Who is rapper EZ Mil and why is he tearing the internet apart?

You may have probably encountered the name EZ Mil while scrolling through your social media over the past couple of days. Yep, he’s the guy who has been tearing the internet apart for his rather controversial song “Panalo” (Trip Cariñosa). 

Netizens have been praising the lyrics of up-and-coming rapper EZ Mil’s “Panalo” which many deemed patriotic for incorporating Filipino languages. While we can all agree his pride in his Filipino heritage is evident in some of the lyrics in his song, some can’t help but notice how problematic most of them are. 

For one, he claimed Magellan beheaded Lapu-Lapu in his song. Well, in his defense, he twisted the truth to get people talking about it. Effective? Yes. Justifiable? Definitely not. 

“That’s me putting an exaggerated term in a ploy to drive traffic and talk. It’s inaccurate but he still died. He’s dead right now. It’s not overall factual in a way but still like … the thing that is factual is that whenever he did die, people were still saddened,” he said in a video uploaded by fellow rapper PJ Segovia (HBOM) on YouTube. 

Admitting he did twist historical facts in his song, he added: “That’s just me twisting how things were. And I’m sorry to anybody who was offended with the fact that me putting inaccurate sources in our history as Filipinos.” 

Many people have also called him out and started to label him DDS (Diehard Duterte Supporter) for allegedly pushing toxic positivity. But Ez Mil once again defended himself and said that while he is open to discussing problems in society, his song “Panalo” might not be the perfect avenue for it. 

“I discuss problems. That’s just to being on a positive note sometimes. We don’t have to always discuss problems, bro. ‘Wag nang pag-usapan ang negatibo.’ That means let’s not discuss the problems just for the time being. Let’s just have a good time, right now, in the song. But, of course, I’m gonna talk about problems,” he said. 

But does EZ Mil have plans to change the lyrics in his song? Well, apparently not. 

“I do not intend to have a corrected version of the song because I feel like that will ruin the integrity of the recording,” he said during a virtual press conference. “It blew up because it made people talk and I will let it stay that way.” 

EZ Mil’s Wish Bus USA performance of “Panalo” has already amassed more than 22 million views as of writing. 

Watch his Wish Bus performance of “Panalo” below: 

WHO IS EZ MIL? 

A native of Olongapo City and Pangasinan, EZ Mil was born on July 27th, 1998. While he grew up in the Philippines, he spent the last four years in the US. Right now, he is based in Nevada, USA. 

EZ Mil (who also goes by the name Ezekiel Miller in some of his social media pages) is no stranger to the music scene as his father used to be a part of the 90s band called RockStar.

According to his profile on music company Bandcamp, EZ Mil considers Chris Brown and Eminem as some of his musical influences in the international music scene. Meanwhile, he draws inspiration from local rap icon Gloc-9 for his songwriting techniques. Apparently, he also loves to play both the guitar and the piano. 

While many people have been comparing him to rap legends Francis Magalona and Gloc-9, EZ Mil said in a recent virtual press conference that he wants to stay in his own lane. 

He stated: “Sa tingin ko po it’s an honor, it’s awesome to be put with people with such heavy names who made their own impact but ultimately I want to be in my own lane because I have something different!”

“It’s great to breathe the same air in their hemisphere of greatness. But I want to be me! I will continue to forge my way through my music,” he added. 

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