Kosha Dillz performs at Oy Vey! Showcase on March 15, 2025 at SXSW. Credit: Wendy Goodman 

By Wendy Goodman 

Curated by indie rap veteran Kosha Dillz, the Oy Vey! Showcase returned to SXSW 2025 for its eighth year, where Jewish identity and cross-cultural music share the same stage. 
 
Held at The Parish on a Saturday night, the event was equal parts celebration and cultural statement. With a lineup that ranged from country-rock and hip-hop to jazz and soul sounds, the night brought together artists who reflected a variety of genres. 
 
Kosha Dillz, the showcase’s founder and host, has long been a bridge between worlds. Rami Even-Esh (Kosha Dillz), the New Jersey-raised rapper, has built a career rapping in English, Hebrew, Yiddish and Spanish performing everywhere from street corners to festival stages. His presence at SXSW is a ritual, and Oy Vey! is where his vision really shines. “It’s important to be here and represent Jewish music as well as focus on the diversity of bands,” Kosha Dillz said. 
 

From the soulful jazz sounds of KELS to beatboxer Ben Buck, the showcase felt more like a musical family reunion than a typical festival night. Kosha Dillz himself took the mic mid-show for an energetic set full of meaningful and skillful rhymes, crowd shout-outs, and entertaining messages that landed somewhere between stand-up and sermon.  
 

Fragile Rock band perform Oy Vey! Showcase on March 15, 2025 at SXSW. Credit: Wendy Goodman

The night was also about reclaiming cultural space. In a time when antisemitism is spiking, Oy Vey! offered entertainment, joy, culture and community. The artists didn’t perform as symbols. They performed as themselves. 
 
There was also a palpable sense of l’dor v’dor (generation to generation). Younger performers shared the stage with veterans like Statik Selektah and Termanology, blending old-school credibility with next-generation artists. 
 
In the end, Oy Vey! wasn’t just a Jewish showcase. It was an opportunity to bring people together for a joyful, cultural, and entertaining experience. And at SXSW, a place built on diverse voices, Kosha Dillz once again made space for it.