Here’s why Ez Mil’s rap song ‘Panalo’ samples Cariñosa folk dance music

Filipino rapper Ez Mil took the internet by storm last week during a live performance of his song “Panalo.”

“Grabe lang po. Parang kung kailan lang nire-record ko lang po. (It’s overwhelming. It feels just like yesterday when I was recording),” Ez Mil said on “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” on Sunday.

Ez Mil’s rap song, which features lines in English, Filipino, and Ilocano, also samples music used in the Cariñosa folk dance.

According to the rapper, he told his mother that he wanted to add a music sample to his song.

“Biglang nagkaroon siya ng ideya na parang gamitin yung mga folk song ng Pilipinas. Pinaka una ngang pinili niya ‘yung ‘Tinikling’ pa eh (She suggested the idea of using a folk song from the Philippines. The first one she chose was the Tinikling),” said Ez Mil.

Ez Mil, however, decided to go with the Cariñosa, saying it was the folk dance he had to learn back in high school.

Ez said he still remembered his teacher in high school who complimented him in front of his classmates for his dancing and told the class to do as he did.

According to Ez Mil, he considers his Pinoy pride the power behind his songs. Growing up in Olongapo City, he even used the zip code 2200 in his lyrics.

“’Yung pagiging proud na Pinoy ako, ’yung kahit na kung nasaan man ako sasabihin ko Pinoy ako’ (I take pride in being Pinoy).”

He said the anger behind the rap song came from his dream to unify the Filipino people.

“Sa totoo lang po, ’yung parang pinaka gusto kong ilagay doon (To be honest, what I really want to put there) is I just wanna put Philippines on the map [in the] international music scene. Ihatid lang ’yung mensahe kung panalo ako, panalo tayong lahat (Just to bring the message that if I win, we all win).”

Humble beginnings

Ez Mil, also known as Ezekiel Miller, grew up in Urdaneta and Olongapo. He played on the streets and fell in love with skateboarding. He shared that at some point in his childhood, he was teased because of how he looked.

Both of Ez’s parents were musicians. His dad, Paul Sapiera, was the lead singer of the Filipino band RockStar Arkasia.

Ez Mil said that after listening to “Panalo,” his dad told him, “This is the time. It’ll only get bigger. So get ready.”

The rapper said he took up an architecture course in the Philippines but he didn’t finish it. He later moved to the United States to enter the Air Force. However, he also did not push through with it and that was when he decided to go back to his musical roots.

Now, Ez said his plan is to break the global music scene through his type of music
Ez gave his apology after he received backlash over his inaccurate depiction of history when he sang, “Pinugutan si Lapu sa Mactan (Lapulapu was beheaded in Mactan).”

“I’m sorry to anybody who was offended with the fact that me being putting inaccurate sources in our history as Filipinos,” he said.

Ez also took the time to thank everyone who supported him.

“Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng sumusuporta and sa lahat, sa kahit na ano mang likha ko, o obra ko na ilalabas ko sa future is I hope na y'all will take a listen and support. Nami-miss ko na Pinas. Mas lalo na ‘yung hometown ko sa Olongapo (Thank you so much to everyone for your support. Whatever piece I create in the future, I hope you all will take a listen and support. I miss the Philippines, especially my hometown in Olongapo),” he said.

As of writing, the “Panalo” performance video has over 24.5 million views. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News