His mother, Rochelle Hairston, coping with the ills of single parenting and trying to escape the influence that street life ends up having on young minds, led her family to live everywhere from friend's homes, shelters and finally the Passyunk Homes housing projects. It was there that Eshon, the oldest of four children, took on the leadership role in his family. Instead of playing the latest video games and getting involved in other childhood activities, he made his mother, brother's Seiffuddin and Ameer and his sister Aleema his main activity and responsibility. After his family, running errands and chasing girls, his spare time included writing rap songs with his best friend and rap partner Maik Sharp.
When Eshon was 15 years old he was shot three times right outside the Passyunk Homes housing projects while waking home. He says he had his first intimate encounter with Jesus Christ while laying on the ground, going in and out of consciousness from the gunshot wounds. Despite the fact that at this point he had no idea how this would later effect his music career (and he was still living a life that didn't reflect his encounter), thereafter he became even more aware of God's presence.
Eshon spent the next 5 years making a name for himself in Philadelphia's underground hip-hop scene. He performed at talent shows, open mic's, house parties and local events. In 1999 he signed a record deal with a city-known drug dealer and childhood friend, and again with another big time drug dealer the following year. Because of Eshon's Godly convictions neither venture ever progressed into anything.
In 2001 Eshon was introduced to the Lord more deeply when he met a pastor who gave him God's Word in a way that he hadn't known. He joined that pastor's church and began serving immediately. At this time he saw fit to start the group Society Park with fellow believers Larry "Who I Am" Dixon and Cobbina "Chances R" Frempong. While working on their album the group was invited to perform with Jazmine Sullivan in London, England alongside some of the United Kingdom's brightest stars like Andrew Roachford. "Freedom's Journal," Society Parks first and only album, was released in 2002.
From 2002 to 2006 Eshon continued to broaden his musical experience by performing at numerous events in places like Canada, Detroit, Miami, California, New York, Chicago, and New Jersey; and even shared the stage with well known artists including Mos Def, Common, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Talib Kweli, Roy Ayers and Pharoah Monch. He also toured with the guerrilla theater team Salt World, where he spent months using rap to spread the love of God on the street corners of Philadelphia's most drug infested neighborhoods. In that same year Eshon was introduced to Jazzy Jeff (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) by long-time acquaintance Black Ice (Def Poetry Jam), who featured the two on the song "Run That Back" which appeared on Jeff's "The Return of the Magnificent" (BBE Records).
After years of dabbling in both secular and holy hip hop, Eshon finally decided to focus his message solely on the saving grace of God through Christ, but still for the streets. He's poured out his message in mixtapes like "The Fire Escape," "Cleaning Out My Closet," "Blood Bought" and "The Fire Escape Reissued" between 2007 and 2010. Along the way he discovered his graphic design and film making abilities and founded GoodLook Multimedia, providing design and video services to other artists and clients.
Eshon currently resides in Florida with his wife Tandeace and two daughters Harlem Promise and Evyr Anadai, working on his first album to be released in 2011.
Respect
Eshon Burgundy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never ever ever seem to acknowledge drivin' me crazy
In the process of accomplishing profit
Gotta get in my pocket we can't talk unless you offer to pay me
Baby, time is money, that's what they tell me
If it ain't about dollars don't even bother hittin' my celly
Tryna get food down in my belly
Been tryna flood my chain
Tryna maintain the perception of fame cause
If it seem like I got it I can get it
Not only the check but the respect that's coming with it
Then everybody gon' start askin' how I did it
And the collected thought I that I'm a boss about my business
Really, I did it as a result of my sickness
I'm sick of bein' addicted to the need to be forgiven
Why, if I wanna do it I'm a do it
They call it rebellion, I say the thought of heaven is stupid
I'm in control, it's my life
I'm tryna live it like it's an extended highlight
Plenty women, my cars are one of kind
My house big as a mall from the stars you see it fine
That's truly how I felt one time
Blasphemous, headed for jail time and hell time
Although I played with God He never played with me
Could've killed me in my sin but decided to set me free
Respect, power and money
Respect, power and money
Respect, power and money
That's what they tell me
Respect, power and money
Respect, power and money
Respect, power and money
They lyin' to me
Each one
Teach one
Pray for a brother
Cuz I been thinkin' bout the money to buy house for my mother
And I'm feeling desperate
In this desolate
Land
If I could keep it a hundred
I'm huntin for a hundred grand
A hundred times
Pay me or just pay me no never mind
I done ran out of favors
As I waver in Lebanon
Ameri-con-summation every thing is a purchase
Money, power, respect, is speculatin my person
And they see me trynna make ends meet
If dollaz don't sleep, then me neither
I'm in deep
My wins low
Call Carl and tell him that my family matter too
And I'm too intuitive to trynna be not getting this loot
Notorious Jesus
Please us with ya thesis
On the back of a bill it say that "In God we trust"
In the back of my mind I know my belly is fully wicked
Wikipedia search me til I'm serving ya full admission
Easy
In "Respect", Eshon Burgundy is discussing the struggles of pursuing success and fame in the music industry, and the pressures that come with it. He reflects on the promises made to him by others, and how they have failed to acknowledge the toll it has taken on him. He also discusses the importance of money and the need to maintain a perception of wealth and power. Burgundy acknowledges that his desires for material possessions and status have been driven by a need to prove himself and be respected. However, he also recognizes the emptiness of these pursuits and the importance of staying true to oneself.
The song also touches on themes of spirituality and redemption. Burgundy acknowledges his past mistakes and the ways in which he has played with his faith. However, he ultimately credits God with setting him free from his sins and providing him with the strength to pursue a better life. He also calls for unity and support within the black community, emphasizing the importance of looking out for one another and sharing knowledge and resources.
Overall, "Respect" is a complex and introspective exploration of the pursuit of success and the pressures that come with it. Burgundy confronts both the positive and negative aspects of pursuing material wealth and status, and ultimately reflects on the importance of staying true to oneself and supporting one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Out out of every promise that you ever made me
You have not kept any of the promises you made to me.
You never ever ever seem to acknowledge drivin' me crazy
You never acknowledge that you have driven me crazy.
In the process of accomplishing profit
I am focused on making money.
Gotta get in my pocket we can't talk unless you offer to pay me
I am not interested in talking to you unless you pay me.
Baby, time is money, that's what they tell me
I value my time because it is valuable.
If it ain't about dollars don't even bother hittin' my celly
I am not interested in talking to you if you are not going to pay me.
Tryna get food down in my belly
I am trying to eat and survive.
Been tryna flood my chain
I have been trying to show off my wealth through my jewelry.
These bottles costing me money
I am spending a lot of money on alcohol.
Tryna maintain the perception of fame cause
I am trying to maintain the image that I am famous and successful.
If it seem like I got it I can get it
If it looks like I have something, I believe I can acquire it.
Not only the check but the respect that's coming with it
I want both the money and the respect that comes with it.
Then everybody gon' start askin' how I did it
People will start asking me how I became successful.
And the collected thought I that I'm a boss about my business
People will think of me as a boss who is successful in my business.
Really, I did it as a result of my sickness
I became successful because of my unhealthy obsession with money, power, and respect.
I'm sick of bein' addicted to the need to be forgiven
I am tired of feeling the need to be forgiven for my actions.
Why, if I wanna do it I'm a do it
I do what I want, regardless of the consequences.
They call it rebellion, I say the thought of heaven is stupid
People see me as rebellious, but I think the idea of heaven is foolish.
I'm in control, it's my life
I am in control of my life.
I'm tryna live it like it's an extended highlight
I am trying to live my life like a highlight reel.
Plenty women, my cars are one of kind
I have many women and unique cars.
My house big as a mall from the stars you see it fine
My house is so big that you can see it from space.
That's truly how I felt one time
That is how I used to feel.
Blasphemous, headed for jail time and hell time
I used to engage in behavior that could have landed me in jail or hell.
Although I played with God He never played with me
I used to behave badly, but God never abandoned me.
Could've killed me in my sin but decided to set me free
God could have punished me for my sins, but instead, he forgave me and set me free.
Respect, power and money
People value respect, power, and money.
They lyin' to me
People are not truthful with me about the true value of respect, power, and money.
Each one
Everyone.
Teach one
Teach each other.
Pray for a brother
Pray for each other.
Cuz I been thinkin' bout the money to buy house for my mother
I have been thinking about how to get enough money to buy a house for my mother.
And I'm feeling desperate
I am feeling desperate.
In this desolate
In this isolated place.
Land
I am feeling trapped where I am.
If I could keep it a hundred
If I can be completely honest.
I'm huntin for a hundred grand
I am trying to get $100,000.
A hundred times
A lot of times.
Pay me or just pay me no never mind
Either pay me or ignore me completely.
I done ran out of favors
I have used up all of my favors.
As I waver in Lebanon
As I am uncertain what to do.
Ameri-con-summation every thing is a purchase
In America, everything is about buying and consuming things.
Money, power, respect, is speculatin my person
Money, power, and respect define who I am as a person.
And they see me trynna make ends meet
People see me struggling to make enough money to survive.
If dollaz don't sleep, then me neither
If money never stops, then I can never stop either.
I'm in deep
I am in a difficult situation.
My wins low
I am not winning very often.
Call Carl and tell him that my family matter too
Contact Carl and let him know that my family is important to me as well.
And I'm too intuitive to trynna be not getting this loot
I am too smart to not try to make money.
Notorious Jesus
Famous or well-known Jesus.
Please us with ya thesis
Give us your teachings.
On the back of a bill it say that "In God we trust"
The American currency has the motto "In God we trust" on it.
In the back of my mind I know my belly is fully wicked
I know deep down that I am not a good person.
Wikipedia search me til I'm serving ya full admission
Search me online until you know everything about me.
Easy
Alright then.
Contributed by Natalie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.