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.
Sunshine
Esham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I feel funny wayss on sunny days, honey plays, money pays but keep in on sunny days.
Used to be my baby, but now you just the neighborhood kid.
And I'm thinkin bout' the things I did, just to make ya' happy.
Scoop ya' scrappy, but listen to the nappy pappy.
It's all about money, It's all about mo' money, and it's gettin mo funny
In the sunny days. I think about my wicked ways, juices got me crazed, so crime pays.
Puttin' in work doin' my dirt, and I'm the one that ends up gettin hurt.
I Guess I know next time, but for now I'm just losin' my mind, cause' I'm caught up in the sunshine.
[Chorus]
(Samples: My life My life, in the sunshine)
In the sunshine, I'm fellin' kinda' mellow, watch the crackhead say hello.
I'm just a little ghetto boy ghetto child, runnin' wild with the freestyle.
I dropped out a school to clock papers.
Now when the niggas see me, they clock vapors.
Watchin' them Dayton's hit the sunlight, so I hold my gun tight.
Everybody out to get me, see my minds playin tricks with me, so don't bullshit me.
I used to have some homies, but see I dissed all my homies, so now I'm kinda' lonely.
But it's all about me, but it's too head for me ta' see, through my jealousy.
A nigga caught me slippin at a red light, 2 shots/2 shots to my dome, now I'm dead right.
Through thick and thin homies should stay tight.
That's all I was thinkin' bout', With my brains blew out,
In the sunshine.
[Chorus]
In the sunshine, niggas feel good, smokin herbs, chillin in the hood.
Shoot a little dice, fuck a little hoe, and then some nigga try to rob the liquir store.
They shot em' in the back on the way out, like a sucka' what a way to go out.
Tried to steel some bread to feed his babies, they said crack babies neighborhood crazy.
Now I guess the babies don't eat, bloody daddies head dead in the street.
And their ain't no rainbows where the cocaine flows.
That's where ya' go when you try to behave hard.
I guess he'll know next time.
But his babies losin' they minds, in the sunshine.
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Esham's "Sunshine" explore the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of sunny days. Despite the fact that the song's title might suggest a happy and carefree tone, the lyrics instead talk about the harsh realities of life that can often be hidden away from the light of day. Esham talks about feeling lost and alone, despite being in the midst of the bright sunshine. He questions why he ever did the things he did, wondering if it was all just to please someone else. He talks about the dangers and violence that can happen even in broad daylight, and how some people will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Throughout the song, Esham paints a vivid picture of a world that is often at odds with the images of happiness and peace that are generally associated with sunshine. He tells a story of a man who is just trying to survive in a world that doesn't always make sense, where everyone seems to be out for themselves. Despite the darkness that pervades the song, there is something cathartic about the honesty of the lyrics. Esham's frankness and willingness to explore the uglier side of life make "Sunshine" a powerful and thought-provoking track.
Line by Line Meaning
My Life in the sunshine, the sun don't shine too much on mine.
My life is full of sunshine but not much of it shines on me.
But I feel funny wayss on sunny days, honey plays, money pays but keep in on sunny days.
I feel different on sunny days, people do fun things and make money, but the good times don't last forever.
Used to be my baby, but now you just the neighborhood kid.
You used to be important to me, but now you're just another person in the neighborhood.
And I'm thinkin bout' the things I did, just to make ya' happy.
I'm thinking about the things I did just to make you happy, and I regret some of them now.
Scoop ya' scrappy, but listen to the nappy pappy.
I used to take care of you, but now you should listen to someone else.
It's all about money, It's all about mo' money, and it's gettin mo funny In the sunny days.
Everybody is just focused on making money, but it's getting harder to do so.
I think about my wicked ways, juices got me crazed, so crime pays.
I think about the bad things I've done, and the temptation to do more is strong because it pays well.
Puttin' in work doin' my dirt, and I'm the one that ends up gettin hurt.
I work hard doing illegal things, but in the end, I'm the one who gets hurt.
Just for a piece a' puss', a piece of bush, and now the next man's gettin tha' toosh.
I did bad things just to have sex with someone, but now someone else is with them.
I Guess I know next time, but for now I'm just losin' my mind, cause' I'm caught up in the sunshine.
I know I should do better next time, but for now, I'm losing control and making bad decisions because of the temptation of easy money.
In the sunshine, I'm fellin' kinda' mellow, watch the crackhead say hello.
In the sunshine, I feel relaxed but I have to be cautious of the people around me, including drug addicts.
I'm just a little ghetto boy ghetto child, runnin' wild with the freestyle.
I'm just a young person from the ghetto, living life freely, without rules or restrictions.
I dropped out a school to clock papers.
I left school to make money.
Now when the niggas see me, they clock vapors.
Now people are jealous of my success and want to be like me.
Watchin' them Dayton's hit the sunlight, so I hold my gun tight.
Watching people show off their fancy cars in the sun makes me nervous, so I hold my gun tightly for protection.
Everybody out to get me, see my minds playin tricks with me, so don't bullshit me.
I feel like everyone is trying to harm me, and my mind is playing tricks on me, so I'm wary of people's intentions.
I used to have some homies, but see I dissed all my homies, so now I'm kinda' lonely.
I used to have friends, but I betrayed them and now I'm alone.
But it's all about me, but it's too head for me ta' see, through my jealousy.
I'm selfish and can't see past my own jealousy.
A nigga caught me slippin at a red light, 2 shots/2 shots to my dome, now I'm dead right.
Someone caught me off guard at a red light and shot me twice in the head, now I'm dead.
Through thick and thin homies should stay tight.
Friends should stay close no matter what happens.
That's all I was thinkin' bout', With my brains blew out, In the sunshine.
That's all I was thinking about before I was killed, even though it was a beautiful day outside.
In the sunshine, niggas feel good, smokin herbs, chillin in the hood.
People feel good in the sun and enjoy hanging out in their neighborhood smoking weed.
Shoot a little dice, fuck a little hoe, and then some nigga try to rob the liquir store.
People gamble and have sex and then someone tries to rob a liquor store.
They shot em' in the back on the way out, like a sucka' what a way to go out.
The robbers shot someone in the back on their way out of the liquor store, which is a cowardly way to kill someone.
Tried to steel some bread to feed his babies, they said crack babies neighborhood crazy.
The robber was trying to steal food to feed his children, but people in the neighborhood think that poor families are crazy and on drugs.
Now I guess the babies don't eat, bloody daddies head dead in the street.
Now the robber's children don't have anything to eat, and their father is dead.
And their ain't no rainbows where the cocaine flows.
There's no hope or happiness in the drug world.
That's where ya' go when you try to behave hard.
That's where you end up when you try to act tough.
I guess he'll know next time.
The robber should have known better.
But his babies losin' they minds, in the sunshine.
Now the robber's children are suffering and losing their minds despite the sunny weather.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN BERT DUFF, MICHAEL PAUL HARTMAN, HENRY TERRELL HILL, ALLISON MARGARET SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind