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.
Word After Word
Esham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, he let me grow up in the mother fucking ghetto
Thanks for nothin' mother fucker that's for real
One of the ten commandments is thow shall not kill
Tell that mother fucker with the gun in my face
And get shot in the back
Or should I run from this place
That's an act of insanity, "please no profanity"
Says the radio, but fuck you
I'm a do what I wanna do
I'm just tellin facts 'cause blacks are killin blacks
Nigga stepped on my shoe and I shot him in the back
Ain't no thang gotta gang you'll all get shot too
Once I sqeeze the trigga your crew is through
Think I'm bluffin then try me
Today you'll all die see
I got a bullet for you and your posse
I don't bullshit, no need to talk shit
The fuse is in your asshole and you just lit it
To live is evil, evils to live, you learn that
Put it in your holy bible and burn that
[chorus]
Words that you hearin
Niggas are fearin
Apearence so grewsome niggas are disapearin
Put up your fist, what is this
I got a mack 11 once I sqeeze the trigga your in hell or heaven
I ain't waitin' around for no bodies to be found
Bullet to the head leave another nigga dead
You gotta be suicidal to fuck with a homicidal brother
Suffocated under a pillow intended to smother
Helldays death nights, midnights the witches hour
Damion's your maker and he loves a blood shower
It's time to die, so bye bye, you betta cry, nah
You betta run or somthing 'cause its do or die
If you need an ass kickin, kickin in your rib cage
You was a good one it read on your obituary page
Call me a ho them's fightin words
As I'm reciting words suckers are rewritin my words
Its simple and plain to see
Plain and simple to see
That I'm Esham and I'm great
You's a sucker but wait
This is just the style that I'm using
Confusing the suckers
'cause they stupid mother fuckers
[chorus]
Words from the lyrical
To save me's a miracle
If anything I never thought Id turn in to a criminal
So here I go once again, when I rhyme I sin
Niggas commit suicide as soon as I begin
Misled, another nigga dead
See I love the sight of blood 'cause my favorite colors red
I'm smashin suckers crashin suckers dreams
And when it's Esham you start to scream
I'm hard like concrete, funky like pigs feet
Nigga get crazy and you'll be under six feet
Verse after verse it just get's worse
Another sucker reherse but first
The lyrics to Esham's song "Word After Word" paint a vivid picture of the violent reality of growing up in the ghetto. The first few lines acknowledge the existence of God and the fact that Esham didn't have an easy upbringing. He thanks God for nothing, telling him that one of the ten commandments is against killing, but he's facing a gun in his face. The rest of the lyrics are an expression of defiance and despair at the violence that pervades his environment. He talks about how blacks are killing each other, and how getting shot in the back or running away are both acts of insanity.
Esham is unapologetically blunt about his homicidal tendencies, saying that it's not an issue if he "steps on his shoe and [he] shoots him in the back." He warns his enemies that he has a mack 11 and will not hesitate to use it. The chorus repeats the concept of words being spoken, and niggas fearing for their lives. Esham talks about how easy it is to kill, and how he's turned into a criminal, causing people to commit suicide as soon as he begins to rhyme. He ends the song by saying that he's a great rapper and that his style is confusing to his adversaries.
Overall, the lyrics convey the intense frustration and desperation of living in a violent environment, where killing is almost normalized. The use of profanity and the frank discussion of murder make it clear that Esham is not mincing words, and that the pain and the anger he feels are genuine.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not a atheist...
I may not believe in God but I only survived in the ghetto with his grace.
Oh, he let me grow up in the mother fucking ghetto
God granted me the mercy to grow up surrounded by poverty and chaos.
Thanks for nothin' mother fucker that's for real
I have no gratitude for those who made me suffer.
One of the ten commandments is thow shall not kill
God forbade us from killing one another.
Tell that mother fucker with the gun in my face
I wish to tell that person threatening me with a gun.
And get shot in the back
I might get shot in the back even if I try to run away.
Or should I run from this place
I'm in a dilemma if I should escape this place.
That's an act of insanity, "please no profanity"
Censoring my words during this insane situation is stupid.
Says the radio, but fuck you
The radio can say whatever, but I won't hold back.
I'm a do what I wanna do
I will act as I please.
I'm just tellin facts 'cause blacks are killin blacks
It's a fact that black people are killing each other.
Nigga stepped on my shoe and I shot him in the back
I killed a person who stepped on my shoe out of anger.
Ain't no thang gotta gang you'll all get shot too
I don't care if you're in a gang, I'll shoot you.
Once I sqeeze the trigga your crew is through
If I pull the trigger, your crew is finished.
Think I'm bluffin then try me
If you think I'm lying, test me.
Today you'll all die see
You will all die today.
I got a bullet for you and your posse
I have a bullet for you and everyone in your group.
I don't bullshit, no need to talk shit
I don't lie, and there's no point in talking nonsense.
The fuse is in your asshole and you just lit it
You're the one responsible for igniting a major conflict.
To live is evil, evils to live, you learn that
Living is associated with wickedness and no virtue.
Put it in your holy bible and burn that
Even the Bible can't offer true hope as living itself carries evil.
[chorus]
Refrain.
Words that you hearin
These are the words you're hearing.
Niggas are fearin
People are afraid of what we're doing.
Apearence so grewsome niggas are disapearin
Seeing our ghastly appearance, people start to vanish.
Put up your fist, what is this
I'm asking you to raise your hand, what's wrong with it?
I got a mack 11 once I sqeeze the trigga your in hell or heaven
I have a gun, and once I pull the trigger, you're either dead or alive.. in heaven or hell.
I ain't waitin' around for no bodies to be found
I can't wait for the bodies to be discovered.
Bullet to the head leave another nigga dead
I'll shoot another person in the head and kill them.
You gotta be suicidal to fuck with a homicidal brother
You're crazy if you're trying to mess with me, who is dedicated to killing.
Suffocated under a pillow intended to smother
I killed someone by suffocation using a pillow.
Helldays death nights, midnights the witches hour
Every day and night is deathly, but especially at midnight when witches are said to emerge.
Damion's your maker and he loves a blood shower
The devil, Damion, is your maker, and he enjoys bloody events.
It's time to die, so bye bye, you betta cry, nah
It's time to say goodbye because you'll die now, and you better cry.
You betta run or somthing 'cause its do or die
Run or do something now, otherwise, you'll die.
If you need an ass kickin, kickin in your rib cage
If you require a physical attack, I'll kick you in the rib cage.
You was a good one it read on your obituary page
You were a good person, as stated on your obituary.
Call me a ho them's fightin words
You're starting a fight by calling me a ho.
As I'm reciting words suckers are rewritin my words
As I'm speaking, some people are rewriting or misinterpreting my words.
Its simple and plain to see
It's evident and straightforward.
Plain and simple to see
As it's straightforward and visible.
That I'm Esham and I'm great
I'm Esham, and I'm fantastic.
You's a sucker but wait
You're a loser, but hold on.
This is just the style that I'm using
This is just the method I am employing.
Confusing the suckers
It's confusing the non-cool people.
'cause they stupid mother fuckers
Because they're all fools.
[chorus]
Refrain.
Words from the lyrical
These are the words from my lyrics.
To save me's a miracle
It would be a miracle to save me after whatever has happened.
If anything I never thought Id turn in to a criminal
Never thought I would turn into a criminal, but I did.
So here I go once again, when I rhyme I sin
Here I am again, and when I rap, It's a wrongdoing.
Niggas commit suicide as soon as I begin
People kill themselves when I begin to find my rhythm.
Misled, another nigga dead
Being misguided causes the death of another person.
See I love the sight of blood 'cause my favorite colors red
I enjoy the sight of blood as red is my favorite color.
I'm smashin suckers crashin suckers dreams
I'm breaking down people and shattering their dreams.
And when it's Esham you start to scream
Whenever it's me, people begin to scream.
I'm hard like concrete, funky like pig's feet
I'm tough, and and at the same time funky and gross.
Nigga get crazy and you'll be under six feet
If you act crazy, you'll end up lying under six feet of soil.
Verse after verse it just get's worse
My verses become darker and more intense the more I continue.
Another sucker reherse but first
Another person will try to do better, but not before.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind