For those bemoaning the death of the New York sound, Esso’s Lifestyles Of The Young And Ignorant will provide a welcome dose of East Coast Hip-Hop. Sonically indebted to Premo and Pete Rock, tracks such as the Frequency-produced opener “Change Your Life” features the jazzy piano loops and snappy rhythms that embodied 90s NYC. The sonic style, repeated on the majority of the brief six track EP meshes well with Esso’s easy flow on the microphone—he never changes his intensity whether joking about girls or analyzing his past mistakes.
It helps that his words are worth listening to. Despite the album’s title, many of the songs show a lyrical depth devoid of ignorance. “Nicotine,” frankly examines his bad habit while slyly hinting at the societal stresses that may be the root cause of all of our smoking. (ed. Note: The Smoking Section supports all smoking and cig-related habits.) “Doin it Again,” appropriately co-opts a soulful beat for Esso to reminisce on a past flame and share his feelings with the listener. Even tracks of generic and sometimes questionable subject matter, such as “Living Doll’s tale of a groupie gone awry, are executed with skill and intelligence.
What Esso lacks is the charisma to carry off the more boisterous songs. The blasting bass and high hat of “Young & Ignorant“ should get the party started, but Esso can’t fully commit to the track—he sounds more comfortable reading from his book of rhymes than rocking the club. Depending on Esso’s goals, this may hinder or help him. Is he content to have an underground following who will appreciate his aptitude at what is now a niche genre, or can he show the diversity to appeal to all Hip-Hop fans? Only time, and perhaps a full length album, will tell.
Download — Esso – Lifestyles Of The Young And Ignorant
Beanie_Sigel_And_Ol_Dirty_Bastard-Once_Again_Its_On_BW_Welcome_Home-VLS-2003
VA-DJ_Screw-All_Day_In_Tha_Trey-(Bootleg)-2CD-1999
Jaspects – The Polkadotted Stripe
Ruben Studdard – Love Is
Fly Society Presents Trademark Da Skydiver – Issue #1
Muhsinah – The Oscillations: Triangle
Willie Hutch – In Tune
DJ Green Lantern Presents 38 Special – Out On Bail Mixtape
Coldplay – Left Right Left Right Left


(ed. Note: The Smoking Section supports all smoking and cig-related habits.)
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TSS ashtrays. Thank me later.
I need one of those cigar cutters.
I leave for Vegas tuesday, and I need a cutter asap.
cosign Teef.
This sounds like an interesting EP, I shall download this and give it a goosie gander.
That Trademark Da Skydiver joint is pretty interesting. I gave it a listen earlier today. It’s a good one to have in the stash.
“Young & Ignorant” goes hard.
Hey! This is nice! I can relate to some of the lyrics, I’m diggin’ it guv’na.
Yes, this is a nice set, heartfelt integrity over melodic beats, man it’s like a cross between S.E. Hinton and life from a pigeon eye vantage point.
You ever been on a helicopter ride at night time over the New York skyline, you know Manhatten skyline below you. This is like the soundtrack to that.
Hope we get a full length player with material like this, the dude is rapping from the heart, you can relate to that. Music like this humbles you like the Iron Sheikh.
… Ok, ok… I’mma download.
Doin It Again is my fave track off this EP, it’s top notch.
I’ll put my neck on the line here and say that this dude will make a bigger splash on the scene than Lupe Fiasco and Drake.
But he should ease back on the anti Jansport stance, just make music with universal appeal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16BiI6D5xLI
WAIT!
I just realised he was lampooning Soulja Boy, Lil Wayne et al.
This dude caught me off guard like a Monty Python sketch.
Ok, dude got humour too, this dude is sharp, brillo!
I’ll put my neck on the line here and say that this dude will make a bigger splash on the scene than Lupe Fiasco and Drake.
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You sure about that?
I mean, really.
@Ampgeez, yes I’ll stick to my guns, and champion his cause.
He has a very confident flow, delivery and a distinctive voice. I’ve heard the EP twice over now, and I think he has that certain X factor about him to make him a potential starburst on the scene.
I hope he continues to forge his craft, because I don’t say it much about the current crop of emcees, but this dude I think he has it.
I don’t think he is fully developed yet in terms of his delivery skills, but a few more shots at the hoop and I think he will nail it.
baby paw = this thread
@Prop Jay, yeah, but erm, whatever. :)
Anyway, I’ll hush up now, check the two part interview he did with Loud, dude speaks sense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZIlLzOG6II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UOSwT4qWHI&feature=related
Im just fuckin dog. I am in a similar boat to you but full time 7 days a week.
me = student and at home almost studyin or at school on comp 24/7 because of it.
*off-topic*
I’ve been listening to Drake over the wknd and whilst i do like his stuff, is it just me or is he essentially doing what Trey Songz was doing in regards to the mixtapes?
My question is, with the exception of numerous co-signs, how come it didn’t pop for Trey like that, because imo he is a decent singer (regardless of R.Kelly comparisons)? Does anyone even check for Trey on your side of the Atlantic?
Any chance of reupping that Muhsinah joint?