For those not in the know, Evidence is a long-time Los Angeles underground rap mainstay. As part of Dilated Peoples (along with Rakaa Iriscience and DJ Babu), Evidence set the tone for independent hip-hop on the West Coast for nearly two decades. Now, he’s striking out on his own again with a new album, Weather Or Not, on Rhymesayers Entertainment and a new single, “10,000 Hours,” produced by none other than rap production legend DJ Premier.
The video for “10,000 Hours,” which is the third single in support of Weather Or Not — due January 26th — is shot in stark black-and-white in Ev’s native Los Angeles. The sweeping aerial shots and murky underground tableaus underline the highs and lows of LA living, paralleling the duality displayed in Evidence’s raps. As Ev breaks down the decades of struggle, hard work, and process that go into maintaining a rap career, especially when rubbing shoulders with the biggest stars the genre has to offer.
Rhymesayers would appear to be the perfect home for such a project. The indie label has a long-established record of supporting rap acts that have traditionally flown under the radar as Evidence has for the majority of his career. Weather Or Not will be Evidence’s third solo LP and his second after Cats & Dogs in 2011, a spiritual successor of sorts to his 2007 debut, The Weatherman LP.
