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.
The Fear of God
Eshon Burgundy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who show us love
Even though he could kill us
We are
Full of evil
Even in cathedral buildings
Wicked people
Like a CO
Who supersede the conceit of a villain
Who blew and breathe in the same air of hustlers who said they ain't care
How can we dare not reserve fear for God alone?
Erect our own image and with it camouflage His throne
They trying to take the title from the Bible
Trying to redefine the truth and make us feel like we are psychos
Their bullets got our names
And ain't no typos on their rifles
But that's why we're unashamed
And make no idol of survival
The fear of God got me somewhere up here
The problem with Sodom is they preferred the bottom of the sphere
A clear lack of fear of the name by which one swears
I might appear cavalier and obscene to the average ear
But uh
This is what it is
This ain't what it ain't
It's way above your pay grade
Higher than your rank
They told me I should go subliminal
But I can't
Feel like Jeremiah except that fire shut up in my veins
The God of Heaven
Most merciful, holiness manifested
Can't approach Him like a peasant
He is King, get intoxicated by the smell of victory and sing
To His majesty, 6
The King of Isra-el-o-him
Manna from the clouds
Water from the bricks
Now the bricks give us bread
Till we indicted by the Feds
Or a rival tries to break through
Your vest with a hallow head
When the range is point blank the chance is zero that you'll live
But fear not those
Who kill and go to jail
Fear the one who takes the body
And soul
And send them to hell
Ahhhhh
And I'm not trying hear no prophecy
From Baal
That's probably an atrocity
That's obviously a fail
And these rappers make a mockery
For a lottery of sales
Hate the sin
But I still love on them
Like I can't even tell
Ahhhhh
The more I discover your love
I feel secure
And I depart from evil
Because of the fear of
... God
In the song "The Fear of God" by Eshon Burgundy, the artist expresses his belief that individuals should fear the power of God above all else. He acknowledges the inherent evil within humanity, including those who are meant to be holy, like those who attend cathedral buildings. Burgundy argues that many people do not reserve fear for God alone and instead erect their own image to camouflage God's throne. He also speaks about those who try to redefine the truth and create confusion. Burgundy believes that those who fear God will be exalted, and those who do not fear them will ultimately fail.
Throughout the song, Burgundy repeats the phrase "the fear of God," emphasizing its importance. He consistently draws attention to the power of God and the need for individuals to approach Him with respect and reverence. He also touches upon the idea of love, stating that while he hates sin, he still loves those who commit it.
Overall, the lyrics in "The Fear of God" encourage individuals to turn to God and respect His power. Burgundy emphasizes that the fear of God is crucial and something that should be instilled in all individuals. He argues that only those who fear God will be able to secure a place in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
One time for the realest
Saluting the individuals who demonstrate genuineness
Who show us love
The people who display affection towards us
Even though he could kill us
Despite being capable of pronouncing death penalty on us
We are
As individuals
Full of evil
We possess wickedness in ourselves
Even in cathedral buildings
Even in a holy place like a cathedral
Wicked people
Evil individuals
Like a CO
Like a correctional officer
On bended knee to our feelings
Giving in to our emotional desires
Who supersede the conceit of a villain
Individuals who surpass the arrogance of a villain
Who blew and breathe in the same air of hustlers who said they ain't care
Individuals who breathe and share the same ideologies as hustlers who don't care
How can we dare not reserve fear for God alone?
Why shouldn't we have an apprehensive respect solely for God?
Erect our own image and with it camouflage His throne
Creating an image of ours and using it to mask the throne of God
They trying to take the title from the Bible
Someone is attempting to take away the character of the Bible
Trying to redefine the truth and make us feel like we are psychos
Attempting to change the concept of truth and portraying us as mentally unstable
Their bullets got our names
They possess bullets that can identify us
And ain't no typos on their rifles
Their guns don't make mistakes
But that's why we're unashamed
That's precisely why we aren't embarrassed
And make no idol of survival
And refrain from idolizing survival
The fear of God got me somewhere up here
The apprehensive respect for God has elevated me somehow
The problem with Sodom is they preferred the bottom of the sphere
The issue with Sodom is that it chose the lowest and darkest place
A clear lack of fear of the name by which one swears
The absence of apprehensive respect for the name one affirms
I might appear cavalier and obscene to the average ear
I may seem indifferent and immoral to normal individuals
But uh
Nevertheless
This is what it is
This is the reality
This ain't what it ain't
This isn't a falsehood
It's way above your pay grade
It's beyond your understanding
Higher than your rank
More significant than your societal position
They told me I should go subliminal
They instructed me to be subtle
But I can't
But it's not feasible
Feel like Jeremiah except that fire shut up in my veins
Currently experiencing a fervor resembling Jeremiah
The God of Heaven
The deity ruling from the heavens
Most merciful, holiness manifested
Exhibiting holiness most compassionately
Can't approach Him like a peasant
Cannot meet Him casually
He is King, get intoxicated by the smell of victory and sing
He is the King, and we are inebriated by triumphs and singing
To His majesty, 6
Honoring His majesty by using the number 6
The King of Isra-el-o-him
The ruler of Israel
Manna from the clouds
Food from the heavens
Water from the bricks
Drinking water from bricks
Now the bricks give us bread
Currently obtaining bread from bricks
Till we indicted by the Feds
Until we get charged by the federal authorities
Or a rival tries to break through
Or a foe attempts to overpower us
Your vest with a hallow head
Your vest with a hollow bullet
When the range is point blank the chance is zero that you'll live
When the range is very nearby, there's no chance of survival
But fear not those
But don't be afraid of those
Who kill and go to jail
The individuals who take lives and receive imprisonment
Fear the one who takes the body
Rather, fear the one who takes the soul and the body
And send them to hell
And dispatches them to Hell
Ahhhhh
The sound effect used
And I'm not trying hear no prophecy
And not attempting to listen to any prophecy
From Baal
From the Canaanite deity
That's probably an atrocity
That's most likely an abominable act
That's obviously a fail
That's a clear failure
And these rappers make a mockery
These rappers reduce it to mockery
For a lottery of sales
For a chance to make more sales
Hate the sin
Abhor the deed
But I still love on them
But I still express affection towards them
Like I can't even tell
So intense that it's hard to comprehend
Ahhhhh
The sound effect used
The more I discover your love
As I learn more about your affection
I feel secure
I feel safe
And I depart from evil
And distance myself from wickedness
Because of the fear of
Due to the apprehensive respect for
... God
The deity that is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient
Writer(s): Terry Thomas Joseph
Contributed by Grayson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.