social media and in a couple of years the trappings of greatness can (seem to) be yours. It’s a new environment where everyone’s telescope is pointed at a different part of the sky and groups can be super on paper and cut saucers on plastic. Can’t blame anyone for having low expectations, but every time I hear an album for the first time it’s with the hope of being pleasantly surprised. And that’s where Zzbra comes in: because they actually are a supergroup.

This project sees the real prolific mofos from the community, the ones who can’t not put in work, triple tag-teaming on some rumble in the actual jungle, safari-gone-Jumanji tip that simply cannot be effed with at this point and time. When I heard that it was largely recorded in 2006-2007 I said “what?” causing my homeboy to have to repeat himself. One of the mofos in question, a certain Stuey Kubrick, cooks these beats like it’s Iron Chef and the secret ingredient is nineteen-seventies jungle flicks. Not surprisingly, calling Stuey cinematically inclined would be an understatement; the Draft Dodger has 33 completed music videos to his directorial credit in 2011 alone, to say nothing of how he chop a funky trumpet in a nice drum sau-ce.

Moka Only and Evil Ebeneezer – names you can trust. Obviously I’m a bit leery of supergroups but this is straight fun times: a motion picture double feature out among the creatures in the jungle theater coming soon as you bump your speakers. What hit me hardest was the prowess these MCs show at being Moka and Evil: mastery, not of rap in some generalized sense, but of secret recipes for individuality. Having a recognizable (ideally an unmistakable) presence on tracks is a hallmark of professional talent and a department where all of Zzbra excel. Moka Only flips some acrobatic word game with looseness that is borderline irresponsible. No safety net and deceptively lazy spit.

There are a lot of notable tracks, but this “Motion Picture Soundtrack” ultimately works best as a whole. It crosses a range of moods while keeping the listener close-by in the passenger seat of what rides like a hazy green bubble with a steering wheel. Upbeat first joint “Let’s Roll” sets the scene with “ayo Mok,” “w’shup?” “grab your coat let’s roll. Grab your smokes man we gotta get the fuck on the road…” against some fat horns, setting the stage up nice for “Green”, the album’s first single – and by no means the last. Other highlights include the heartfelt ballad “Number One” and “Call For Some Help”, a heater pleasantly reminiscent of the first Blackout! Peep this knowledge from it: “I do my La Di Da Di to provide me with an exclusive place within society”. Ohhh (finger clap thing). - AbortMag.com

Later this July the world will be gripped with Batman-fever again when The Dark Knight Rises opens in cinemas on Friday the 20th. In the latest movie, Batman pits his wits – and ever-expanding utility-belt – up against baddies Bane and Catwoman. Word on the Tweet is that Christopher Nolan’s trilogy ending epic is set to throw up a few “gut punch” surprises, but perhaps it is too much to wish for for a surprise return of Batman’s trickiest, ugliest, and most-scheming enemies, The Penguin. As amazing as the new Batman movie may be, will anything ever top Batman Returns? It had the best batmobile by far, Danny DeVito was BORN to play The Penguin, and hypnotic machine-gun umbrellas are way more classic badass than a dude with big arms inhaling steroids from a mask. I digress…

The streets of Gotham City may be safe from Batman’s old avian villain, but it appears The Penguin has taken up home in a new home this summer… in Vancouver.

Enter, Evil Ebenezer, a Vancouver rapper who taken it upon himself to reinvent himself in the guise of The Penguin for the release of a themed five song EP. Every second of this EP’s five tracks is based on the Batman villain The Penguin, with lyrics and choice samples telling the story of the waddling Oswald Cobblepot. On paper, the concept of this recording is bizarre. When you hear it, it’s every bit as ridiculous as you could imagine.
Evil Ebenezer has clearly had a lot of fun making this EP, but after you stop laughing at the gags, you begin to appreciate this record for its clever rhymes and dark, chainsaw-ripping grit. And like the Penguin, Evil Ebenezer has is own posse of henchman to help amp up the sinister factor, with guests Snak The Ripper, Young Sin and Touch. Production is by Nato.

A hip hop album based on a comic book villain? Sounds bizarre at first — and it is ridiculous — but after a while it all makes sense… A rap recording based on a power-hungry character who cruises around in a big car, operates in the underground, and surrounds himself with guns and beautiful women, to remind others of his monetary power and own sense of importance? The worlds of comic book fiction and hip hop stereotyping merge together wonderfully. Inspired.
- MusicVice.com

Later this July the world will be gripped with Batman-fever again when The Dark Knight Rises opens in cinemas on Friday the 20th. In the latest movie, Batman pits his wits – and ever-expanding utility-belt – up against baddies Bane and Catwoman. Word on the Tweet is that Christopher Nolan’s trilogy ending epic is set to throw up a few “gut punch” surprises, but perhaps it is too much to wish for for a surprise return of Batman’s trickiest, ugliest, and most-scheming enemies, The Penguin. As amazing as the new Batman movie may be, will anything ever top Batman Returns? It had the best batmobile by far, Danny DeVito was BORN to play The Penguin, and hypnotic machine-gun umbrellas are way more classic badass than a dude with big arms inhaling steroids from a mask. I digress…

The streets of Gotham City may be safe from Batman’s old avian villain, but it appears The Penguin has taken up home in a new home this summer… in Vancouver.

Enter, Evil Ebenezer, a Vancouver rapper who taken it upon himself to reinvent himself in the guise of The Penguin for the release of a themed five song EP. Every second of this EP’s five tracks is based on the Batman villain The Penguin, with lyrics and choice samples telling the story of the waddling Oswald Cobblepot. On paper, the concept of this recording is bizarre. When you hear it, it’s every bit as ridiculous as you could imagine.
Evil Ebenezer has clearly had a lot of fun making this EP, but after you stop laughing at the gags, you begin to appreciate this record for its clever rhymes and dark, chainsaw-ripping grit. And like the Penguin, Evil Ebenezer has is own posse of henchman to help amp up the sinister factor, with guests Snak The Ripper, Young Sin and Touch. Production is by Nato.

A hip hop album based on a comic book villain? Sounds bizarre at first — and it is ridiculous — but after a while it all makes sense… A rap recording based on a power-hungry character who cruises around in a big car, operates in the underground, and surrounds himself with guns and beautiful women, to remind others of his monetary power and own sense of importance? The worlds of comic book fiction and hip hop stereotyping merge together wonderfully. Inspired.
- MusicVice.com

Vancouver, B.C. – Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer, two of Western Canada’s best MCs, come together to bring us ZZBRA : The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - theme songs to a movie that never was. Kinda weird, kinda cool. Aside from the monkeying around (sorry, I had to) with some wild animal noises throughout their intro, which is aptly titled ‘Intro’, and some archaic samples from jungle-themed movies peppered here and there, the safari and animalistic elements aren’t overdone. Instead of pushing gimmicks Evil and Moka stick to what they do best- crafting ill hip-hop. But these dude’s styles can’t be contained in solely one genre; they branch out and slay straight up funk and R&B tracks, no doubt due in large part to their producer Stuey Kubrick’s versatility with the beats. Rocking over some of his more soulful instrumentals the boys are inspired to go from crooning to belting it out to the back row, right back to kicking sick rhymes.

The first song “Let It Roll” has Evil and Moka doing their thing over a headbobber with big bass and big horns reminiscent of Pharoahe’s “Simon Says”. It’s the perfect song to set off the album as the 2 MCs introduce themselves. The following joint, “Green”, continues with the headbob factor but hints at the undeniable pop elements to come with its smooth catchy chorus. Only to be outdone by “Raisins”, which if I heard correctly has Moka rocking “Did you get the raisins I sent you?/ Did you get the fuckin’ raisins I sent you?” all casually delivered with an infectious melody. And then next up, hot damn, is “Number 1? (track #5) and it’s on.

Whatever Stuey Kubrick is doing, he’s doing it right. Warm organic sounds that are clearly (and I mean crystal clearly) digital and not analog; dude’s creating original melodies that sound like they’re classic samples. A feat not easily achieved. And good luck getting the piano melody from “Number 1? out of your head, it’ll keep your noggin’ bobbin’. The album keeps the bar(s) set high as it rolls along song after song and continues offering more stand-outs, like “Running Back”. With a sharp soul clap for a snare, gnarly bassline and a guitar solo during the outro that Hendrix would dig, this one’s a gem. Oh, and guess what, neither rapper raps on it. Nor should they, it’s a sick pop funk soul song and so our boys lace it as such. Pop stars in the making? Maybe not, but true artists these cats indeed are.

So, until ZZBRA hits the big screen you’ll have to put down the 3D glasses and pick up the headphones and cop The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. No over priced popcorn and sticky floors just sit back and relax and let the music be the movie.

Written by Jesse Furnell for HipHopCanada
- HipHopCanada.com

Vancouver, B.C. – Moka Only and Evil Ebenezer, two of Western Canada’s best MCs, come together to bring us ZZBRA : The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - theme songs to a movie that never was. Kinda weird, kinda cool. Aside from the monkeying around (sorry, I had to) with some wild animal noises throughout their intro, which is aptly titled ‘Intro’, and some archaic samples from jungle-themed movies peppered here and there, the safari and animalistic elements aren’t overdone. Instead of pushing gimmicks Evil and Moka stick to what they do best- crafting ill hip-hop. But these dude’s styles can’t be contained in solely one genre; they branch out and slay straight up funk and R&B tracks, no doubt due in large part to their producer Stuey Kubrick’s versatility with the beats. Rocking over some of his more soulful instrumentals the boys are inspired to go from crooning to belting it out to the back row, right back to kicking sick rhymes.

The first song “Let It Roll” has Evil and Moka doing their thing over a headbobber with big bass and big horns reminiscent of Pharoahe’s “Simon Says”. It’s the perfect song to set off the album as the 2 MCs introduce themselves. The following joint, “Green”, continues with the headbob factor but hints at the undeniable pop elements to come with its smooth catchy chorus. Only to be outdone by “Raisins”, which if I heard correctly has Moka rocking “Did you get the raisins I sent you?/ Did you get the fuckin’ raisins I sent you?” all casually delivered with an infectious melody. And then next up, hot damn, is “Number 1? (track #5) and it’s on.

Whatever Stuey Kubrick is doing, he’s doing it right. Warm organic sounds that are clearly (and I mean crystal clearly) digital and not analog; dude’s creating original melodies that sound like they’re classic samples. A feat not easily achieved. And good luck getting the piano melody from “Number 1? out of your head, it’ll keep your noggin’ bobbin’. The album keeps the bar(s) set high as it rolls along song after song and continues offering more stand-outs, like “Running Back”. With a sharp soul clap for a snare, gnarly bassline and a guitar solo during the outro that Hendrix would dig, this one’s a gem. Oh, and guess what, neither rapper raps on it. Nor should they, it’s a sick pop funk soul song and so our boys lace it as such. Pop stars in the making? Maybe not, but true artists these cats indeed are.

So, until ZZBRA hits the big screen you’ll have to put down the 3D glasses and pick up the headphones and cop The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. No over priced popcorn and sticky floors just sit back and relax and let the music be the movie.

Written by Jesse Furnell for HipHopCanada
- HipHopCanada.com

Ebenezer
The Wanderer
By Thomas Quinlan

Canada sure is building a diverse range of horrorcore artists, with albums released recently from the likes of Vancouver's Hidden Fortress, Calgary's Lexington + Whatevski and Toronto's So Sick Social Club and Admiral Crumple. And now there's a new record from Vancouver's Ebenezer, one of the earliest of the bunch to rap about the dark side of the soul (under the moniker of Evil), as both a solo artist and a member of Draft Dodgers. As far as I can figure, Ebenezer is Evil's money hungry alter ego, as evidenced by "Money," the happiest of the beats, thanks in part to a soulful vocal sample and a cash register effect, both playing throughout. Much of the rest of the album is made up of Evil's simple, humorous horror stories over Stu Ray's dark, creepy, up-tempo production. Highlights sure to appeal to anyone with a sense of humour include creepy Ebenezer bio "The Wanderer," the heavy bass synth and spacey disco effects of conceptual number song "Forty-Eight," and the simply named "Jim," a Buck 65-style character study over a straightforward beat driven by warped guitar. The Wanderer is horrorcore hip-hop for the average rap listener. (Independent)
- Exclaim.ca

Ebenezer
The Wanderer
By Thomas Quinlan

Canada sure is building a diverse range of horrorcore artists, with albums released recently from the likes of Vancouver's Hidden Fortress, Calgary's Lexington + Whatevski and Toronto's So Sick Social Club and Admiral Crumple. And now there's a new record from Vancouver's Ebenezer, one of the earliest of the bunch to rap about the dark side of the soul (under the moniker of Evil), as both a solo artist and a member of Draft Dodgers. As far as I can figure, Ebenezer is Evil's money hungry alter ego, as evidenced by "Money," the happiest of the beats, thanks in part to a soulful vocal sample and a cash register effect, both playing throughout. Much of the rest of the album is made up of Evil's simple, humorous horror stories over Stu Ray's dark, creepy, up-tempo production. Highlights sure to appeal to anyone with a sense of humour include creepy Ebenezer bio "The Wanderer," the heavy bass synth and spacey disco effects of conceptual number song "Forty-Eight," and the simply named "Jim," a Buck 65-style character study over a straightforward beat driven by warped guitar. The Wanderer is horrorcore hip-hop for the average rap listener. (Independent)
- Exclaim.ca

Vancouver, B.C. - Evil's not as sinister as he seems. The pale, sunken-eyed character on the cover of his new album The Wanderer may look like something out of a Dickens novel but his brand of villainy is more mischievous than depraved.

Anyone in their late twenties probably saw Evil on TV back in the day. He had a part in CTV's twisted kid's show The Odyssey, not to mention those car dealership commercials he rapped on. Evil has since become a staple of Vancouver hip-hop; his work with the Draftdodgers earned him several awards and helped carve a niche in Vancouver's soundless scene. His work with Camobear Records and DJ Stu Ray helped pioneer the gothic hip-hop styles used by other dark personas like Snak the Ripper.

The boy who once pissed in his basketball coach's suitcase now weighs his options carefully. He wants it all: hip-hop, film, artistic self-expression that can be reflected upon by an audience. He's open, and you need only to visit his MySpace to know that he's got some demons. He's cautious too, and is sensitive to the effects that his statements will have. He hesitates to say anything unkind about his peers, aware of the violent consequences his words may incur.

The classic image of a bad boy redeemed by music works well for Evil. His sullen stories are tied together with an inner consistency and given depth through layers of cryptic beats and gritty rhymes. He's hungry for change; grounded in the production of Stu Ray he's experimenting with crossing genres and mixing media. I met Evil on an auspicious spring day in East Vancouver to discuss his new projects, his dark places and his contemporaries.

HipHopCanada: You know, Evil, you don't really look so badass. What's with the somber image?

Evil: That's just who I am when I do this kind of music that I make. Evil Ebenezer is a grumpy kind of guy, I'm not content. I always have this scowl all the time. I joke around a lot, I think I'm pretty funny and other people think I'm a funny nice guy but I have a lot of dark things that go on in my mind and I try to write about them. I like to step outside myself and think about what things would have been like in the olden days, I really like history. I just kind of like this dark imagery and the Gothic, haunted stuff is the kind of stuff that I dream about and that I see in my mind. I think everybody has a dark side but not a lot of people know how to express it other than in a negative way by fighting or having aggression towards women. I'm not always happy with this world so I just try to imagine living somewhere else. I think people kind of get it but if they don't I don't really care.

HipHopCanada: How's your new album The Wanderer going over?

Evil: A lot of the feedback at first was that it was weird, that people liked the old Evil. Some feedback I got was that it's not as focused: I made it in a week, the writing and recording. I just wanted something new to tour with. I like it. I'm the type of guy though that I'm already working on something new. I want to be prolific, I'm really inspired by people like Moka who put out lots of projects cause your work or product is all you really have at the end of the day.

HipHopCanada: So what other projects are you working on?

Evil: I'm working on a short film that's also going to have my music to it. It's basically a small town rap murder mystery. I'm doing that with my producer and best friend Stu Ray. It's called "Dirt Cheap," coming out this spring. It's a 20 minute film that has my music as the soundtrack and it'll probably be available online. It reflects where I'm from, a small town, and what small town people do. They're really bored and living there you feel trapped.

My next major release is going to be the ZZBRA record which is me and Moka Only. It's going to be good. I think Stu wants to do something crazy, like a film or a variety show that goes with it with crazy performances and skits. It's going to be more of a major release in Canada, don't know what label yet but we're working on it right now. It's a big-sounding record, it's got a more pop feel to it. I compare it to something like Beatnuts, 2 crazy guys doing their style over really big sounding cool beats. I'm really excited about it. It's very different than The Wanderer. I don't want to sound the same as I did on my last record. I don't want to just be a rapper, I want to be Evil, I want to be me. I want to be this weird kind of guy who does all these different things.

HipHopCanada: How have you found the Vancouver hip-hop scene?

Evil: The scene here is very divided and competitive. It's all these squirrels trying to get to one nut. There's all these camps and all these people and it's like we're all chasing the same thing, it's almost like we're just chasing our tails. There's no point in trying divide a scene so small; you think it's so big but go down to Monday Night Live and see the same people week after week. It's rappers performing for rap - hiphopcanada.com

Vancouver, B.C. - Evil's not as sinister as he seems. The pale, sunken-eyed character on the cover of his new album The Wanderer may look like something out of a Dickens novel but his brand of villainy is more mischievous than depraved.

Anyone in their late twenties probably saw Evil on TV back in the day. He had a part in CTV's twisted kid's show The Odyssey, not to mention those car dealership commercials he rapped on. Evil has since become a staple of Vancouver hip-hop; his work with the Draftdodgers earned him several awards and helped carve a niche in Vancouver's soundless scene. His work with Camobear Records and DJ Stu Ray helped pioneer the gothic hip-hop styles used by other dark personas like Snak the Ripper.

The boy who once pissed in his basketball coach's suitcase now weighs his options carefully. He wants it all: hip-hop, film, artistic self-expression that can be reflected upon by an audience. He's open, and you need only to visit his MySpace to know that he's got some demons. He's cautious too, and is sensitive to the effects that his statements will have. He hesitates to say anything unkind about his peers, aware of the violent consequences his words may incur.

The classic image of a bad boy redeemed by music works well for Evil. His sullen stories are tied together with an inner consistency and given depth through layers of cryptic beats and gritty rhymes. He's hungry for change; grounded in the production of Stu Ray he's experimenting with crossing genres and mixing media. I met Evil on an auspicious spring day in East Vancouver to discuss his new projects, his dark places and his contemporaries.

HipHopCanada: You know, Evil, you don't really look so badass. What's with the somber image?

Evil: That's just who I am when I do this kind of music that I make. Evil Ebenezer is a grumpy kind of guy, I'm not content. I always have this scowl all the time. I joke around a lot, I think I'm pretty funny and other people think I'm a funny nice guy but I have a lot of dark things that go on in my mind and I try to write about them. I like to step outside myself and think about what things would have been like in the olden days, I really like history. I just kind of like this dark imagery and the Gothic, haunted stuff is the kind of stuff that I dream about and that I see in my mind. I think everybody has a dark side but not a lot of people know how to express it other than in a negative way by fighting or having aggression towards women. I'm not always happy with this world so I just try to imagine living somewhere else. I think people kind of get it but if they don't I don't really care.

HipHopCanada: How's your new album The Wanderer going over?

Evil: A lot of the feedback at first was that it was weird, that people liked the old Evil. Some feedback I got was that it's not as focused: I made it in a week, the writing and recording. I just wanted something new to tour with. I like it. I'm the type of guy though that I'm already working on something new. I want to be prolific, I'm really inspired by people like Moka who put out lots of projects cause your work or product is all you really have at the end of the day.

HipHopCanada: So what other projects are you working on?

Evil: I'm working on a short film that's also going to have my music to it. It's basically a small town rap murder mystery. I'm doing that with my producer and best friend Stu Ray. It's called "Dirt Cheap," coming out this spring. It's a 20 minute film that has my music as the soundtrack and it'll probably be available online. It reflects where I'm from, a small town, and what small town people do. They're really bored and living there you feel trapped.

My next major release is going to be the ZZBRA record which is me and Moka Only. It's going to be good. I think Stu wants to do something crazy, like a film or a variety show that goes with it with crazy performances and skits. It's going to be more of a major release in Canada, don't know what label yet but we're working on it right now. It's a big-sounding record, it's got a more pop feel to it. I compare it to something like Beatnuts, 2 crazy guys doing their style over really big sounding cool beats. I'm really excited about it. It's very different than The Wanderer. I don't want to sound the same as I did on my last record. I don't want to just be a rapper, I want to be Evil, I want to be me. I want to be this weird kind of guy who does all these different things.

HipHopCanada: How have you found the Vancouver hip-hop scene?

Evil: The scene here is very divided and competitive. It's all these squirrels trying to get to one nut. There's all these camps and all these people and it's like we're all chasing the same thing, it's almost like we're just chasing our tails. There's no point in trying divide a scene so small; you think it's so big but go down to Monday Night Live and see the same people week after week. It's rappers performing for rap - hiphopcanada.com

Vancouver, BC is home to some outstanding hip hop. It has grown to become (in my eyes) the foremost hub in Canada for diversifying style from it’s amazing underground artists, but seems to have a problem with it’s representation, not only in Vancouver but also across the rest of this country and into the U.S. Maybe the problem lies with the constant struggle within. An abundance of artists almost working against each other to obtain the same goal, rather than helping to elevate the music by bringing the scene together. One man standing above this, trying to break that mould, is Evil Ebenezer.

With a decade in the hip hop game he’s seen the highs and lows, which comes across full force in every lyric he delivers. With two full length albums, ‘Call Me Evil’ and his most recent ‘The Wanderer’, Evil Ebenezer is on a constant path of personal growth and development while still trying to maintain close ties with the hip hop community he represents. ‘Call Me Evil’, which was released on Camobear Records, is littered with guest appearances that stretch across whatever closed cliques there might be here. An open mind and a heart that gets poured into every song delivered; he is what he raps, no question about that.

With his production crew, the Draft Dodgers, he has taken the cliche of hip hop and flipped it, delivering each album with it’s own unique feel. Proving that he knows no boundaries when it comes to what hip hop “should” sound like. In fact, he’s working on a new album titled ‘Evil Eye’ which is slotted to come out summer 2009 with a couple new producers, ensuring another new sound. Never one to be lumped into the “it just sounds like his last album” category.

It doesn’t end there. Evil Ebenezer and Spit 36 are also set to release a six song EP titled ‘Weekend at Dilly’s’ in May. Also he’s been working with Moka Only on a Draft Dodgers production titled ‘Zzbra’ which has yet to see a release date. He also has some big tours under his belt with artists like Josh Martinez, Sweatshop Union, R.A the Rugged Man and his most recent with Australia’s Bliss N Eso.

From his songs it’s apparent there is a dark side to him, but honestly who doesn’t have that? Evil Ebenezer just has found his outlet, a way of projecting his evil side in the form of music. In person he’s a really laid back, fun and interesting person to talk to, only proving you can never judge an artist solely by their work. He loves what he does and is happy with where he is now, but that will never slow him down from always trying to achieve more. You have to respect that kind of dedication.




I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to discuss a bit about his past, future and some of what lies in between.

So let’s start this off, how long have you been making music?

Ten years, but for the first four years of those ten you’re working at it, but I didn’t have a release. ‘Call Me Evil’ was the first…. Well, I did this release just called ‘The Draft Dodgers present: Evil’ and we pressed that one up ourselves in 2004. For the first couple years you’re just sort of experimenting, then after a bit it was time to come out with something.

Did that have a lot of the songs that were on ‘Call Me Evil’?

Ya and then Josh Martinez heard it and said “Cool, you want to put it out on Camobear?” So we did up a couple more songs, one with him, I did ‘HA HA HA’ and an outro. Just spiced it up a little bit. Me and Stu Ray, who always worked together hooked up with Vaughn Oliver (DJ U-Tern) and he really helped us out with our sound and cleaning it up cause he was going to engineering school.

How did you and Stu Ray meet?

High School in Chilliwack.

Ahh….A Chilliwack boy.

Ya, well I was born and raised in Vancouver and when I was about fifteen my mom and dad split up. My mom moved away to Europe and my dad was teaching Sociology at University of Fraser Valley and he was living at Cultus Lake so I moved out there. So I did the last couple years of high school out there, met Stu and spent another four or five years out there and then came back out here.

Is it you and Stu Ray that have Draft Dodgers, or what’s with that?

It’s a production crew, but I do work with them. I’m actually working on a new album and while they will still be involved I’m trying to spread out and work with some different people. I’m working with a brand new guy named Whalley Wonka, a new up and coming producer. We’ve already been making some cuts and working on an album for a summer release and it’s called ‘Evil Eye’, so that’s what I’m doing right now.

In ‘The Wanderer’ liner notes there’s mention of another release ‘Zzbra’ with you and Moka Only.

Ya, that’s a Draft Dodgers record and Stu’s the executive producer. He’s got something worked out and it’s done just waiting on release. That album’s got some big tunes on it too and I’ve been really wanting it to come out.

I also read something about ‘Weekend at Dilly’s’.

That’s me and Spit - awmusic.ca

Vancouver, BC is home to some outstanding hip hop. It has grown to become (in my eyes) the foremost hub in Canada for diversifying style from it’s amazing underground artists, but seems to have a problem with it’s representation, not only in Vancouver but also across the rest of this country and into the U.S. Maybe the problem lies with the constant struggle within. An abundance of artists almost working against each other to obtain the same goal, rather than helping to elevate the music by bringing the scene together. One man standing above this, trying to break that mould, is Evil Ebenezer.

With a decade in the hip hop game he’s seen the highs and lows, which comes across full force in every lyric he delivers. With two full length albums, ‘Call Me Evil’ and his most recent ‘The Wanderer’, Evil Ebenezer is on a constant path of personal growth and development while still trying to maintain close ties with the hip hop community he represents. ‘Call Me Evil’, which was released on Camobear Records, is littered with guest appearances that stretch across whatever closed cliques there might be here. An open mind and a heart that gets poured into every song delivered; he is what he raps, no question about that.

With his production crew, the Draft Dodgers, he has taken the cliche of hip hop and flipped it, delivering each album with it’s own unique feel. Proving that he knows no boundaries when it comes to what hip hop “should” sound like. In fact, he’s working on a new album titled ‘Evil Eye’ which is slotted to come out summer 2009 with a couple new producers, ensuring another new sound. Never one to be lumped into the “it just sounds like his last album” category.

It doesn’t end there. Evil Ebenezer and Spit 36 are also set to release a six song EP titled ‘Weekend at Dilly’s’ in May. Also he’s been working with Moka Only on a Draft Dodgers production titled ‘Zzbra’ which has yet to see a release date. He also has some big tours under his belt with artists like Josh Martinez, Sweatshop Union, R.A the Rugged Man and his most recent with Australia’s Bliss N Eso.

From his songs it’s apparent there is a dark side to him, but honestly who doesn’t have that? Evil Ebenezer just has found his outlet, a way of projecting his evil side in the form of music. In person he’s a really laid back, fun and interesting person to talk to, only proving you can never judge an artist solely by their work. He loves what he does and is happy with where he is now, but that will never slow him down from always trying to achieve more. You have to respect that kind of dedication.




I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to discuss a bit about his past, future and some of what lies in between.

So let’s start this off, how long have you been making music?

Ten years, but for the first four years of those ten you’re working at it, but I didn’t have a release. ‘Call Me Evil’ was the first…. Well, I did this release just called ‘The Draft Dodgers present: Evil’ and we pressed that one up ourselves in 2004. For the first couple years you’re just sort of experimenting, then after a bit it was time to come out with something.

Did that have a lot of the songs that were on ‘Call Me Evil’?

Ya and then Josh Martinez heard it and said “Cool, you want to put it out on Camobear?” So we did up a couple more songs, one with him, I did ‘HA HA HA’ and an outro. Just spiced it up a little bit. Me and Stu Ray, who always worked together hooked up with Vaughn Oliver (DJ U-Tern) and he really helped us out with our sound and cleaning it up cause he was going to engineering school.

How did you and Stu Ray meet?

High School in Chilliwack.

Ahh….A Chilliwack boy.

Ya, well I was born and raised in Vancouver and when I was about fifteen my mom and dad split up. My mom moved away to Europe and my dad was teaching Sociology at University of Fraser Valley and he was living at Cultus Lake so I moved out there. So I did the last couple years of high school out there, met Stu and spent another four or five years out there and then came back out here.

Is it you and Stu Ray that have Draft Dodgers, or what’s with that?

It’s a production crew, but I do work with them. I’m actually working on a new album and while they will still be involved I’m trying to spread out and work with some different people. I’m working with a brand new guy named Whalley Wonka, a new up and coming producer. We’ve already been making some cuts and working on an album for a summer release and it’s called ‘Evil Eye’, so that’s what I’m doing right now.

In ‘The Wanderer’ liner notes there’s mention of another release ‘Zzbra’ with you and Moka Only.

Ya, that’s a Draft Dodgers record and Stu’s the executive producer. He’s got something worked out and it’s done just waiting on release. That album’s got some big tunes on it too and I’ve been really wanting it to come out.

I also read something about ‘Weekend at Dilly’s’.

That’s me and Spit - awmusic.ca

“This album slams harder, in
fact, than any local rap record in
memory.” – Georgia Straight - The Georgia Straight

“This album slams harder, in
fact, than any local rap record in
memory.” – Georgia Straight - The Georgia Straight

Evil
Call Me Evil
By Claire Marie Blaustein

Frequently the Cancon rap debut either attempts to hide its Canuck roots and shoot for generic U.S. rap release, or go 180 degrees in the other direction and wear Tim Horton’s on its sleeve. Evil, Vancouver’s superstar in the making, does none of these, and for this reason, he may just be the best new voice in Canadian rap. Seriously. Evil’s got a voice that sounds like Mobb Deep, raps that manage to be smart without smacking off the over-compensating white boy, and with equally attention-worthy producers Draft Dodgers at the helm, has an album of club hits and iPod classics. “Told You So” and “Stuck Up” will be new faves the first time through, while the pre-requisite booze track “Liquor Store” showcases his story-telling snaps. This also contains a collaboration with Josh Martinez, the guitar looped guy-girl tale that you’re girlfriend loves, and you secretly listen to on repeat. Go pick this up and start the ball rolling, so we can get Evil at a show in the rest of the country. (Camobear) - Exclaim Magazine

Evil
Call Me Evil
By Claire Marie Blaustein

Frequently the Cancon rap debut either attempts to hide its Canuck roots and shoot for generic U.S. rap release, or go 180 degrees in the other direction and wear Tim Horton’s on its sleeve. Evil, Vancouver’s superstar in the making, does none of these, and for this reason, he may just be the best new voice in Canadian rap. Seriously. Evil’s got a voice that sounds like Mobb Deep, raps that manage to be smart without smacking off the over-compensating white boy, and with equally attention-worthy producers Draft Dodgers at the helm, has an album of club hits and iPod classics. “Told You So” and “Stuck Up” will be new faves the first time through, while the pre-requisite booze track “Liquor Store” showcases his story-telling snaps. This also contains a collaboration with Josh Martinez, the guitar looped guy-girl tale that you’re girlfriend loves, and you secretly listen to on repeat. Go pick this up and start the ball rolling, so we can get Evil at a show in the rest of the country. (Camobear) - Exclaim Magazine