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.
Judgement Day
Esham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the devil did all this shit
This is judgment day
Jesus Christ is black
This is judgment day
Jesus is white with blond hair, and blue eyes
This is judgment day
Do black people get in heaven, mommy, huh?
And as leader of the KKK, kill all niggers!
Judgment day, 666, no time to pray, so don't say amen
We're headin' for Armageddon
I'm bleedin' as I'm sweatin'
As I walk the flatlines, we're runnin outta time
Dead by day is what I said sometimes though
I'd rather be dead is what I said so take it slow
Time to pay back, so hit the play back
Visions of killin' preachers in a psychotic flash back
God's gonna get me, that's what they told me a minute ago
The fallen angel strangle seven row
And in that time I learned one thing, jack
Follow the yellow brick road, and don't look back
Now they tryin' to get me, but I'ma get you first
The unholy dead, so now I think it's much worse
Good and evil collide, Jeckel and nigga hyde
Put 'em together and you get another homicide
Suicidal tendencies tend to get in the way
Face your sins, Armageddon, it's judgment day
Day of judgment, God is calling!
And as God has struck the hour
Thou shall not sin, so I grin as I sing a song
Who the fuck are you, to tell me what's right and wrong?
Death is in my eyes, I wear no disguise
You're gonna pay for those little white lies
No more Mr. nice guy, I filibuster
When I said fuck you, I was disgusted
But you can't trust it, 'cause I can't trust it
Reverend Swagger, the preacher busted
You're goin' to hell, for all your sins
Pins and needles, needles and pins
Voodoo doctor, on the rocks with vodka
The preacher got busted with a whore, got ya!
Man on the moon, but still can't fly right
Now he's gonna fake his death, he can't die right
Selling Bibles on the corner but you'll pay
For all your sins, it's judgment day
Day of judgment, God is calling!
Satan laughing spreads his wings, Oh lord yeah!
You mutha fuckin' sinner, blind ass bitch
Stealin' from the poor, just to get rich
Judgment day, you're gonna pay and you'll burn
They're gonna tie your ass to a stake and let ya burn
For all that punk ass shit you tried, Praise the lord!
Bitch be quiet!
'cause you can't brain wash me, I'm not brain dead
You're better off takin' two to the head
Judgment day, Armageddon is on it's way
Now the last thing you want to do is pray
You say you're sorry for all those things you did
But that don't work
You say you're sorry for all those souls you stole
But that don't work
You say you're sorry for stealin' that money out the collection plate
Now meet your fate, it's judgment day!
Satan laughin', oh lord yeah!
The lyrics to Esham's song Judgement Day depict a world where people are judged for their actions and beliefs. The song begins with the reference to the colors red, black, and green, which are used to represent the African American culture. Esham then goes on to say that Jesus Christ is black, contradicting the common portrayal of him as white with blonde hair and blue eyes. Later in the song, he presents a KKK leader who wants to kill all black people, highlighting the racism and hate in society. The song discusses issues of good and evil, sinning, and the consequences people must face on judgment day.
Line by Line Meaning
Red, black, and green, you know what I mean?
The colors of African liberation and unity
Like the devil did all this shit
The unfortunate state of the world
This is judgment day
A time of reckoning for humanity
Jesus Christ is black
Challenging the whitewashing of religious figures
This is judgment day
A day of accountability before a higher power
Jesus is white with blond hair, and blue eyes
A counter-narrative to traditional depictions of Jesus
This is judgment day
An opportunity to make things right
Do black people get in heaven, mommy, huh?
A question about the fairness of the afterlife
This is judgment day
A time to right the wrongs of history
And as leader of the KKK, kill all niggers!
An example of the hatred and intolerance in the world
Judgment day, 666, no time to pray, so don't say amen
A warning that it may be too late to repent
We're headin' for Armageddon
A reference to the end times in Christian theology
I'm bleedin' as I'm sweatin'
The physical and emotional toll of the situation
As I walk the flatlines, we're runnin outta time
A sense of urgency and impending doom
Dead by day is what I said sometimes though
A bleak outlook on life
I'd rather be dead is what I said so take it slow
A desire to escape the pain of existence
Time to pay back, so hit the play back
An opportunity to confront one's mistakes
Visions of killin' preachers in a psychotic flash back
A violent and disturbing thought
God's gonna get me, that's what they told me a minute ago
A fear of divine punishment
The fallen angel strangle seven row
A reference to Satan
And in that time I learned one thing, jack
The importance of a lesson in the midst of chaos
Follow the yellow brick road, and don't look back
A nod to the classic film, The Wizard of Oz
Now they tryin' to get me, but I'ma get you first
A sense of defiance and revenge
The unholy dead, so now I think it's much worse
The situation has escalated to the point of no return
Good and evil collide, Jeckel and nigga hyde
An allusion to the classic tale of Jekyll and Hyde
Put 'em together and you get another homicide
The inevitable result of opposing forces
Suicidal tendencies tend to get in the way
A reference to mental health struggles
Face your sins, Armageddon, it's judgment day
A call to confront one's actions
Day of judgment, God is calling!
A decisive moment in history
And as God has struck the hour
A biblical reference to the end times
Thou shall not sin, so I grin as I sing a song
An ironic response to religious dogma
Who the fuck are you, to tell me what's right and wrong?
A challenge to authority
Death is in my eyes, I wear no disguise
A sense of impending doom
You're gonna pay for those little white lies
The consequences of dishonesty
No more Mr. nice guy, I filibuster
A declaration of aggression
When I said fuck you, I was disgusted
An expression of extreme anger
But you can't trust it, 'cause I can't trust it
A lack of faith in others
Reverend Swagger, the preacher busted
The exposure of hypocrisy
You're goin' to hell, for all your sins
A belief in divine punishment
Pins and needles, needles and pins
A feeling of discomfort and unease
Voodoo doctor, on the rocks with vodka
A surreal image
The preacher got busted with a whore, got ya!
An example of the fallibility of religious leaders
Man on the moon, but still can't fly right
A commentary on the limitations of technology
Now he's gonna fake his death, he can't die right
An absurd scenario
Selling Bibles on the corner but you'll pay
The commercialization of religion
For all your sins, it's judgment day
The day of reckoning has arrived
Satan laughing spreads his wings, Oh lord yeah!
A haunting image of evil
You mutha fuckin' sinner, blind ass bitch
An insult directed at a specific person
Stealin' from the poor, just to get rich
A critique of capitalism
Judgment day, you're gonna pay and you'll burn
An apocalyptic warning
They're gonna tie your ass to a stake and let ya burn
A gruesome fate for the guilty
For all that punk ass shit you tried, Praise the lord!
A sarcastic comment on religious platitudes
Bitch be quiet!
An aggressive command
'cause you can't brain wash me, I'm not brain dead
A refusal to conform
You're better off takin' two to the head
A violent suggestion
Judgment day, Armageddon is on it's way
An ominous prediction
Now the last thing you want to do is pray
A resignation to fate
You say you're sorry for all those things you did
An attempt at reconciliation
But that don't work
An acknowledgement of the gravity of the situation
You say you're sorry for all those souls you stole
A confession of wrongdoing
But that don't work
An acceptance of the consequences of one's actions
You say you're sorry for stealin' that money out the collection plate
A specific example of wrongdoing
Now meet your fate, it's judgment day!
The final reckoning
Satan laughin', oh lord yeah!
A final, chilling image
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LOLLY VEGAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Corpsie
This takes me back to the days of Kenwood cassette decks and Kicker subs making it so you couldn't see straight :)
Ahman Garth
CLASSIC
Assan S
cant live without this shit lol its too good
Trae
This song was my favorite. Haven't listened to Esham in years but remember all of it an his group Natas
Chris Romero
Same with me.....
Aaron Oakley
DatboyTra Dae damn straight Natas Life After Death still to this day has to be one of the hardest... But also most unknown early Rap/Hip Hop groups ever... Detroit what!!
Daniel Petry
First song I ever heard by him, been hooked on him about 10 years since. Still my favorite to this day.
electronicmedium
esham talks about real shit! thank god i had the chance to meet him many times
David19225
Judgement day, 6666, no time to pray so don't say amen, we're headed for armageddon, i'm bleeding like i'm sweating, as i walk the flatlines we runnin out of time. How fucking ill is this track?!
Jesse Stanley
I think this song is one of my favorites