E.S.G., or Cedric Hill as he was born, is a rapper from Houston, Texas (although he was born in Louisiana and moved to Houston later in life) who played a key role in the development of Houston’s ‘Chopped And Screwed’ sound alongside DJ Screw in the mid to late ’90s, beginning with his debut LP “Oceans Of Funk” in 1994. The more popular songs from this album were repackaged with new songs and released as a faux-sophomore effort by Perrion Entertainment in 1995, as the landmark “Sailin’ Da South”. This album contained several radio-friendly, summery tracks, none moreso than Swangin’ & Bangin’, which was also re-worked (or “screwed”) by close friend DJ Screw. Both the original track and its slowed down alter-ego cemented Hill’s place as a mainstay in the burgeoning Houston rap scene and also the wider southern rap movement.
E.S.G. spent several years in jail following an incident in which his partner was shot dead in a home invasion. E.S.G. returned fire and killed the intruder (“Nigga broke in my crib, shot my partner in the head, so I grab my chopper left a bitch nigga dead”). He was subsequently charged with first degree murder and was incarcerated before beating the charge. “Sailin’ Da South” was released and gained him notoriety while he was on lock.
He was then released and increased his workrate, releasing Return Of The Living Dead shortly after in 1998. He is an original member of Screwed Up Click, the group formed by the late DJ Screw.
E.S.G. is known for having ongoing beef with other Houston rappers, namely Slim Thug, whom Hill claims cut him out of a potential deal, and also Lil’ Flip, for reasons less publicly documented (“Had Flip under my wing, Slim Thug too, and both them niggaz switch like some homosexuals do”).
E.S.G. is married and has a son and a daughter. His father died from complications related to Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome / Human Immunodeficiency Virus during E’s childhood in Bogalusa, Louisiana (“Then my daddy died, he had full blown AIDS, he was tootin’ up, then that nigga started shootin’ up”). This left E with his uncle as his primary male role model during his youth (“Uncle started recruitin’ us, he was hustlin’ crack, it’s safe to say I was born in the trap”).
In the early ’90s, he moved from Bogalusa to nearby Lafayette, Louisiana, while attending USL (University of Southern Louisiana), before again moving to Houston, Texas, where he made his name as a rapper (“Sold my first thirty Gs, game’s gettin’ deeper, moved to H-Town ‘cause the bricks were cheaper”).
Hold Up
E.S.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Hook - 2x]
(ten thousand, on the wrist for the boss)
Now hold up
(ten thousand, on the wrist for the boss)
Now hold up
(ten thousand, on the wrist for the boss
[E.S.G.]
Huh, go on po' you a cup
G'eah you's a G mayn, go on throw it up
Huh you blowing big mayn, go on smoke it up
Look how we walk down here, look how we talk down here
When I say swang and bang, I ain't talking bout a Crip or Blood
The way we do our cars, is ridiculous
You call em rags, man we call em drops
Y'all call your money qwat, man we call our knots
Call our female bops, don't punch clocks or ride stocks
Went to school with my rocks, nothing but money in my lunch box
Bigfoot sasquatch, that's how I'm stepping in the game
Step down for a minute, they let the nigga gain
Now I'm speaking at the podium, smooth as lenolium
Southside veteran, paint wetter than petroleum
Yeah, so watch me do my thang
So go on ride with your boy, if you understand my slang
[Hook - 2x]
[E.S.G.]
Yeah world, guess who's back
Might not know me or not, come to the bottom of the map
Screwed Up Click regime, one of the hardest on the team
Range Rovers sporting mean, like bulvarian cream
Back in the day me and K, apple green Suburban
Took 36 to 88, like changing Bettis to Irvin
Talking OZ's, cause we OG's
Look like a janitor's office, cause my desk full of keys
Whole neck's full of B's, want my stash a hundred
Got some'ing for you jackers, that'll blast ya ski mask dummy
To the boys that tried to rob me, show me where that spot at
I put that on my mama, that's where you gonna ride at
[Hook - 2x]
[E.S.G.]
Working the wheel keeping it real, down South we call it trill
This one year my dreams fulfilled, no more teams hogging the deal
Paying my mills displaying my skills, self defense I had to kill
Had the car had the crib, way before had the deal
Street credit but popping it still, never been known for popping a pill
Dream setters that's for real, even Nelly got a grill
I never sky dived, they say it's real hard
I never climbed a mountain, watch me climb the billboards
Can't go to jail snitches tell, bout every gram you sell
Say they love me game is ugly, like Sam Cassell
Independent Roger Clemens, better back down trick
I heard enough about you kings, let me see if that crown fit
[Hook - 4x]
The lyrics to E.S.G.'s song Hold Up appear to revolve around displaying one's wealth and status, as evidenced by the repeated reference to "ten thousand on the wrist for the boss" and the dismissal of those who "call em rags" as opposed to "drops." E.S.G. also emphasizes his southern heritage and regional slang, stating "when I say swang and bang, I ain't talking bout a Crip or Blood," and notes that his "desk full of keys" evokes the appearance of "a janitor's office." Throughout the song, E.S.G. maintains a sense of pride in his accomplishments and in the journey that led him to the "podium" as a "Southside veteran."
Interestingly, the song's chorus featuring the repeated refrain of "ten thousand on the wrist for the boss" was sampled by artist Drake for his song "Mob Ties" on his 2018 album Scorpion. The chorus also makes reference to "letting my body defrost," which could be interpreted metaphorically to mean shedding one's previous identity or persona in order to move forward with a new image or status.
Other possible interpretations of the song could include the glorification of a materialistic lifestyle, or the struggle for recognition and respect within a particular community. E.S.G.'s use of regional slang and southern pride suggests a focus on identity and origin as factors that shape one's path to success.
Line by Line Meaning
(ten thousand, on the wrist for the boss)
Showing off my wealth with my expensive watch worth ten thousand dollars and I am the boss
Now hold up
Wait a minute and let me show off my wealth
(Told me take my chain off, let my body defrost)
My chain is so cold and heavy that it feels like it's freezing my body, so I need to take it off and let myself relax
Huh, go on po' you a cup
I offer you a drink, pour yourself a cup
G'eah you's a G mayn, go on throw it up
You are a gangster, go on and represent your gang by throwing up your gang sign
Huh you blowing big mayn, go on smoke it up
You are smoking a large amount of marijuana, go on and enjoy it
Look how we walk down here, look how we talk down here
Observing how we behave in this neighborhood, showing our unique style
When I say swang and bang, I ain't talking bout a Crip or Blood
When I say my signature phrase 'swang and bang,' I am not referring to any specific gang, but rather describing my unique way of driving my car
The way we do our cars, is ridiculous
We are known for customizing our cars in an extreme and eye-catching manner
You call em rags, man we call em drops
You call these cars 'raggedy,' but we call them as customized 'drops'
Y'all call your money qwat, man we call our knots
You use the term 'quaint' for money, but we put our money together in large amounts known as 'knots'
Call our female bops, don't punch clocks or ride stocks
We call our attractive women 'bops,' they don't work in traditional jobs, nor do they invest in stocks
Went to school with my rocks, nothing but money in my lunch box
I went to school carrying my stash of drugs, and my lunch box was filled with money instead of food
Bigfoot sasquatch, that's how I'm stepping in the game
I am making a big and noticeable entrance into the music industry, just like the mythical creature Bigfoot
Step down for a minute, they let the nigga gain
I took a brief break from the music industry, and during that time people allowed me to gain more fame and success
Now I'm speaking at the podium, smooth as lenolium
I have become successful enough to have the opportunity to speak at important events, and I do it smoothly and confidently
Southside veteran, paint wetter than petroleum
I have been a part of the music scene for a long time, and my car's paint job is so glossy and wet it looks like petroleum
Yeah, so watch me do my thang
I am going to show off my talent and success, so watch me do my thing
Yeah world, guess who's back
I am announcing to the world that I am back in the music industry
Might not know me or not, come to the bottom of the map
You may not know me or my music, but come to my hometown at the bottom of the map and I'll show you who I am
Screwed Up Click regime, one of the hardest on the team
I am a part of the music group Screwed Up Click, and we are known for being one of the most talented and tough music groups
Range Rovers sporting mean, like bulvarian cream
My friends and I drive Range Rovers, and we look mean and tough just like Bavarian cream
Back in the day me and K, apple green Suburban
I used to ride in an apple green Suburban with my friend K back in the day
Took 36 to 88, like changing Bettis to Irvin
We drove on Highway 36 to 88, just like changing the position of football players Bettis and Irvin
Talking OZ's, cause we OG's
We talk about ounces of drugs because we are original gangsters
Look like a janitor's office, cause my desk full of keys
My desk contains a lot of keys to drug stashes, so it looks like a janitor's office
Whole neck's full of B's, want my stash a hundred
My neck has numerous diamond studded B's, and I want my drug stash to reach a hundred percent perfection
Got some'ing for you jackers, that'll blast ya ski mask dummy
I have a weapon that can hurt or kill anyone who tries to illegally take my goods, even if they try to hide behind a ski mask
To the boys that tried to rob me, show me where that spot at
I want to know where the thieves who tried to rob me are, so I can take revenge on them
Working the wheel keeping it real, down South we call it trill
I am driving and keeping it real, and in the southern region we call it 'trill'
This one year my dreams fulfilled, no more teams hogging the deal
This year, my dreams came true, and I am no longer in a group where everyone wants something different from the record deal
Paying my mills displaying my skills, self defense I had to kill
I am paying off my bills and showing off my music skills, but I had to resort to self defense and kill someone in order to survive
Had the car had the crib, way before had the deal
I owned a nice car and a house even before I signed a music deal
Street credit but popping it still, never been known for popping a pill
I have a good reputation on the street, but I have never been known to take illegal drugs
Dream setters that's for real, even Nelly got a grill
We are creating our own unique path to success, and even famous musicians like Nelly are taking notice by getting grillz
I never sky dived, they say it's real hard
I have never gone skydiving, people say it is very difficult to do
I never climbed a mountain, watch me climb the billboards
I have never physically climbed a mountain, but I am climbing the charts and receiving more attention for my music
Can't go to jail snitches tell, bout every gram you sell
I can't risk going to jail because snitches will tell the police about every gram of drugs I have sold
Say they love me game is ugly, like Sam Cassell
People say they love me, but they are only interested in the 'game' or the entertainment industry, just like how people don't find basketball player Sam Cassell attractive
Independent Roger Clemens, better back down trick
I am independent and successful like baseball player Roger Clemens, and anyone who tries to compete with me should back down
I heard enough about you kings, let me see if that crown fit
I have heard a lot about other successful musicians, but I want to see if they are really the best and if their 'crown' or title fits them
Contributed by Levi I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
estside02
e.s.g can freestyle on any beat and wreck every single time.
Get Money Villegas
Still Banging 💪🏼💰🥶
esofhau
goes hard
DEROT93
Why isn't this on spotify?? 😭
Michael Holt
damn wish dj screw was still round, wonder what he and E.S.G. could still accomplish
dastar1985
STILL MY SHIT
William Jones
4ever the real freestyle king
kin
William Jones nahhhhh he one of them tho what about lil flip
S3RIOUS JOK3R$
Real free style king
Spadez86
Love hearin this on 18s