That same year he teamed up with Detroit natives TnT and Mastamind and formed the group Natas, whose controversial debut Life After Death has been blamed for the suicide of a Tennessee youth. After another EP released in 1992 entitled Hellter Skkkelter dropped, Esham's most recognized and most controversial album 1993's KKKill the Fetus hit stores. The cover of this album depicted an unborn fetus and the title track was a song explaining why unfit, drug addicted mothers should chose abortion over birth. Esham followed up with Natas' Blaz4me and another solo Closed Casket. This was all a prelude to another controversial release, Doubelievengod. Tracks such as "Pop Pop", "Sunday School", and "Heaven" set an unprecedented mark for evilness in rap music. Esham later released his final album on RLP, Dead Flowerz. This was a transitional period into Esham's new Gothom label. Bruce Wayne/Gothom City introduced the world to the new age Esham. After this release the head nodding, trunk rattling Multikillionaire was released.
After a 2-year break, E hit the scene with the colorful Mail Dominance CD. This CD had everything from slow jams, retrospectives on lost ones, wickedness, to 50's samples. The next release is what many feel was the critically acclaimed WWW.com. In 2001, Esham released what would become his smoothest album, Tongues. Followed by Natas 6th release Godlike. Esham resume of albums includes 10 full albums, 4 EPs, 3 greatest hits compilations, and 6 releases with Natas. Not to mention working with and producing for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ghetto E, Kool Keith, Insane Clown Posse, and the Dayton Family. From 1989 to 2005, Esham has given fans his heavy doses of Reel Life, Heavy Mental music. Esham truly revolutionized Detroit's rap sound and is a local legend.
Eminem has listed Esham as an influence, as he mentions on his debut album, The Slim Shady LP. Esham's next album, A1 Yola, was released April 19th, 2005 by Psychopathic Records. Included with the album was also a DVD with videos to every song, making Esham the first artist to make a music video for every song on an album. Towards the end of 2005 Esham could no longer be a part of Psychopathic Records. His last concert under the label was at the 5th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos. He contributed to the Soopa Villainz project and later left. The split was on bad terms according to acidrap.com. The reason, also according to acidrap.com, was that Psychopathic Records did not allow him to use the name The Unholy,The Black Devil or the group NATAS. Athough bitterness was expressed by both parties directly after the split, Esham and Psychopathic have since publicly apoligized to one another, and stated that any past grievances are water under the bridge.
On June 6, 2006 (6/6/06) Esham released the Judgement Day box set, Rap's first $100 box set, available only through the Natas website. This set includes Judgement Day Vol.1 and 2, the previously unreleased Judgement Day Vol.3 and 4, a new 6 track Esham EP, and a DVD featuring concert footage from '04. Only 1,000 have been produced.
Devish Mood
Esham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in a devilish mood...
You don't understand me, I got a split personality,
Showin' you a different side of reality.
Late night walkin' down the street with a butcher knife,
Cold jam it in your stomach, and watch you vomit.
Some say I'm sick, hard to get with,
The despotic psychotic nitwit.
Little old lady walkin' down the block,
Hit her in the back of the head with a rock.
Dum dum ditty dum ditty dum dum, Red Rum, Red Rum, Red Rum.
APB out on me, killed the old lady, took her social security.
I'm livin' just like a pack rat,
So when I see someone with some food, I say gimme that!
I'm livin' just like a pack rat, sleepin' on clothes and shit,
Holes in my clothes, I'm sleepin' outdoors.
'cause Governor Ingling took my foodstamp,
Got me livin' just like a tramp.
A hobo po' livin' outdoors,
Thrown on the streets, so I'm sleepin' on shelter floors.
I result to voodoo,
I'ma make me out a doll of Governor Ingling to.
And put a pin in the middle of the fo' head,
While I say to myself, Play dead!
Homeless, I got no home,
So when I see a old lady, I follow her ass home.
People say I'm livin' just like a animal,
I result to eatin people like a cannibal.
Listen to the funky drama,
I get flash backs and visions that I'm Jeffery Dahmer.
Now I'm on the hunt for food,
'cause I'm homeless, I'm in a devilish mood.
I'm starvin' just like Marvin,
So I'ma get me a butcher knife and start carvin'.
People up, what the hell,
I'll get me some food for wars if I got to jail.
But even the jails won't take me,
I got caught up in the system, breakin' me.
Breakin' me down, nervous break down,
Cops found two dead bodies on the west side of town.
Blame it on the homeless people,
I hear no, see no, say no evil.
Shoulda just take my own life,
One man starvin', walkin' around with a butcher knife.
Wish life like it was on TV,
Then maybe someone would help me,
Or get me some food,
'cause I got to survive, I'm in a devilish mood.
In Esham's song "Devilish Mood," the rapper describes his split personality and the violent, cannibalistic tendencies he feels when he is in a "devilish mood." He paints a vivid picture of stalking the streets at night with a butcher knife, attacking innocent victims and enjoying their pain and suffering. He even mentions killing an old woman and taking her social security, highlighting the desperation of his situation as a homeless individual who has been failed by society.
The lyrics also touch on Esham's feelings of isolation and desperation, as he struggles to survive without any stable housing or means of support. He resorts to sleeping on clothes and shelter floors, and even result to voodoo in order to cope with his circumstances. The song paints a bleak picture of life on the streets and the extreme measures some individuals may take in order to simply survive.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in a devilish mood.
I am feeling malicious and wicked.
I'm in a devilish mood...
Reiteration of feeling malicious and wicked.
You don't understand me, I got a split personality,
You do not comprehend me, I possess multiple personalities.
Showin' you a different side of reality.
Exhibiting an alternate perception of the world.
Late night walkin' down the street with a butcher knife,
Strolling down the street at night whilst brandishing a large knife.
Cold jam it in your stomach, and watch you vomit.
Forcefully thrust the knife into your abdomen and observe you regurgitating.
Some say I'm sick, hard to get with,
Certain individuals believe I am ill, difficult to understand or interact with.
The despotic psychotic nitwit.
An insane and tyrannical fool.
Red Rum, Red Rum, I gotta get me some so where's my next victim?
Punning on murder, asking where to locate next target.
Little old lady walkin' down the block,
An elderly female pedestrian going down the road.
Hit her in the back of the head with a rock.
Took a stone and struck her from behind.
Dum dum ditty dum ditty dum dum, Red Rum, Red Rum, Red Rum.
Continuation of punning on murder using the catchphrase in reverse, 'Murder' -> 'Red Rum'
APB out on me, killed the old lady, took her social security.
An All Points Bulletin has been launched for me, as I killed the lady and stole her government benefits.
I'm livin' just like a pack rat,
Living like a hoarder, accumulating and keeping unnecessary objects.
So when I see someone with some food, I say gimme that!
If I spot an individual with edibles, I will demand they surrender it to me.
sleepin' on clothes and shit,
Resting on garments and other unclean items.
Holes in my clothes, I'm sleepin' outdoors.
My garments have openings, and I am sleeping outside without shelter.
'cause Governor Ingling took my foodstamp,
As the government official Governor Ingling took my food assistance card,
Got me livin' just like a tramp.
He forced me to exist as a homeless person.
A hobo po' livin' outdoors,
A penniless nomad living outside as a vagrant.
Thrown on the streets, so I'm sleepin' on shelter floors.
Cast out onto the road, I now slumber on the floors of shelters.
I result to voodoo,
I utilize voodoo methods.
I'ma make me out a doll of Governor Ingling to.
I will construct a doll of Governor Ingling.
And put a pin in the middle of the fo' head,
And place a needle in the center of its forehead.
While I say to myself, Play dead!
As I instruct the doll to simulate death.
Homeless, I got no home,
As a person without a permanent residence.
So when I see a old lady, I follow her ass home.
When I see an elderly woman, I tail her to her residence.
People say I'm livin' just like a animal,
Individuals claim I am existing like a beast.
I result to eatin people like a cannibal.
I resort to consuming people like a savage.
Listen to the funky drama,
Pay attention to the intense happenings presently occuring.
I get flash backs and visions that I'm Jeffery Dahmer.
I have sudden recollections of and hallucinations where I am the notorious killer Jeffery Dahmer.
Now I'm on the hunt for food,
Presently, I am actively seeking sustenance.
'cause I'm homeless, I'm in a devilish mood.
As I am without a home, I feel malicious.
I'm starvin' just like Marvin,
I am extremely hungry, similar in the way Marvin Gaye sang.
So I'ma get me a butcher knife and start carvin'.
Therefore, I will acquire a large knife and begin to mutilate.
People up, what the hell,
Objectively merciless towards other people, regardless of their reactions.
I'll get me some food for wars if I got to jail.
I desire food so badly that I would rather obtain it in jail, even if it means incarceration.
But even the jails won't take me,
The prisons will not accept me as a prisoner.
I got caught up in the system, breakin' me.
I have become ensnared in a system that is wearing me down.
Breakin' me down, nervous break down,
Diminishing my mental state, leading to a psychological meltdown.
Cops found two dead bodies on the west side of town.
Police have uncovered two murdered corpses on the western part of the town.
Blame it on the homeless people,
Homeless individuals are being held responsible for the crimes.
I hear no, see no, say no evil.
I refuse to acknowledge the accusations and distance myself from the blame.
Shoulda just take my own life,
I should have taken my own life.
One man starvin', walkin' around with a butcher knife.
One starving man, wandering around with a large knife.
Wish life like it was on TV,
Desiring life to resemble television shows.
Then maybe someone would help me,
Hoping somebody would assist me.
Or get me some food,
Or provide me with nourishment.
'cause I got to survive, I'm in a devilish mood.
Due to my necessity to exist, I am consumed by malicious emotions.
Contributed by Elena K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.