Esham

Biography

Esham Attica Smith (born September 20, 1973), known mononymously as Esham, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Emerging as one of the first ever hip hop artists from Detroit, Esham released his debut studio album, Boomin' Words from Hell×Boomin' Words From Hell8 June 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Esham’s Boomin4:122My 9 Rhymes1:3834 All the Suicidalist4:004Dream Girl2:085Devil’s Groove3:086Knockin Em Dead2:597Red Rum4:088Kissing Bandit3:349Some Old Wicket Shit!!!3:0010Cross My Heart3:1411Amen Another Sin1:4912Pussy Ain’t Got No Face3:3513Word After Word3:4614Devils in the Soup4:3715Telling It How It Is2:2516Don’t Trip3:1017Watch ’cha Back2:28, in 1989 at the age of 16. Since then, he has gone on to release 21 full-length studio albums in total and is best known as a representative of the hip hop subgenre horrorcore. In 1992, he co-founded the horrorcore group Natas. He and his brother James Smith founded and ran the Detroit hip hop label Reel Life Productions.
As one of the first rappers to receive attention in the city, Esham was often cited as a major influence on another Detroit horrorcore act, Insane Clown Posse. Esham is known for incorporating elements of rock music in his beats, and his lyrics cover a number of subjects, including death, drug use, evil, paranoia and sex. Esham refers to his style of music as "acid rap".

Early career

Born Esham Attica Smith on September 20, 1973, in Long Island, New York, Esham primarily grew up in the Seven Mile neighborhood on the East side of Detroit, Michigan, where he lived with his mother. He attended Osborn High School, and lived with his grandmother in New York during summers. He studied piano, guitar, and trombone in high school, and listened to artists such as The Sugarhill Gang, Run-DMC, Ozzy Osbourne and Kiss. Esham began to write original lyrics, and was encouraged by his older brother, James H. Smith, to seriously pursue a career in hip hop. According to Esham, "He felt like I had a dope flow, and he thought I could bring something new to the game, just coming from the city of Detroit. Back then, it wasn't really a [rap] music scene in Detroit. Everybody was just imitating what everybody else was doing." In the second grade, Esham met Champtown, who was also an aspiring rapper. The two performed together at open mic events Seafood Bay. In one occurrence, Champtown and Esham were forced to rap for a drug dealer at gunpoint.
At the age of 16, Smith released his debut album, Boomin' Words from Hell×Boomin' Words From Hell8 June 1988 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Esham’s Boomin4:122My 9 Rhymes1:3834 All the Suicidalist4:004Dream Girl2:085Devil’s Groove3:086Knockin Em Dead2:597Red Rum4:088Kissing Bandit3:349Some Old Wicket Shit!!!3:0010Cross My Heart3:1411Amen Another Sin1:4912Pussy Ain’t Got No Face3:3513Word After Word3:4614Devils in the Soup4:3715Telling It How It Is2:2516Don’t Trip3:1017Watch ’cha Back2:28, in 1989. Of the album, Smith stated, "It was the crack era, [...] and that's where all that really came from. It was all an expression about ['70s-'80s drug cartel] Young Boys Incorporated, Mayor Coleman Young, the city we lived in and just the turmoil that our city was going through at the time. We referred to the streets of Detroit as 'Hell' on that record. So that's where my ideas came from." In 1990, Esham and James H. Smith founded the independent record label Reel Life Productions, which reissued his debut album with an alternate track listing and artwork. Esham found it difficult to develop a fanbase, because many wrote off the dark content of his lyrics and imagery as shock value, while hip hop fans did not connect to Esham's albums because of his heavy metal influences.
In 1991, Esham met Joseph Bruce, a member of the group Inner City Posse, who praised Esham and Reel Life Productions, and gave Esham a copy of the group's EP Dog Beats, beginning the two rappers' friendship and professional relationship.
After releasing two EPs, Erotic Poetry and Homey Don't Play, Esham completed the double album Judgement Day×Judgement Day18 September 2008 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 30 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Nine Dead Bodies2:152Boogieman (intro)1:593How Do I Plead to Homicide3:544I’d Rather Be Dead2:505Momma Was a Junkie4:066Once U Go Back4:307Makin More Music3:158Hit and Run2:519Thinking to Myself2:2810Fallen Angel3:1911I Met This Girlie3:1312Acid3:3013Devilish Mood2:2714My Last Words3:1215Losing My Religion1:55Disc 21Judgement Day3:302Living in Incest3:383Play Dead2:43413 Ways3:275Finger in the Cake MIX4:136The Devil Gets Funky3:397Crib Death2:078Dead by Day2:009Wake the Dead3:5810Dumb Bitch1:3211U Wanna Know Something1:1812Hoe Role3:4113Dyin to Be Down3:2414Sell Me Yo Soul3:5415We Gots Some Nonbelievers2:19, and its two volumes, Day and Night were released separately on April 9, 1992. In All Music Guide to Hip-Hop, Jason Birchmeier wrote that Judgement Day, Vol. 1 "may not be his most well-crafted work, but it certainly stands as his most inspired work of the '90s", while Vol. 2 "isn't quite as strong as the first volume, suffering mostly from a number of weak tracks [...] the first volume doesn't rely quite so much on cheap shock, instead focusing on evocative horror motifs, making Judgement Day, Vol. 2 the less important of the two."

KKKill the Fetus, Closed Casket and Dead Flowerz

As a student at Osborn High School, Esham met Mastamind, who gave him a three-song demo tape of his music, leading the two to form the group Natas with Esham's longtime friend, TNT. In 1992, Esham appeared on Carnival of Carnage, the debut album of Insane Clown Posse, released on October 18. He produced three tracks and rapped on the album's final track. In November, Natas released their debut album, Life After Death. Following the release of this album, Esham, Natas and Reel Life Productions were the subject of much controversy when a 17-year-old fan killed himself while smoking cannabis and playing Russian roulette while listening to Life After Death. In 1993, Esham released his third solo album, KKKill the Fetus×KKKill the Fetus16 June 1993 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1What Is Evil2:172Symptoms of Insanity3:133Runnin’ From Me!1:434Voices in My Head3:075No Singing / Misery3:266Jackie2:387Game of Death4:178Headache / Wet Day Dreamer2:319Hot Booty2:5910I Thought You Knew3:2311If This Ain’t Hell4:0012My Understanding Is Zero1:2513Perpetration2:5614Freak Nasty3:2015Headhunter3:3516Kkkill the Fetus4:4717Don't Blame Me!3:2418You Still Hoe’n2:3919Sunshine3:3420My Mind’s Blowin’ Up!3:3821Get on Down3:13226663:3323Hellter Skkkelter3:46. Jason Birchmeier wrote that "At this point in his career, his rapping has already reached near-peak levels, and his production shows a continued path towards an inventiveness. [...] Never again would Esham be so gritty."
On November 22, 1994, Esham released his fourth studio album, Closed Casket×Closed Casket22 November 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1The Eulogy1:122The Wicketshit Will Never Die3:293My Homie Got Shot2:054Mental Stress4:325Can't Take It Wit Cha3:596Brainwashed2:467Drive U2 Suicide2:158Chatty Ass Nigga2:509Slug From a .452:4910Was It Sum'n I Said0:4911Flatline3:0412I Don't Owe U Shit3:4513Therapy3:2814Make Me Wanna Holla5:1015Would You Die 4 Me3:02162 Dollahoe1:531724-74:4618Diggin on Da D-L3:2919Premature Ejaculation4:4320I'll Be Glad When You Dead2:5121Closed Casket3:41. Jason Birchmeier wrote that "most fans taking a chronological approach to his catalog should be fairly numb to Esham's exploitative shock attempts. Yet if this is one of your first experiences with Esham the Unholy, this album should pack a punch with its dark nature." In May 1996, Esham released his fifth studio album, Dead Flowerz×Dead Flowerz24 April 1996 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks1Intro0:102What2:353You Betta Ask Somebody3:224Tony Montana1:495Kill or Be Killed3:476What Did I Do Wrong3:357Foodstamp3:158Any Style You Want3:499Killagram3:1810One Day4:2811Fried Chicken2:3212Because3:5513Black Orchid4:3914Shot of Dat Ass0:0415Trick Wit Me3:4416If I Can't Have U2:3017Hold U Up3:0218U Ain't Shit2:2219I Might Be Yo Daddy...0:1020Charlie Manson2:4121Silicone3:5722Wit Yo Punk Azz2:0523Where All My Nigz At2:50. It peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Gothom Records (1997–2001)

In June 1997, Esham rebranded Reel Life Productions as Gothom Records, and released the album Bruce Wayne: Gothom City 1987×Bruce Wayne: Gothom City 1987June 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Comerica2:442You Still Ain't Shit to Me2:1837 Mile Rd.2:414Lowlafalana3:555Change Ya Mind4:016You and Me4:597Gimme Ya Love4:118Who Is Bruce Wayne3:37919873:2110You Betta Ask Somebody4:5311Where My B At3:0412Fuck da Fame3:3813Seems Like Yesterday5:3914[untitled]4:0515[untitled]1:5516Detective2:5117Nervous2:0918[untitled]2:4519[untitled]3:5120Gothom City4:09, which charted at number 57 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Esham later signed a distribution deal with Overcore, a subsidiary of Overture Music, which later became distributed by TVT Records. In June 2001, Gothom released Kool Keith's Spankmaster album, which featured several contributions by Esham, as well as Smith's eighth album, Tongues×Tongues2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1Walkin On Da Flatline2:502Slippin Out Amerika2:063The D.1:164I'm Dead2:245Panic Attack2:496Chemical Imbalance1:437God2:268Detroit 1012:209Poetry2:5510Everyone4:1311Crash & Burn3:1612Mr. Negativity2:4313Pill Me (Feel My Prescription)3:2414Brain Surgery3:0015Devilshit2:2416All Night Everyday4:5517I Know3:3318So Selfish3:5419Envy The Sunshine4:0420Love3:1721Gloczup2:4522Intro (Hallucinagenics)2:2823Skydive3:1524Fuck A Lover3:45, which peaked at number seven on the Top Independent Albums chart, number 46 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 195 on the Billboard 200. In August 2001, Esham and D12 were kicked off the Warped Tour after members of the group allegedly physically attacked Smith over the lyrics of his song "Chemical Imbalance", which contained a reference to the daughter of D12 member Eminem, who was not present during the tour.

Psychopathic Records (2002–2005)

In 2002, Esham signed with Psychopathic Records, releasing the compilation Acid Rain×Acid Rain2003 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks1Intro0:422Narration 11:033Red Rum2:314Some Ol' Wicked Shit!!!2:165Out Ya Mind3:1169 Dead Bodies1:277Play Dead1:518Finger in the Cake Mix1:309Boogie Man1:3710Dying to Be Down0:5911Narration 20:5112Sunshine1:0313No Singing at My Funeral1:4914No Fault Insurance2:1215Mental Stress1:2516Would You Die for Me?2:0317The Wicked Shit Will Never Die1:1518Narration 30:5519Silicone1:1720Comerica2:0821Lola Falana1:4522Nervous1:5623Panic Attack1:4424Everyone2:5425Migraine Headache2:5726La La La3:1427How Do I Plead to Homicde?3:0728P-P-P-Pow4:2729Redemption4:40. It was announced that Esham would be moving away from the horror themes of his previous efforts. On November 18, 2003, Esham released his ninth studio album, Repentance×Repentance18 November 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Bang3:192Can’t Take That2:493Woo Woo Woo Woo3:274Pay3:555No More Dyin’2:566Soopa Doopa2:057Back in da Day4:098Mommy2:219Hard Times3:1010Ex-Girlfriend2:5611Look at Me2:3912Brick3:0013Get Doe1:5914Boom!3:2615Detroit2:5016Boss Up3:2517Out Cold2:3518Dem Boyz3:3819No War3:1920All of My Life3:33. It peaked at No. 9 on the Top Heatseekers chart, No. 10 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and No. 71 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Jason Birchmeier wrote that "Repentance is a small step forward for Esham. He seems very confident here, comfortable with himself as an artist [...] when he pulls everything together [...] he makes some of the best music of his long, fruitful, yet largely unacknowledged career."
In 2005 Esham joined forces with Insane Clown Posse and Lavel to release the Soopa Villainz album Furious.
His follow-up album on Psychopathic A-1 Yola×A-1 Yola19 April 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Since Day One3:072Turbulence3:383Bolivia2:594Bird After Bird3:405Justa Hulstler6:176Yoca-Cola3:337Fall Into the Fire3:158Wicket4:039Enemies3:1210Help Me3:1511Servin'3:5712Bangin Dope2:4113One Hundred3:4414Gangsta Dedication3:1615Unhappy3:5816?2:4017Smiley Faces3:19, saw Esham achieving his highest consecutive level of charting success, as it peaked at 176 on the Billboard 200, his highest-selling album on that chart to date, as well as peaking at No. 6 on Top Heatseekers, No. 12 on the Independent Albums chart, No. 23 on the Top Rap Albums chart, and No. 48 on the Top R&B chart. Allrovi wrote, "During the course of A-1 YOLA, Esham takes the form of street hustler, kingpin, vampire, and all sorts of underworld characters, injecting his undiluted personality into each three-to-four-minute sketch. His sonic backdrop remains raw but fresh, drawing an impressive amount of energy out of sparse beats."
Following this release, Esham left Psychopathic in 2005 to relaunch Reel Life/Gothom.

Post-Psychopathic

Smith released his twelfth studio album, Suspended Animation×Suspended Animation3 August 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 29 tracks1All the Time2:542Closed Doors2:323Subatomic2:514Ronald McDonald1:475SSMD3:326Suspended Animation2:127Triggernometry2:598Designer Drugs1:349RLP Logo2:3210??????0:2111You Don't Luv Me2:4212Electromagnetic2:4813Horrible2:1614Poultry2:1815Sinsory Deprivation3:1316Get a Room2:4017U Can Die2:2818Private Hotel Party2:5319Worst Place 2 Be2:4620Killa P*$$y1:3921American Made2:2922??????0:4223Don't Wake Me Up2:2624Gumball 30002:0625Thanx1:5026But No Thanx4:5727Police3:1828How Come3:4529Home3:10 on August 3, 2010, followed by the album DMT Sessions×DMT Sessions2 April 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Oooooooooooohhhhhwwwwwwweeeeeeeee3:542DMT Sessions3:103Valhalla Rising4:474China White2:025Lysergic Acid Diethylamide3:256Oxycontin4:327Clonazepam3:378Sildenafil Citrate3:449Skrewberry Kush3:1310Codeine Phosphate Promethazine2:0511Scante3:3912Psilocybin2:4413A-Thujone1:3314Phencyclidine4:2815Yellow Jackets3:1116Methylenedioxymethamphetamine3:3317Lophophora Williams II1:4018Dimethyltryptamine5:1319Jack3d2:5420Coma3:50, and a documentary directed by Smith, Death of an Indie Label×Death of an Indie Label1 September 2011 · Album · Soundtrack,Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Comatose5:112Denouement2:163Reignin4:414Odd Future1:425Orgy Orange3:086Priceless Blessings2:327Cheddaphile3:228Time Machine1:239Sayonara2:3610U Aint Got Nuthin on Me5:1111Serious Business3:3712House 4 Rent2:5613Daniel Jordan (skit)0:2914Beautiful Girl1:4115Let the System Bump1:4916Another Flight2:2517Death of an Indie Label2:2018Amy Winehouse3:0119Indubitably2:2420Big Thangs3:28 in 2011, which was originally announced as a bonus feature on a deluxe edition of DMT Sessions, but was instead uploaded onto Gothom Inc.'s YouTube channel. The Documentary was released with a soundtrack entitled the same, the LP would feature Seven the General as well as Poe Whosaine. Smith was interviewed for the documentary The Untold Story of Detroit Hip-Hop, which is being produced by Detroit rapper Champtown. He also attempted a run for mayor of Detroit.
In 2012, MTV published a story detailing Esham's feud with Eminem and Insane Clown Posse. In 2015 Esham and Insane Clown Posse reconciled their differences and Esham performed at the 2016 Juggalo Day "Ringmaster" Show.

Style

Esham's lyrical style, which author Sara Cohen says "utilize[s] shocking (and blatantly over the top) narratives to give an over-exaggerated, almost cartoon-like version of urban deprivation in Detroit", was derived from the style of the Geto Boys. Smith's lyrics have focused on themes such as death, drug use, evil, paranoia and sex, and have included references to Satan. Smith refers to his performance style as "acid rap", comparing the lyrics to hallucinations induced by LSD. Esham's style has also been described as horrorcore hip hop.

People were literally scared of my records. There have been so many rumors about me and my records. People got the first album, and they would just make up stories. They'd get into an accident and be like, 'I got into an accident because I was playing that tape.' It wasn't like we helped ourselves when we described what was in people's heads. It wasn't to shock people, though, but to get people involved in what we were doing. We had to get peoples' attention. [...] We said a lot of things that people wanted to say but didn't say. We talked about a lot of political and social [issues] that people didn't want to talk about.
Following accusations of Satanism, Smith decided that Closed Casket would be the last album to feature such themes, and that he would no longer rap about the Devil. According to Smith, "I've been able to entertain people for 20 years. I just try to uplift people now. The latest things I do, I'm trying to get a message out to people, while I'm entertaining them at the same time."
Esham's music style has been described as a fusion of hip hop beats and death metal lyrics. Esham defined his style as analogous to "modern-day blues [or] heavy metal". Insane Clown Posse has frequently cited Esham as an influence on their music.