Filipino American rapper and singer Ez Mil is taking his high-energy, genre-blending sound north of the border as he gears up for his first-ever concert tour across Canada next month, marking a new milestone in his fast-rising international career.
Born Ezekiel Miller Sapiera in Olongapo City, Philippines, Ez Mil grew up in a deeply musical household; his father fronted the Filipino rock band Rockstar, and that early exposure helped shape his boundary-pushing approach to hip-hop. Before breaking through as a rapper, he performed death metal in the Philippines and taught himself multiple instruments, including guitar and drums, a versatility that still shows in his studio work and live sets.
Ez Mil is best known for “Panalo (Trap Cariñosa),” the viral track and performance that lit up social media after his appearance on the Wish USA bus around 2020–2021. The song, which weaves English, Tagalog, and Ilocano lyrics with traditional Filipino rhythms and references to folk dance, quickly became an anthem of pride for many in the Filipino diaspora, celebrated for its unapologetic celebration of identity and resilience. His ability to move between languages and styles has made him a distinctive voice among a new generation of global hip-hop artists.
That momentum eventually brought him onto the radar of hip-hop royalty.
In 2023, Ez Mil made history as the first Filipino artist signed to a joint deal with Eminem’s Shady Records, Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, following attention around his track “Up Down.” The collaboration led to an expanded release of his project “DU4LI7Y: REDUX,” featuring “Realest,” a heavy-hitting track that pairs his rapid-fire delivery with a guest verse from Eminem. The deal cemented Ez Mil’s status as a breakthrough artist capable of bridging underground grit with mainstream appeal.
His upcoming Canada tour will bring that catalog (from early independent releases to his major-label work) to new audiences across key cities.
For Filipino communities in Canada, the shows offer a rare chance to see a homegrown artist who mirrors their own hybrid identities: rooted in Philippine culture, fluent in global sounds, and unafraid to tell complex stories about migration, belonging, and struggle. Live, Ez Mil is known for performances that fuse rap, rock, and dance, often inviting fans to chant along to hooks that have become staples in Filipino diaspora playlists.
Ez Mil’s growing profile has also been recognized by community organizations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he received a TOFA (The Outstanding Filipinos in America) award at a socially distanced ceremony in New York, where he performed his viral hit “Panalo” on the storied stage of Carnegie Hall — a moment that symbolically linked his digital breakout to one of the world’s most iconic live venues.
