Sacrificial Lambz

Esham

Gothom / TVT Records

Published: 09.12.08 — Esham, Esham, Esham. I’ve listened this underground vet off and on since the Natas days. I’ve gotten cassettes from my man PRZM that brought them from Detroit. I’ve seen flyers with Esham performing in the grimiest venues for 5 bucks or less. Over the years his name has appeared on tracks with Kool Keith, Bone Thugs and Harmony, Dayton Family, and several 12” singles. His unique sound and flow always stands out.

“Sacrificial Lambz” is the first cd I have listened to from beginning to end. Now I want to go back and listen to what I’ve missed out of his 15 albums.

The lyrics on “Sacrificial Lambz” is in your face wicked shit with a large dose of Detroit reality. Even the more digestible tracks like “Ring Tone” and “Water Hoes” will cut through the hardest MCs’ garbage. Esham flexes his production skills with beats ranging from classic boom bap to aggressive off-beat cadences. All are as hard as the disc’s horrific image of a severed, skinned lamb skull on the back cover.

“Sacrificial Lambz” takes you on a trip through Esham’s world. Complete with rock guitars, insane symphonies, graveyards, strip joints, Fuck You Island, Detroit streets, unda’ground hustles, drug overdose landscapes, and Christmas raps like “Unholy Knights”.

There is even a thoughtful side to Esham that come out on tracks “Can’t Let Go,” “Levies Broke” and “Don’t Give Up” give inspiration to anyone that feels they are at the end of their rope.

Esham is a pure rapper. An underground icon with a worldwide fan base. He exposes his many facets for his fans and non-fans to examine. ACID RAP!

“Sacrifical Lambz” dropped Aug. 26.