As his motto goes, Kosha Dillz is everywhere. The New Jersey-bred, Los Angeles-based globetrotter is more nomadic than your typical roaddog MC, and his being in the mix so much has ingratiated him with fans and fellow artists of all stripes, which tends to make for the sort of unique hip-hop show you’re looking for.
Fresh off of playing Colorado, North Dakota, and Kansas—like we said, Kosh is everywhere—Dillz will be in Cambridge at the Middle East on Monday for the Greater Boston stop of his Oy Vey USA tour. That means he will be here during Passover, a holiday he likes to celebrate with fans.
“The Jews escaped the pharaoh, Moses split the Red Sea, we plagued all the haters, and came up on matzah,” he says of the occasion. “My personal plagues are that of addiction and drugs. [Those are the] things that held me back. Nowadays I use them to strengthen me in my entire life journey, speaking and performing around the world.”
Dillz continues: “We do Seders and tell the story of Passover, and eat copious amounts of gefilte fish.”
Without further ado, here are Kosha’s tips—in addition to going to check him out in Cambridge, of course—for having a fulfilling Passover season …
- Help Your Folks Around the House
This one is simple—help someone around the house. Anyone. If you don’t have folks, a friend or significant other will do.
- Call Someone You Haven’t Talked To in a While
And ask them how they are doing. Sometimes this helps us get out of a rut, instead of having numbers on the phone and never using them.
- Donate To Someone’s Crowdfunding Project
There is an amazing vibe in giving, and it is a mitzvah according to the rabbi.
- Go To the Gym
I spend lots of time thinking about what I am gonna do versus doing what I need to do, so by doing this, I actually free myself from the bondage of pre-occupation.
- Stop Complaining
Complaining never did anything. Sometimes it gets you a lower Verizon bill, but in reality, there is a difference between schmoozing it up and complaining. So just don’t do it during Passover.
- Eat Healthy
Don’t eat on emotions! You can always decide to eat better (I’m writing this while eating one last chocolate-chip scone before Passover).
- Volunteer
One of the wisest things I learned from RZA is that time is something you can get back. If time is the most valuable thing, imagine giving it to someone and not wanting it back. That is powerful. That is also volunteering your time. Try a home for old people or maybe an animal shelter.
- Be Grateful
Since Passover is eight nights and eight days, try writing down five things that you are happy with in your life. Maybe instead of going on Instagram and Snapchat in the morning. I speak from experience.
- Go To Bed Early and Wake Up Early
I punish myself so much by staying up late. I think more great things happen at night, but I also love waking up early. It is like the gym. I don’t want to do it, but when you do it, you feel amazing after. No one ever said that waking up early and refreshed after a good night sleep felt bad.
- Introduce Yourself To Someone New
I go through my day with lots of faith because I used to live addicted to drugs and alcohol and a horrible lifestyle that literally ruined my life. Bottom line: Make a new friend. The world is vast and we can’t have enough friends out there. I have forged some great relationships through random occurrences and by living the moment. Are you doing the same?
CHECK OUT THE KOSHA DILLZ PASSOVER PLAYLIST
KOSHA DILLZ W/ JUSTIN CLANCY, C WELLZ, SPARK KENT. MON 4.17. MIDDLE EAST UPSTAIRS, 472 MASS. AVE., CAMBRIDGE. 8PM/18+/$10. MIDEASTOFFERS.COM