The Studio Interview with Evidence

“Been a lot of places when I stare at the map,” Evidence rhymes on a song from his latest album ‘Weather or Not,’ “But never been to therapy-for me, that's rap.”
During a recent visit to MASS APPEAL HQ, the esteemed L.A. rapper and producer stopped by the studio for some real talk. "I think it’s therapeutic to rap," states Evidence, who recorded a very personal song after his mom passed away. “That song is what made me go solo,” he says of the track that was initially recorded for the last Dilated Peoples album in 2006. “It just felt weird putting it on there…. This song was out of place.”
Twelve years later Evidence has released another raw emotional track. “Now the mother of my son is fighting cancer,” he says. “If I just shut up all the way, I feel like I’m living a lie.”
When he started writing “By My Side Too” he wrote the first line-“My lady losing her hair.” When he told a friend about it, his friend said “Don’t write that, you’re gonna bum me out.”
Fortunately, he ignored that advice. "I just kept revisiting it, probably because I’m going to treatment with her every day.” The feedback has been powerful. “There’s a bigger reward for wearing your heart on your sleeve, than it is for keeping it covered up," Evidence says. "The payoff is way bigger than ‘I like how your syllables lock up!’”
The wide-ranging conversation touches on Evidence's come-up, starting with memories of living next to producer QD3 in Venice, California. “My introduction was through a producer’s eye," he recalls. "I got to see a record through.” Before long he started making his own beats because he got “a little bit frustrated calling other people for beats.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Evidence touches on the inspiration behind his "Weather Man" persona, and why he'll be abandoning that approach on his next album.
“I wanna be known as more of like a RZA or El-P or Kanye-someone who’s just automatically known as a double threat, someone who can make beats and can rap, who can do it all.” With that in mind, he's drawing inspiration from the classics. “I loved Mobb Deep’s second album,” he says. “Havoc did most of it. He shaped the sound of that record. That’s what I wanna try to do is find my own sound, not just do well on Premier’s sound, do well on Alchemist sound.”
One thing he's not about to do is chase current rap trends. “There’s a formula to make a record," Evidence observes. "It’s very known. It’s very easy to do. It’s pop music. If I liked that type of stuff I’d probably be a bigger artist. It’s just not fulfilling to me, so here I am.”
Check out Evidence's Studio Interview right now.
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What started as a humble graffiti ‘zine in 1996 would soon grow to be one of the most trusted outlets for youth-spawned urban culture. Today, Mass Appeal is a media collective led by authentic voices and inspired minds. We are a platform for radical creatives who are transforming culture.

[@ayospvceman]

Dude is mad humble. You can hear it in his voice and his mannerisms. Such a dope artist man.

[@f5eR]

He sure is, my friend and I bumped into him in venice beach. He heard us say his name and he turned around walked up to us and shook our hand with a smile. One of my top 5 favorite until this day.

[@mixedbybrayz]

Such a great artist and very sympathetic guy!

[@caharthorn]

"By my side too" is one of the most powerful records I've heard in a really long time.

[@sp1200fanatic]

my favorite artist right here!! always so inspired by this guy, now get him on rhythm roulette!

[@papaproduction]

This guy is single handedly bringing back the real hip hop this year

[@oktaperdana9414]

Dilated is one of the first underground artist that I knew back in the day from skateboarding video. Peace to Babu, Rakaa and Evidence

[@GabREAL1983]

that's real

[@JamieRobert_]

Please Do an evidence rhythm roulette

[@zare618]

YES!

[@kurtfromMichigan]

please

[@fvckwhatyouthink2907]

This cat is humble and a straight savage on the mic and boards seriously one of a kind......

[@Woopo83]

EV! Don’t sleep on the Layover ep, this was perfect too.

[@supermcfly100]

Woopo83 all his solo shit is perfect. Don't forget I Don't Need Love

[@gilone1984]

Woopo83 don’t forget the I don’t need love ep. that whole album is samples off the Beatles. Shit is fire 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Woopo83]

True, this is dope too, i hope it will be released physically one day. « Because » is such an amazing song to open an album.

[@Addie2103]

Shit got me tearing up, EV is such a treasure to music! W or N is an amazing album!

[@hubcityallday5319]

Super underrated artist and producer

[@GoodxJ]

I see him get mad respect from around the world, for those that know, they know!!!!

[@HIGHTS]

hahaha that last rhyme "Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beatlejuice!"

[@zislec]

I was waiting for this 😌👍 Best wishes to his child.

[@SincereNokwaree]

Respect! this is hip hop!

[@datgurlmisha]

Sincere Nokwaree gn

[@JokerMansBeats]

Dope interview...Chase the Clouds Away is one of my many favorite tracks from Evidence

[@gilone1984]

#JMB JokerMansBeats a moment in time is dope as fuck!!!!

[@massappeal]

Shout out to our guy Evidence for coming to the studio. Who else do you guys want to see us interview next?

[@3amAlexander]

Mass Appeal lord chenheu

[@emmanuelmorales98]

9th Wonder

[@l00pdigga42]

Madlib

[@l00pdigga42]

Yasiin Bey

[@01solt3k]

Exile and more OHNO

[@McFlecmatic]

Very Inspiring There is a recipe but if you go by it , the meal wont taste good in your eyes. Just like cooking it'll come from your soul - Big Up Evidence

[@keithrenaud6199]

Thanks mass appeal for giving us a break from previous empty interviews.

[@swasko]

I watched that original Kindness-for-Weakness production video more then i can remember.... One the best doube threats ever! This interview and his growth makes me respect him even more.

[@EMONEE18]

Had the pleasure of meeting him last year...such a great guy and been a fan since '05.

[@mbPhase23]

Love the album. Love that he released it on KZbin for everyone to hear for free. I bought it anyway. Still bumping the cds hahaha....Much respect to Evidence.

[@jesusgalvez6127]

Yeah I remember that. He put it up on youtube a day before the release date. I got the digital one and the cd. Definitely one of the illest LA M.Cs. His music is definitely timeless. I never get tired of listening to it especially Weather or not.

[@mbPhase23]

@@jesusgalvez6127 Agreed man. Evidence is a don.

[@BoombapArt]

Awesome interview with a great artist and producer!

[@carlDJS]

Has barely aged all these years later. One of my fav rappers without a doubt

[@James.k1373]

To think the guy is actually older than 40

[@nk-salinger]

Real legend, love from Russia

[@phunky_feel_one4224]

dudes real. skills reign supreme

[@EuphoricCritiques]

who tf would dislike this?

[@mylesteller]

right lol

[@shotbyfabi]

The same people that would steal your lunch from the fridge at work. The lowest of the low in society.

[@th0mez]

One of the most genuine people do to it! man wears his heart on his sleeve! Stay up EV

[@venom2k2]

One of the most underrated

[@danizm78]

big up Evidence, what a real dude thanks for sharing your pain. In a world full of fake ass people it's inspiring to see genuine peeps who are dope at what they do.

[@oodeetee9453]

Ev is a legend, nice interview!

[@enriqueangulo5277]

That's why I listen EV cause you never change the things you do and you bring us with you on your life journey blessings from CA

[@GoodxJ]

Thank you for this! Weather or Not is really really dope!!! peace I'm off to the studio to record my "Beetlejuice" hit!!! thanks Ev!

[@openyourlies]

We love you EV. Keep shining.

[@dylanfurst6720]

So much respect

[@superbighungry]

EV is one of the dopest ever. First time seeing him live was insane.

[@rhytmicparadox]

Ev is one of the dopest ever. especially now.

[@bmitch555]

Awesome, Evs always been inspiring!

[@AntoineMalveaux]

Sending positive energy to Ev and his family, salute.

[@Jaeflame94]

One of my favorite artist…

[@xavierizaguirre312]

Dope interview Weatherman you Daman💯

[@Left_coast_bullies]

Dope interview very inspiring and shows you works pays off and you can keep going.

[@ProducerSikste]

ONE OF THE BEST DO EVER DO IT!!!!

[@Nubian_Traveller]

One of the most humble people I ever met

[@FacedAmillion]

Thank you Evidence.

[@blitz3727]

Much respect to the GOAT

[@ChocolateDon929]

Best album out rite now that dropped this yr

[@adamrodriguez4240]

I seen evidence live in my hometown of Fresno CA during his weatherman tour. Him and fashawn, Fresno native. Before ev went into "Mr slow flow" he said "you can take the best painters, people who create beautiful images like nothing, and tell them to draw a perfect circle" I took that as him explaining his style. Shit was deep.

[@SuperJhumps]

Love to evidence. So inspired by him all the time, what a top guy

[@braydenglenn9907]

Amazing ❤️✊🏿

[@FranklinFreshman]

i feel for you fam, its been tough but you strong Ev

[@retrob9346]

Very coo video keep up the great work man

[@KudosCultureCartel]

love this guy

[@DanielIvan707]

Love EV! most underrated from California

[@a.f.9916]

One of the best rapper alive!

[@j.w.9122]

7:30 "...Somebody take that." guarantee you Mr. Slo Flow just gave some young kid a hit record with the beetlejuice bars lol.

[@triborogigolo]

Dope album and such an underrated artist . this is real hip hop in the flesh kids.

[@cresplove]

The Champ is back !! :)

[@dreadreams9357]

Great video 👏^_^

[@illdrumatik391]

Orange beanie, orange hat lol For those that don't know EV lost a bet and had to wear them.

[@CarlosHernandez-rl2wg]

Music you can always trust! CA ALL DAY!

[@diegohoyos]

The good for evidence. greetings from Bogota subversive colombia records. Peace

[@ThisisTwizzy]

Legend

[@Jimer93]

Evidence is dope straight west 🔥

[@Carlos77589]

Evidence is a legend man

[@igrproducer]

You the man

[@_lukaszbugajski]

Inspirational

[@theillustratxr]

Dope producer/rapper

[@MattMiller510]

Much love to ev and dilated

[@raymondf2570]

"I think it's therapeutic to rap..." Yes sir.

[@captapraelium1591]

Do yourself a favour and see this cat live.

[@beatsbyevolute9781]

Please do a 1h long interview with him...

[@stevechavez7761]

Ev is really good dude man... would love to smoke and pick his brain. As usual, Mass Appeal always comes thru, props.

[@dannyrodriguez9981]

Best hip hop artist ever

[@_Mafio76]

best weather man ever frfr...

[@Sauhuaa]

Humble.

[@weedallweek]

That kanye story was something, i didnt know he helped produce last call but it makes sense

[@prodbyteyo6720]

salute evidence!!

[@takaratheone2409]

Nice Bro !

[@smokeywonder5166]

Realness!

[@ThePlanet_L.I.]

👍🏾💯

[@Explicit626Beats]

Fuckn great interview!

[@tohuxtable]

My dude!

[@01solt3k]

Underground legend..

[@blvkopvl5979]

Real talk

[@nomoreflys]

💯🔥✊🏽

[@adamcrafts3645]

❤

[@letteringtypes]

👌👌👌

[@speakproper]

Salute

[@xdeepfryx]

E V I D E N C E !!

[@ricosmith5716]

I want to see a interview with Tha Alkaholiks

[@beatzandwheels]

I love this fucking guy!

[@Domar95]

This dude used to come into my work Homie af

[@MatheDeath]

That Throw It All away sample looping on the beginning distracted me

[@realog868]

*The Poet.*

[@RAPOLOGIST]

Hahaha won't lie he kinda had me at the end 😂😂😂

[@israelshmueli7203]

Evidence Gangsta Rap

[@anthonyikedakolar9375]

I understand about forgetting your moms voice. Hard times

[@MichaelCobbs]

Great interview. Hopefully he does find his own sound in Hip-Hop. Buy "Weather or Not" Now : rse.lnk.to/WeatherOrNot

[@MIC-HEXED]

2 MEX AWOL ONE B-REAL SICK JACKEN

[@Juandx9]

Real fucking rapper