Review: "Pilot Boy" EP by Ezza CG
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Get acquainted with “Pilot Boy”, a 14-minute project from Niagara, Ontario rapper Ezza CG, produced by ALXS. With some fire emoji guest features all the way from Vancouver and Calgary, we were excited to dig into this emerging artist on the other side of the border.
The 4-track 2020 EP starts off with “Nice Guy Ezzie”, delivering a deadpan, I-don’t-give-a-f**k drawl that tells us, “Nice guy ezzie, I just ate all your spaghetti when I drop into your party like I’m made out of confetti”. An industrial sounding beat almost sounds like banging on pipes and gives a futuristic vibes akin to TNGHT.
The lyrics are catchy enough to be featured on the radio waves, but there’s an off-beat element of darkness that carves out a distinct niche for Ezza is the hip-hop sphere.
We have to shout him out for not leaning on the Autotune - it takes a kind of vulnerability, and that fearlessness is part of what makes Ezza’s carefree, no*fucks vibe work well. The vocals have a deep and robust quality that’s made for trap and fills out the beat nicely.
Ezza of Choom Gang slows it down with the wavy “O.J.” featuring Dxrrell Mxller. Infused with some digestible pop banknotes and an inspirational, echoing sound, “I used to try to escape, but now I just embrace,” the track ruminates, but in fact, “O.J” sounds like an escape itself - one that we’re down to embrace.
Crystal clear production by ALXS and perfectly balanced, bassy ad-libs tie the whole project together.
The EP ends with ”O.G”, another slowed down ride that feels like a late afternoon daydream doused in codeine. Featuring Freelance Flint, this might be our favorite track on the EP and gives us a true peek into Ezzie’s musical identity.
He goes off with a relentless flow and sharp-edged lyrics made for the traphouse. A haunting guitar backline is at home between high hats before the chorus comes in with flames, growling at the listener, “I’m a f*cking O.G, so bet money on me.” After this clincher, we have a feeling we just might.